Book Review: The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Legacy Series: The Darkest Minds #4 Written by: Alexandra Bracken Published: July 31, 2018 by Disney Hyperion (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume "Zu" Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive.  Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she shouldn't trust, they uncover even darker things roiling beneath the veneer of the country's recovery. With her future-and the future of all Psi-on the line, Zu must use her powerful voice to fight back against forces that seek to drive the Psi into the shadows and save the friends who were once her protectors.  From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a harrowing story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning that will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike.

When I heard that Alex was writing a new book in the world of The Darkest Minds I was over the moon. I absolutely love that series and I was so excited to find out what happened next to these characters. And I really enjoyed this book. It was a good companion and an enjoyable return to the world.

Speaking of the world, I think that was the best part of this book, the world. Alex does some really interesting things with this book. Usually you don't get to check back in and find out what happened after the characters save the world and dismantle the government. It was great to be able to do that with this book, especially because things were not all sunshine and rainbows. It showed how hard it is to not only restore the government but also regain the trust of people who viewed you as enemies for entirely too long. There was a lot of politics in this book. It's a near future dystopia but this feels very current. It was fantastic and interesting in a way that I love in my books.

There was also a lot of really interesting things that this book did with the powers. In the first few books we learned a little bit about some of the psionic powers but the one that we got the most information about was Orange because Ruby was the protagonist. Now our main character is Zu so we learned a lot more about Yellow powers. And wow, have Zu's powers developed. She uses them in some really cool and really hardcore ways throughout the book. But then there are new characters with new powers in this book. I don't want to give too much away but just suffice to say, there are some really cool new powers and I liked seeing them in action.

The other thing I really appreciated about this book was the characters. I feel in love with the gang in The Darkest Minds trilogy so being able to find out what happened to them next. Zu is just a preteen in the original series but now she is all grown up. And grown up Zu is even more amazing than Zu in the original series. If you were hoping for the demure and shy girl that we first met then you will sadly be disappointed. Oh wait, no you won't because this Zu is smart, resourceful, sassy, and tough. I love this Zu. I also love seeing some of the other characters from the original series. We get a good amount of Chubs which was fun and some great moments with Vida, Liam, and a little Ruby. But Zu and the new characters really take center stage here and that was perfectly fine with me.

My only criticism with this book is the plot. Now don't get me wrong, I liked the plot. There was alot of action and adventure, the stakes were incredibly high, and I spent a lot of time on the edge of my seat. The only problem however is that it didn't really feel like a standalone, which it was. It was a weirdly self-contained story that didn't really feel complete. It's a long book, which I am cool with, but I think this book would have been a little bit better if it was a duology. I think some of the plot points could have been explored a little more if there was a second book. It wasn't bad, I just think it could have been better if there had been more. But maybe that is just because I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters and this world.

All in all this was a interesting and engaging read with a fantastic world and amazing characters. It was great companion novel to one of my favorite series.

I give The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are a fan of The Darkest Minds then you definitely need to read this book to find out what happens next to your favorite characters and the world of this series.

Have you read The Darkest Legacy? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Through the Dark Series: The Darkest Minds #1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 Written by: Alexandra Bracken Published: October 6, 2015 by Disney Hyperion (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Don't miss this breathtaking collection of stories set in the world of the best-selling Darkest Minds trilogy, now in paperback:  IN TIME  A desperate young man is forced to make a terrible choice between his own survival and the future of a little girl who won't speak, but who changes his life in ways he could never imagine.  SPARKS RISE   A spark of light brightens a brutal world when a girl named Sam encounters her childhood best friend at the government-run "rehabilitation" camp, Thurmond. Lucas and Sam form a risky escape plan, but sometimes even love isn't powerful enough to overcome unspeakable cruelty.   BEYOND THE NIGHT  The camps are closed. A tyrant president has been deposed. But for many Psi kids living rough, there is no home to return to, no place for them in a country devastated by the past and anxious about the future. Every day is a struggle for Sam, who knew all the rules at Thurmond and has been thrown into a terrifying and uncertain new life. But there's more at stake than Sam's own survival. She once made a promise to someone she loves, and the time has come to fulfill it.   From New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a collection of three hauntingly beautiful novellas set in the world of the Darkest Minds series. In the most harrowing of times, it takes a ferocious strength not only to survive, but to stand up for those who cannot fight their own battles. The characters in these stories-some new, some familiar-face impossible missions, and the hardest of all may be protecting the last flicker of hope in a seemingly endless night.

I love The Darkest Minds series, not only is it one of my favorite series but is among my all-time favorite dystopias. But as much as I love the series I have not read any of the novellas and therefore I hadn't read this book yet. So with The Darkest Legacy coming out I thought it would be the perfect time to read this one. And I was not at all disappointed. It was a great way to get back into the world and learn a little more about the the larger world of the series.

Surprisingly, I would say that In Time was probably my least favorite of the three novellas here. I mean, don't get me wrong, I loved seeing Zu and learning about what she was up to between The Darkest Minds and In the Afterlight. It was good to have a refresher on Zu as well before The Darkest Legacy. She was one of my favorite secondary characters in the original series so anything involving Zu I thought I would be interested in. But this wasn't about Zu, it was about Gabe and I didn't really enjoy Gabe. He had decent character development but I just didn't connect with him and that kind of prevented me from loving this story.

In contrast, Sparks Rise is told from the perspective of a secondary character in the original series. Sparks Rise is about Sam. I feel like Sam is one of those characters who we needed more from. She is only in the first part of The Darkest Minds and the last part of In the Afterlight. I liked Sam but there was so much more to learn about her. In this story we get her backstory and more from her at Thurmond. I loved seeing Sam and how kind and caring she is to those who need her help. Her and Lucas had a nice relationship, although I don't necessarily ship it but I liked seeing them interact and the ending definitely broke my heart a little bit. This is also maybe the story that adds the most to the series. We learn more about the camps and more about the Reds. I enjoyed it and it was probably the story I finished the fastest. My only issue is that I feel like the escape plan could have gotten a little more attention. It's in the synopsis but it was only like 10% of the novella.

If Sparks Rise adds the most to the original series, then Beyond the Night adds the most to the future of the series. In that novella we get to see what the world is like of now that the camps are closed and IAAN has come to it's relative conclusion. It was really interesting to get a peak into what the world is like for these teens now that the resolution from the original series has been resolved. It's not all puppies and rainbows. There is still a lot of really tough things the characters are dealing with. It's something we don't get to experience a lot from our favorite series and I am glad I get to do it with this one. I also really liked getting to continue with Sam and to meet Mia. Mia was really interesting and likable. She's like a fun combination of Vida and Liam. Speaking of those two, I have good news, your favorite characters from the original series are featured in this story as well and it was a real treat to see them again and to add to the gang.

On the whole I think this a good collection of short stories. I think I read it at the right time because it prepared me well for The Darkest Legacy. There isn't really much of a through line with this collection without it really. Sparks Rise and Beyond the Dark do have a lot of connection and those two books probably could have been turned into their own book but In Time really doesn't have much connection to the other two stories. Obviously they all involve The Darkest Minds but it's not a very cohesive collection.

I give Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are a fan of The Darkest Minds then you should definitely buy and read this collection of stories. I think that now is the perfect time to read it as well. It's a great refresher before The Darkest Legacy.

Have you read Through the Dark? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: The Darkest Legacy Series: The Darkest Minds #4 Published: July 31, 2018 by Disney Hyperio (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Don't miss the hotly-anticipated new novel in the New York Times bestselling Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken, just in time for the major motion picture adaptation of The Darkest Minds, starring Amandla Stenberg and Mandy Moore! Told through the eyes of beloved character Zu, now seventeen, this harrowing, standalone story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike.

 
Why I'm Waiting:

I love The Darkest Minds trilogy. It might be my favorite dystopian series, I like it that much. I am super excited for the movie but I am even more excited about the fact that there is another book in the series. I am so excited to find out what the world is like now and that everything is out in the open. You kind of know that things aren't going to be puppies and rainbows, so I am intrigued to see that all.

But the thing I am most interested in is catching back up with the characters. I love the characters in this series so much and I want to know what they are doing with their lives. What are Ruby and Liam up to? What are Chubs and Vida doing now? Are they still together? Part of me thinks no but I want them to be. But Zu! Sweet and amazing Zu is all grown up and the main character in this book. I am so excited for more of Zu!

I am definitely going to be picking up a copy of this book. I will more than likely preorder. But I am also thinking that probably I should reread the entire series. This comes out at the end of July and movie comes out in August so it's the perfect timing to get a refresher.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on The Darkest Legacy along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

*** This is the third and final book in a trilogy and therefore the review may contain some spoilers for previous books. Read The Darkest Minds (Review) and Never Fade (Review) first, then come back ***

Title: In the Afterlight Series: The Darkest Minds #3  Author: Alexandra Bracken  Published: October 28, 2014 by Disney Hyperion  (Amazon / Goodreads)  Synopsis: 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. Only Ruby can keep their highly dangerous prisoner in check. But with Clancy Gray, there's no guarantee you're fully in control, and everything comes with a price. When the Children's League disbands, Ruby rises up as a leader and forms an unlikely allegiance with Liam's brother, Cole, who has a volatile secret of his own. There are still thousands of other Psi kids suffering in government "rehabilitation camps" all over the country. Freeing them--revealing the governments unspeakable abuses in the process--is the mission Ruby has claimed since her own escape from Thurmond, the worst camp in the country. But not everyone is supportive of the plan Ruby and Cole craft to free the camps. As tensions rise, competing ideals threaten the mission to uncover the cause of IAAN, the disease that killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others with powers the government will kill to keep contained. With the fate of a generation in their hands, there is no room for error. One wrong move could be the spark that sets the world on fire.

Let me see if I can pull myself together long enough to write this review. I am currently in the midst of a pretty serious book hangover so I'm not entirely sure how coherent any of this will be. I will say this, In the Afterlight was a fantastic ending to an amazing dystopian series with an interesting world, incredible characters and a thrilling plot. 

I have always loved the world of this series. The concept of teenagers with psionic/supernatural powers who have been quarantined by society has been so incredibly interesting. It has always done such a great job of exploring the idea of if these powers are good or evil, the internal struggle around them, and society's fear of the "other." That was definitely a major theme in this book and one that I always enjoy books about. And as it is the final book in this series it was full of explanations about the world and took us full circle on more than one occasion. It had plenty of big reveals and conclusions to storylines that began in the first book. We got answers to questions that arose at the very beginning and resolutions to things that made the first book so intriguing and heartbreaking. I was expecting a little bit more on the mystery side of things but we did get the full picture and the truth about this world which is so complex and interesting. 

In the first two books in this series that world created a story about survival. Getting away from people trying to harm you, searching for food and shelter, staying hidden and staying safe. In the Afterlight however it is about a different kind of survival. In the Afterlight was about ensuring your future, a future you previously didn't know was possible. But that is probably what made the story so heartbreaking and what led to the book hangover. It focuses less on the action and adventure aspect of the series and more on the characters. 

And it's a good thing too because the strength of this series is in it's characters. The characters that Alex has created are some of the most honest, well-crafted, and diverse characters I have ever read about. They seem so real that it's like I know them personally. I have this deep and emotional connection to them. I've always been such a fan of Ruby and it's been great to see her develop throughout this series. In The Darkest Minds she was quite the reluctant hero. She didn't want to use her powers and didn't really know how. But now she has figured out how to use them to achieve her goals and has become kind of badass. Of course there is still the standard internal struggle and personal weaknesses but it's been great seeing her Hero's Journey. 

However, the best characters in this series are the secondary characters. All of my favorites from the two previous books are back being hilarious, sweet, and badass. And I can't mention the secondary characters without mentioning my ships and yes, I have more than one. Both of my ships sailed and it was glorious. This book is full of amazing shipping feels. It's full of all kinds of different feels, all related to these characters. Because I'm so attached to them when anything happens it brings up all kinds of emotions. In this book I went through the entire spectrum of book-related feels. I even cried tears of joy, I cried them so hard I couldn't see at times! 

I haven't read a lot of dystopian novels but at times this did feel a little formulaic. I've noticed a trend in this genre. In book 1 you establish the world and why the antagonist, usually a shady government, is evil and not to be trusted. In book 2, you expand the world and further explain why antagonist is bad and why they need to be brought down. In book 3, you attempt to bring down the antagonist usually with some kind of epic battle. I definitely felt at times, the similarities to some of the more popular dystopian series that I have read like The Hunger Games and Divergent. And unfortunately with a lot of trilogies the last book is kind of a let down. Never Fade muddied the waters with the plot of the series and I wasn't entirely sure how it would all get resolved. I feared that it wouldn't be able to get there, that it was going to make things even more complicated, or that there was just going to be a magical solution to it all. But for me that wasn't true here. Everything was resolved, there was no deus ex machina, and despite things in the middle making me think they might, it didn't get any more complicated. The resolution was pretty satisfying. Everything I had hoped would happen, did happen.

But that need to ensure everything was resolved did create some issues with the pacing. It felt like there was a chunk of the book in the middle where things slowed down a little too much and then when it finally rose back up for the final climax it was over too quickly. As the ending drew near I was seriously wondering how Alex was going to reconcile all the storylines that were created but she did. And while they felt satisfying, they still felt rushed. When the book was over I found myself wishing desperately that there was more. That this story would continue. But I think that is a testament to how much I liked the book and the series and not that it wasn't a good ending.

I think fans of the series, like me will be satisfied and happy with the way it all ends. This is definitely one of the best endings of a dystopian trilogy and despite a few concerns I really loved it. It has an interesting world, phenomenal characters you can't help but love, and a thrilling plot.

I give In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken a 9 out of 10

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you're a fan of this series rush out to your bookstore and pick this up. Savor saying goodbye to those characters you love and learning the truth about this world. If you are a fan of YA dystopia then definitely add this series to your list.

Have you read In the Afterlight? What did you think about the series conclusion? If you haven't read it what other dystopian series do you recommend? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday - In the Afterlight

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: In the Afterlight Series: The Darkest Minds #3 Author: Alexandra Bracken Published: October 28, 2014 by Disney-Hyperion AmazonGoodreads Synopsis: 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. Only Ruby can keep their highly dangerous prisoner in check. But with Clancy Gray, there's no guarantee you're fully in control, and everything comes with a price. When the Children's League disbands, Ruby rises up as a leader and forms an unlikely allegiance with Liam's brother, Cole, who has a volatile secret of his own. There are still thousands of other Psi kids suffering in government "rehabilitation camps" all over the country. Freeing them--revealing the governments unspeakable abuses in the process--is the mission Ruby has claimed since her own escape from Thurmond, the worst camp in the country. But not everyone is supportive of the plan Ruby and Cole craft to free the camps. As tensions rise, competing ideals threaten the mission to uncover the cause of IANN, the disease that killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others with powers the government will kill to keep contained. With the fate of a generation in their hands, there is no room for error. One wrong move could be the spark that sets the world on fire.

Why I'm Waiting 

I had heard about this series a long time ago and was totally intrigued by the combination of a dystopian world with teen who have X-Men like superpowers. In April I read The Darkest Minds and Never Fade. I was blown away by the thrilling plot, amazing characters, and complexities in this series. I was almost instantly hooked on Ruby's story and her Hero's Journey. The final installment of this series comes out at the end of October and I have so many questions! There's just so many loose ends.

Can Ruby use her powers to make things right?
Will my ships sail? (I have two in case you were wondering, I'll tell you if you ask!)
Will Ruby reunite with her parents?
What's the cause of IAAN?
What's going to happen to the camps?
Is Zu ever coming back? (I haven't read In Time yet which may answer this question)
Is anyone to be trusted?

I was delighted to meet Alexandra Bracken at BEA! I told her how much I loved the books and theorized on a few things including how I wanted it all to end and my ships (ask me about my ships). Like a good author she played coy which of course got me more excited!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you as excited for In the Afterlight as I am? Do you have as many questions as I do? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Never Fade Series: The Darkest Minds Book #2 Author: Alexandra Bracken (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis:  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?

This is the second book in the Darkest Minds trilogy and after that book I was left emotionally scarred and in a desperate need of reading this book to find out what happened. This review may contain spoilers for this book and that one (I tried so hard to make it spoiler free). While this is a wonderful book and thoroughly entertaining I didn't quite enjoy it as much as The Darkest Minds.

The best thing about this series is the characters. I'm a huge fan of Ruby. In the first book she was a reluctant hero who is terrified about using her powers but in this book she is using them all the time and is becoming a huge badass because of it. In this book it's more of Ruby learning the consequences of her powers. She's terrified that the more she takes over people's brains the more she will lose herself. We also get to meet some fantastic new characters at the Children's League. My two favorites are Jude and Vida. Jude is the most adorable and naive character. He's a lot like Zu, even going so far as being a yellow. But my favorite new character is Vida. She is very Johanna Mason. She's snarky, tough, and abrasive but she has a good heart and is totally Team Ruby. We also get to spend more time with some other favorite characters from the previous books. For a lot of the beginning of the book I was more curious about what happened to Chubs and Liam and we get to find out in Never Fade. 

I also loved the continued exploration of the good versus evil that this series does so well. As I already said there is the personal idea if whether we are good and evil and whether power corrupts. Ruby has so many examples of how power can turn a person into a coldhearted selfish jerk but in this book we get see more people who use their power to help people, you know they use it for good insead of evil. But that being said, there are so many villainous people and organizations in this book that it's hard to say who is the real villain of this story is. We get to spend more time with the odious Children's League in this book and it confuses things even more. There's also some further exploration of the two shady government entities operating in the United States and President Gray. Nothing and nobody in this book is purely good or evil.

As far as the plot there is just as much action and surprising twists in this book it's a very different kind of story. I was much more anxious and nervous in this book despite the fact that it is not as much of an escaping for your life kind of adventure. There are those elements but what Never Fade does is explore more of the world and the disease that is affecting these children.  Because we get to explore more of the disease my confusion and lack of clarity on the powers (particularly greens) is gone. There is more than one crazy twist at the end of the book that really turns everything that you think about IAAN and Psi powers on their head. 

But despite the fact that there was so much good about this book I didn't enjoy it as much as The Darkest Minds. It wasn't quite so emotional. In the first book Alexandra Bracken ripped my heart and left me emotionally damaged. Maybe it was because I was hardened by the previous book or maybe it was just not as sad. Of course I cried, I'm not a monster, but it was a different kind of sadness. Everything about this book was slightly different and less excitingly unique. I think that I finally understand what people mean when they complain about second book syndrome. Things took a different turn and I'm not sure how I feel about where the series is going. I cannot wait to see where this will end in the final book of the series. I'm both excited and nervous to see how it will all end. I fear that we will get an Allegiant type ending, but only time will tell.

BOOK 3 HAS A NAME! DID YOU KNOW? 

Check out these two videos from BookTuber Christine aka polandbananaBOOKS where she reveals the cover and chats about the third book.

Title Reveal

Book Chat about Book 3

I give Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken an 8.5 out of 10

Have you read Never Fade? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds Series: The Darkest Minds Book #1 Author: Alexandra Bracken Published: December 2012 by Disney-Hyperion Amazon Goodreads  Synopsis: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government "rehabilitation camp." She might have survived the mysterious disease that's killed most of America's children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she's on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her-East River. She joins a group of kids who 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 a life worth living.

When I decided to do dystopia for April the first series I knew I wanted to read was The Darkest Minds. I had heard about this book when it first came out and it sounded fantastic. I have read a lot of really good reviews so there was definitely some hype surrounding this book. It did not however disappoint, if anything it exceeded my expectations.

My favorite thing about this book was the characters. Alexandra Bracken created so many interesting and diverse characters that you couldn't help but identify with. First and foremost we have Ruby who is a fantastic reluctant hero (doing a post about why I love reluctant heroes on Wednesday). At the beginning of the book she was terrified about using her powers and being a hero but by the end she had this great character arc where she becomes incredibly badass. She had a very Rogue in X-Men kind of vibe. She had these powers she couldn't control and they kept scaring her and making her do things she regretted. I felt for her from the very beginning and wanted her to succeed and get what she wanted. Then there are the people she meets along the way like Liam, Zu, and Chubs. Liam is the love interest in this books and boy do I ship this ship. He's caring, supportive, smart, and an amazing leader. I also loved Zu, she is younger than the others and mute. I just wanted to hug her and take care of her, she was just the sweetest. Finally there was Chubs, who is my favorite character. He is Liam's best friend and incredibly smart but also sarcastic and snarky. He was like the voice of reason and more than once he said what I was thinking. And these are just the main characters.

Another thing I really liked about this book was the fact that there wasn't really one clear villain, it's an us against the world kind of story. Throughout most of the book I had a hard time trusting practically everyone because they all seem to have dubious moral codes and ulterior motives. Ruby is learning throughout the book about the gray that exists in the world, and realizing who she can and can't trust for help and with privileged information. She sometimes has to learn this the hard by realizing that someone she trusted and thought was good is actually more of a villain than the person she originally thought was evil. She also learns that sometimes you have to rely on these dubious people and organizations, when you are in a tight spot they may be the only ones who can help you.

As far as the plot and pacing goes this book was action-packed from start to finish. There were all
kinds of daring escapes, car chases, and fleeing for your life kind of moments. Add this to the fact that you have teenagers with telepathic powers and you have the perfect recipe for an action film (again very X-Men). This is definitely the kind of book that I can see made into a phenomenal movie. Every time someone used their powers it was incredible. Zu had amazing powers to control electricity as a yellow, Liam and Chubs with their telekinetic Blue powers, and of course Ruby who can invade people's minds as an Orange. But besides the action the plot of this book was incredibly emotional. Everything built to an epic conclusion that was heart-wrenchingly sad. And when the tears started flowing they couldn't stop. It was one sad moment after another and just when I thought it couldn't get much worse, it did, and I broke out into the kind of ugly crying that Clair Danes would be proud of. I had built such an emotional connection with these characters and to see them go into any kind of turmoil really affected me. The feels in this book were out of control.

My only real criticism was that the world-building was a little confusing at times. It was an amazing and incredibly interesting world but I found myself less intrigued and more confused when it came to the dystopia in this book. It's the catch-22 of tell not show style of world-building where I wanted to know more information. I didn't really understand a lot about the color system, which colors could do what , and how Ruby got to be in the camps until much later in the book than I thought. It made the beginning very confusing and took me out of the story a little bit at times trying to hard to figure out the specifics of this world rather than what was happening in it.

 But on the whole it was a fantastic book with great characters, lots of action and emotion, and an interesting and compelling dystopian world. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of dystopia particularly series like The Hunger Games and Divergent. I would also recommend this to anyone who likes books with strong female characters, lots of action, and moral dubious worlds and characters.

I give The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken 9 out of 10

Have you read The Darkest Minds? Leave me a comment with your thoughts and stay tuned for my review of Never Fade coming later in the week.