Much of the central plot revolves around a pedophilic/ephebophilic villain who pursues teenagers, including one of the major characters (who is also implied to have been sexually abused by his uncle as a child/younger teen). This character is never actually in contact with the villain and the plot is resolved without him being harmed, but he is aware of the threat and is distressed by it. There is also heavy discussion of the villain's off-screen grooming, kidnapping, assault, and near-murder of another teenage character, as well as mention of other unnamed teenage victims who were killed. There are also references to the past rape of the main character; they are much less graphic than those in the previous book and the actual assault is not depicted, but his trauma is very present in the story. Several chapters take place in a prostitution/red-light district, where issues of sexual violence and consent are discussed (including how being in this environment affects the main character given his past).