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Book 1 had Myne at the absolute lowest point. Now things are finally looking to go her way at least a bit. The merchant Benno has agreed to support her and Lutz and possibly take them in as apprentices once they’re old enough. Their mission: Make paper.
Unlike the first book, this one feels more narratively focused. Myne is no longer fumbling around for possible things she can do, but has a goal she can devote all her attention to. This change alone already makes for a better read (as much as I enjoy slice of life, I do also like plot progression), but there is a different aspect that has improved a lot: The characters and their dynamics. Not only do we get to know new interesting characters, the already established ones get more fleshed out, especially Lutz. Without going into spoilers, there are some fantastic character moments around Lutz in this book.
Language-wise I would say that there’s a slight increase in difficulty from book 1, as we encounter some characters who speak very formally, which may provide a challenge. There are also several trade negotiations, which I found somewhat hard to follow and typically had to reread once or twice.
This volume is adapted in the anime in episodes 6–10 of the first season.