The Bone Shard Emperor

I usually have my troubles with second instalments of a series. Not in this case. It was just as great as the first.
When the first book ends, it feels pretty done and over, with only one story arc keeping the door open. In this second book we get to see all the hard work of what happens after a rebellion was successful and the tyrant is dethroned. I really liked the political aspects and the show of how determined the people strive for change. This part is usually just left off but in this case the central element of the story: how to go on and change for the better? We have plenty of different PoVs and attempts on such change, all valid in their own right. At times, it turned quite philosophical.
Lin and Jovis have interesting and believable developments, their doubts and dreams feel true. Their POVs were interestingly enough also the only 2 where we experience the story through a 1. person narrator, all the others feel a little more detached in their 3. person narration. Deliberately so, I'd say. In general, the style reads very smoothly.
One last thing I just have to get off my chest: why on earth is Lin an emperor and not an empress?! It has to be deliberate as well but I cannot yet see why.