It was nice getting to know Daiyu better, though. Which I have to be honest, I was never a fan of their love since Want and in this book my heart didn’t sway. Zhou and Daiyu still play the biggest roles throughout this series with even their relationship being the core of the plot. It was nice to see everyone back in the sequel. I wanted to get to know the “boss” and see more of her relationship with Iris. I figured she was going to be our main POV in Ruse, but sadly she wasn’t and that was disappointing. With its stunning cover, I was excited to explore this world in Lingyi’s shoes since she was a favorite of mine from the first book.

Ruse begins where Want ended but this time we see those final moments through Lingyi’s eyes. Is this a game they can survive, much less win? Jin has proudly announced Daiyu will be by his side for the opening ceremony of Jin Tower, his first “vertical city.” And as hard as Zhou and his friends fight, Jin always gains the upper hand. When Daiyu appears in Shanghai, Zhou is uncertain if it’s to confront him or in support of her father. The reunited group play a treacherous cat and mouse game in the labyrinthine streets of Shanghai, determined on taking back what Jin had stolen. But when Iris tells him he can’t tell Daiyu or trust her, he balks. Zhou doesn’t hesitate to fly to China to help Iris find Lingyi, even though he’s been estranged from his friends for months. And when Jin has Jany murdered and steals the tech she had refused to sell him, Lingyi is the only one who has access to the encrypted info, putting her own life in jeopardy. When Lingyi goes to Shanghai to help Jany Tsai, a childhood acquaintance in trouble, she doesn’t expect Jin to be involved. But Jin, the ruthless billionaire and Daiyu’s father, is out for blood. Jason Zhou, his friends, and Daiyu are still recovering from the aftermath of bombing Jin Corp headquarters.

Taking place in Shanghai, Ruse follows Zhou and the gang as they take on the same evils that continue to threaten everything they love.

Ruse cindy pon