Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak

The book picks up after the end of Victories Greater Than Death, alternating between the point-of-view of Tina (the protagonist of the first novel), her girlfriend Elza and friend Rachel as they grow into their new roles. The alien collective known as the Compassion continues their attempt to conquer the galaxy, while a darker threat emerges.

The book received mostly positive reviews from critics who noted that it avoided the "sophomore slump", in which the second instalment in a trilogy is considered to be worse than its precursor.^[1][2][3] Maya Gittelman of Tor.com called it "a perfectly balanced YA space opera".^[2] Kirkus Reviews and the School Library Journal praised the novel's pacing, writing and characterization.^[1][4] Gary K. Wolfe of Locus also praised the sequel's handling of characters, writing that it made them "more complicated and conflicted" while also introducing new stakes for the protagonists.^[3]