Book review: Never Fade - Alexandra Bracken

Title: Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2)
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publication Date: October 15th 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 512
Link to Goodreads: Here
Part of a Series: Yes

Plot: Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

Reading Period: April 28, 2015 - May 04, 2015

Review:

I didn't think I could love this one more than the first one, but I was wrong. This was a great continuation from the Darkest Minds and an incredible exploration of the human mind. 

Okay, I hope you've read the first book, if not this review might be spoiler!

We left the first book with Ruby erasing Liam's memories and her joining the "Children's League". The second book is definitely more action packed. We've got a lot of more characters, Ruby is now part of a team of special kids working for the Children's league to overthrow the government and close the detention camps. We have Vida, a strong loyal female character who has trouble to trust new people. Jude, a young optimistic boy full of energy. Cole, Liam's charismatic older brother.

We still have the characters we got to meet and love in the first book, Liam, Chuck, the only one missing is Zu, who we've learned in the short novella before this book, is in an adventure of her own. Clancy returns and with him a series of troubles.

Never Fade is all about power, friendship and believing in yourself. It will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Strongly recommended!

RATING

  

Book Review: In Time - Alexandra Bracken

Title: In Time (The Darkest Minds #1.5)
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Publication Date: July 16th 2013

Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide

Pages: 89

Link to Goodreads: Here
Part of a Series: Yes

Plot: Gabe's life has been devastated in the wake of the economic crash. The only option left for someone like him to escape his tragic past is to leave his small town behind and to attempt to become a skiptracer. This already almost impossible task is made all the more difficult by his first score, a young girl who won't speak, but who changes his life in ways he could never imagine.

Reading Period: March 23, 2015 - March 29, 2015

Review:

This is a short novella between book 1 and 2 of the Darkest Minds series. At first it was a bit slow, not because the writing is bad (it isn't really, I love Alexandra Bracken's style) but because you left the first book getting attached to the characters and then you find someone new! Who is this guy? 

This guy is Gabe. Gabe was too old to be affected by  the disease, but too young to be an adult. His only chance to survive is to become a bounty hunter. They travel across the country to capture kids who have being affected by the change. Gabe has spent the last years convincing that the he hated children. They ruined the economy, they ruined his future, if they hadn't got sick, the devastation in America would have never happened. It's easier to not think of them as children, but as animals. You will feel less guilty about capture them and send them to camps. At least that's what he thought! What happens when you start to care? 

This novella shows how the people not affected by the change live. What's happening while Ruby and Liam and the others are trying to escape and live a life?

After a few pages, you come to love Gabe especially after he encounters a familiar face, someone we got to know and love in the first book.

Overall it's a nice short novella that helps you understand the world our protagonists are living in.

RATING