Unlike the first book, set around a rural Russian village in a miserable winter, this one feels much more urban. Even the bits that aren't in Moscow. This one felt a lot more Young Adult than the first book; Varya has gotten older but in some ways gets more childish. There's several point where she makes a decision that is clearly telegraphed as The Bad One. Frustrating interpersonal dialogues full of romantic intention wasn't what I was expecting!