Reviews

I actually really enjoyed this, but I ran into the age-old problem where once I set it down for a time, I didn't feel compelled to pick it back up. I think it suffers from typical middle-book syndrome, because overall, while what's done and revealed is intense and endlessly interesting, the main focus isn't on the big plot introduced in [b:BZRK|13642246|BZRK (BZRK, #1)|Michael Grant|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1353033249l/13642246._SY75_.jpg|16439262] (Nexus Humanus), but instead on smaller, more detailed things that will come to have meaning later, and on the gray goo problem, which I was less invested in.

Spoiler

I would say the largest plots in this book were the turn of the BZRK teams into more morally questionable choices (and whether they're actions, seemingly awful, are justifiable), and a deeper insight into how despicable the Armstrong Twins are (and wow, Grant does not pull any horrifying punches about them).

I question how much we had to focus on Vincent and his "recovery." I question whether Burnofsky needed to be held captive so long before anything happened with him/to him. I question the importance of the Doll Ship to the overall plot of the trilogy. But I remain curious to learn more about the purpose of the POTUS's suicide and failed wiring, about who Lear is and why they pull the strings in such a way, and whether Nijinsky can be redeemed.

I loved seeing more about what Plath and Keats bring to the table for BZRK. I loved seeing Caligula again, and watching the consequences from the first book strengthen some characters and weaken others. Grant pack a lot into these pages, and I hope the third book ties everything together as well as I'm wishing, because if he does, it will be an epic conclusion.

jaxon28784's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

The book is comedically funny, However the boyfriend dying in like the first 25 Pages was indeed a shock to me

Content Warnings

albon's review against another edition

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4.5

(Review from 2014)

4.5

Not quite as good as the first one, but still amazing and disgusting and super scary. This should not be a Young Adult book. The violence and horror in this is unlike anything I have ever seen before in YA.

(And I don't think the president is Lear anymore. Oh well. My theory was good.)

READING PROGRESS

February 23, 2014 – Started Reading

February 23, 2014 – Shelved

February 23, 2014 –
page 17 4.09% "The president just killed her husband. Yeah, this is a normal book for sure."

February 24, 2014 –
page 80 19.23% ""Duty before booty." That's all."

March 1, 2014 –
page 180 43.27%

March 2, 2014 –
page 220 52.88% "These characters and their situation is super messed up, but at least they take care to not text and drive! #safetyfirst (this sounds like a psa but it did make me giggle because i didn't really think they would pull over just to text, with everything going on)"

March 3, 2014 –
page 279 67.07% "Nijinsky is breaking my heart."

March 4, 2014 –
page 319 76.68% "Okay, I think I'm onto to something here.The mysterious "Lear" quotes Shakespeare. The president quotes Shakespeare. Coincidence? I think not."

March 5, 2014 – Finished Reading

kaiden1565's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

4.25

znash17's review against another edition

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5.0

The first BZRK was good, this one was great. With the world and stakes established in the first book, Michael Grant takes the extra space to go all in on his best in class villains and morally gray but loveable supporting cast. The main duo are still kind of annoying but better then the first book and now with relatively less screentime.

klherring's review against another edition

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4.0

Love you Michael Grant! Fun and exciting and wildly inappropriate for YA readers, which I'm not so...

julaliciousbookparadise's review against another edition

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3.0

review to come.

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