The second volume really picks up, and current interest took over from my nostalgic love of vol. 1. The story becomes a lot more flowing and natural, with a lot fewer things that just sort of happen or massive coincidences that come out of nowhere. The story is starting to paint a more complete picture of who the characters are, and what their relationships and meaning to one another had been. There are some pretty solid character change events, and thematic threads are starting to come more strongly to the surface, making it just an easier and better read.