Tag: YA Dystopian

Reviews

In the Afterlight Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on In the Afterlight Review

Book_3_CoverKind of just meh.

I’ve finally come to the conclusion of this series and I’m a little disappointed to be quite honest. I didn’t really enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

Ruby and the remaining few who survived the attack at Los Angeles travel north to the ranch to meet up with Cate and regroup. With Clancy in tow under Ruby’s control for now, she unites with Cole to somehow try to save all the kids that are still under lock and key in the camps.

I found Ruby to be very unlikeable in this last book. Every decision she made and every time she sided with Cole over Liam just grated my nerves. Every time Liam, Vida or Chubs would confront her about keeping secrets and making plans with Cole without their input she would always deflect and say they wouldn’t be able to understand. I get that her heart is in the right place and she does genuinely want to save the children but she just really rubbed me the wrong way throughout the course of the storyline.

I did like how we have the meeting between Vida and Zu and how Vida is jealous that Ruby has kind of forgotten about Jude. I did say in the last book that I thought Jude kind of felt like a replacement Zu to me. But I like that we gradually see them grow closer and how Vida helps Zu gain the confidence to speak again. That was a touching moment.

All of the maneuvering and scheming at the ranch was kind of slow paced to me. It wasn’t as engaging and exciting as I expected it to be. I wanted more action and adventure and a grand scheme that is slowly orchestrated with several layers and manipulations involved. It kind of just felt like they didn’t know what they were doing half the time and a lot kind of happened outside of the ranch that we don’t get to see. It’s a lot of reactions and emotional turmoil and it was a little boring.

I did like that the ending wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows that there is still progress to be made in the world but for now they were safe and together. I’m happy that Ruby gave Clancy the chance to live a normal life especially after everything that he’s been through.

⭐️3/5 a bit too slow paced and not enough flair, kind of average for me

Reviews

Never Fade Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Never Fade Review

*Not really any spoilers*

Book_2_CoverIt was just kind of ok.

Never Fade starts about 6 months after The Darkest Minds ends. Ruby has now been trained by the Children’s League and is used regularly by them to extract/torture information out of their enemies they capture.

We are given a lot of information about the league and how they operate pretty much straight out of the gate and I found myself kind of struggling to remain interested. The first half of the book was kind of boring for me and I really had to kind of force myself to keep reading, hoping that things were going to pick up.

We are introduced to some new and I think pretty integral characters to the series, mostly children who have either escaped from the camps or avoided detection and was found by the league. Vida I liked, I thought she was a good contrast to Ruby as she is so blunt and kind of overly aggressive and direct. Jude was just kind of like another Zu. He is younger than Ruby and she kind of takes him under her wing and dotes on him as she did Zu. Again, I liked these characters but I didn’t really spend enough time with them to form a bond or really care about them.

I think I just went into this book a little bit biased, as I didn’t quite like the choices Ruby made at the end of The Darkest Minds and how she has come to be in this situation now. I didn’t like that she ended up at the Children’s League and how she manipulated Liam and kind of just abandoned Chubs. We literally don’t hear about him for the first half of the book and when he finally reappears its then explained how she checked what happened after the hospital. I didn’t really feel any kind of progression from Ruby as a character for most of this book. I thought she still seemed very naïve and passive and made a lot of choices that just kind of bugged me. She second-guesses herself constantly and I just want her to assert herself and be the strong, powerful, confident character I know she can be. I see the potential there but its just lacking a bit for me at the moment.

I will still be continuing on the series as I am curious as to how it ends and I want to see some form of conclusion for Ruby, Liam and Chubs. I want to know where Alexander Bracken will take the plot from here and I still have hope that In the Afterlight will be the stand out novel of the series for me.

⭐️3/5 stars not great, not terrible just ok

Reviews

Unravel Me Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Unravel Me Review

*Some Spoilers*

y648Ultimately I thought it was a lot better than Shatter Me. I felt most of the characters progressed well throughout the novel but I definitely still feel like there is room to grow.

Unravel Me continues two weeks after Shatter Me concluded. Juliette how started her training and is discovering how much power she actually has and how to control it whilst still remaining herself and not turning into a monster. She’s having trouble fitting in and socialising with everyone and has found herself to be kind of ostracised.

I still enjoy the premise of the story and how its unfolded so far, its just a little bit too angsty for me. There is only so much I can take of Juliette agonizing over every single decision she makes in regards to Adam and then her guilt and remorse over her feelings for Warner. She is kind of just getting on my nerves at the moment. Adam as well not taking the news of his powers and its limits well and how he crumbles in on himself and won’t communicate. All of that side of the book annoyed me, however, the action and the politics and schemes were entertaining and interesting.

I like that we got a full backstory about Warner and his father and that plot twist was juicy and necessary at that time in the story! It gave us a lot of context in relation to Warner’s motives and why he acts and thinks the way he does. I’m kind of starting to like him to be quite honest. He’s unpredictable and unforgiving and he’s exciting to read as I don’t know what he is going to do next. I also like that he is so endearing and loving towards Juliette, I like the dynamic they have together and how different it contrasts to her and Adam’s relationship.

All in all, it was a pretty fast paced book that I finished very quickly. I am still intrigued and I definitely want to know what happens next. I just felt like it could of been a lot more high stakes and engaging than what it was.

⭐️3.5/5 stars I’m still enjoying the series, just hasn’t blown me away yet

Updates

Never Fade Update

by amyleighreadsLeave a Comment on Never Fade Update

I am a little under half way through Never Fade and to be quite honest I’m having a hard time staying invested in the storyline. It’s a little too slow paced for my liking … I’m nearly half way through and not a whole lot has happened. There is tons of information in regards to the Children’s League and behind the scenes but it’s a lot more political and strategic at the moment and I’m not as entertained as I thought I would be. Hopefully the second half of the book picks up the pace and becomes more lively and gripping which I’m lacking. I will continue reading as I’m still intrigued with the concept of the book and I still have high hopes for this series!

Happy Reading📚

Reviews

Shatter Me Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Shatter Me Review

*A little bit spoilery*

y648It was a good start to the series.

This didn’t exactly blow me away as I read it, but I did find myself enjoying it anyways.
Shatter Me follows the story of Juliette who has an ability that she neither wants nor enjoys, she can kill people just by touching them. She is currently an inmate in an asylum because of an incident that occurred three years prior. She hasn’t seen or spoken to anyone in that time until a young man walks into the door of her cell, a new roommate.

I definitely feel that parts of the storyline was a little rushed and there wasn’t much depth to the plot. I can see the potential and hopefully the rest of the series builds upon this shallow foundation and we really get more scope for the world.

Juliette‘s character was a little confusing to me. For the first half of the book she’s timid and skittish and the second half she’s a lot more determined and spirited and kind of gutsy. That progression happened a little too quickly for me, I just think it could have been more gradual.

The same can be said for Juliette’s and Adam‘s relationship. It was kind of insta-lovey for me. I think for the most part it was just explained why they should be together and have feelings for each other instead of developing organically. I do still think that they are very cute though; I just wished it were more drawn out.

That being said I am intrigued by the concept. I do feel that there are so many directions the storyline can go from here. I want to know more about Warner and his backstory and everything about Omega Point. I kind of like this mix of dystopian with a bit of fantasy thrown in. I feel I might really come to love this series. I just hope there is more depth and substance in the rest of the books.

⭐️3/5 stars very quick read, I just need more!