THE DARKEST MINDS
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.
Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.
My Goodreads rating: ★★★☆☆
I really enjoyed this but I have to say it feels a lot like several other YA dystopias. It reminds me most of Neal Shusterman’s UNWIND, among a few others. It’s a shame really, because I’ve been meaning to read this series for years and now I’m not entirely sure it was worth the wait.
The premise is really good; children across the USA die of a mysterious disease, and those who survive are left with certain “abilities”, and are rounded up into camps. I was really interested to read Ruby’s POV and I did like getting into her head (see what I did there, hahaha). All the characters were fleshed out quite well, and I really liked getting to know Liam, Zu, Chubs, and Clancy as well as Ruby herself. I thought the story progressed really well too, and I’m super interested to read the rest of the series.
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NEVER FADE
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?
My Goodreads rating: ★★★☆☆
This is such a good sequel! I’m so glad there wasn’t a serious case of second book syndrome here. Instead the story keeps flowing and the character development keeps, er, developing?
I have to say I’m still not hugely impressed with the originality of the series; there seems to be a lot borrowed from other dystopias but I’m not sure if that’s just because I’ve read so many dystopias at this point (seriously, name a dystopia and I’ve probably read it). Despite that I’m really enjoying the story and I can’t wait to see how it wraps up in book 3!
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IN THE AFTERLIGHT
Ruby can’t look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government’s attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds.
They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America’s children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the “rehabilitation camps” housing thousands of other Psi kids.
Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.
My Goodreads rating: ★★★★☆
I was so excited for this finale!
Everything is wrapped up so nicely in this last novel. I really enjoyed the direction the story took and there were a couple of twists I certainly wasn’t expecting. I don’t want to say much plot-wise for fear of spoilers.
I knew Alex Bracken’s writing was going to be fantastic, having read her later duology (PASSENGER and WAYFARER) prior to starting this trilogy, and I was not disappointed! I’ll be adding Bracken to my must-buy list and I’m super excited to get some backstories from the novellas as well!
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Overall rating 3.5 stars.
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