The Wayhaven Chronicles: Book Two
By Mishka Jenkins
☆☆☆ (7/10)
Hmm. Book Two of Wayhaven Chronicles mostly continues in the vein (heh) of the first book: the pacing is solid, the dialogue remains snappy, and the mystery is more structured than in many comparable text-based games. I found myself more invested in the characters this time around, and the book does a better job of building tension and romantic intrigue—but it’s still very much a YA/fanfiction-style story. It’s enjoyable, but I wouldn’t call it groundbreaking.
Pros:
Dialogue remains the highlight. The banter between characters (even side characters!) flows effortlessly, giving the story a natural rhythm that keeps scenes lively. Conversations are often witty or playful, and Jenkins has a clear ear for character beats. Even during more dramatic or romantic moments, the exchanges feel approachable and readable rather than weighed down by exposition.
Improved character development. Compared to Book One, several of the team members are given slightly more depth. You can now have conversations about characters’ pasts, and you can choose who to hang out with, even when you’re not romancing them! I liked reading about N’s ~spooky past~. The pining and tension on the A/N love triangle route is great, with A slowly realizing their feelings (and promptly squishing them down).
More worldbuilding! I was impressed with more worldbuilding including the different types of supernaturals, more of the Agency, the detective’s relationship with their mother, and the dangers of the supernatural world. It felt less hand-wavy than Book One.
Mystery and pacing are stronger. The story is quite structured, with a clear progression of hints, conflicts, and villians. While the detective’s personal agency is still limited, the pacing ensures that each chapter has purpose, whether it’s exploring character dynamics, building romantic tension, or uncovering new aspects of the overarching mystery. I also found the “big bad” more sympathetic and interesting than Book 1’s villain.
Effective use of POV shifts. The short perspective changes into other characters’ minds add valuable insight into team dynamics, motives, and emotional stakes. These shifts are brief and don’t disrupt the flow, but they give context to events and interactions that the main character might otherwise miss.
Structurally sound. Chapters are well-paced, free of typos, and formatted clearly. The readability makes it easy to binge the book in a few sittings, and the structure supports both the mystery and the romantic subplots.
Cons:
Heavy reliance on tropes. Fake dating, undercover romance, love triangles, and dramatic interruptions of romantic tension show up repeatedly. While these elements can be fun in moderation, I found myself bored with the frequent recurrence. There’s a LOT of descriptions about “cosmic chemistry,” “electric tension,” or “anguished gazes." Additionally, the tropes are quite similar to Book 1, where the detective shares a ~heated moment~ before being interrupted by something or someone. The count has to be in double digits by now, right? I found it more annoying than cute.
Romance depth is limited. Although the romance options are more present than in Book One, I still found characters like A and M to still be archetypes.
Detective agency is still minimal. The protagonist occasionally has moments of insight or instinct, but they again remain largely reactive rather than proactive. You rarely feel like you’re piecing together the mystery yourself; answers are often revealed by other characters or the narrative. In this book, you’re not the world’s worst detective … anymore. Maybe a slightly oblivious one?
Tropes overshadow originality. Despite slightly better character depth and pacing, the story leans heavily on established YA/fanfiction conventions. It wasn’t for me, personally. So, readers looking for a more unique or grounded mystery may find themselves wishing for more narrative innovation.
Bobby I hate youuuuuuuu.
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