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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book. This series.
I am having such a difficult time putting my thoughts together. I have all these things to say, but I don't know how phrase them to give this trilogy the praise it deserves.
The story, the characters, Ruby's voice. This is the journey of hope, of seeing a better world even when you're in the darkest corners of it. This is about living life. Living the hell out of life, because it's the only one you've got.
If you've read the trilogy, you know what I'm talking about. I have never read a dystopian with such an impact like Alexandra Bracken's. If you haven't read it... do yourself a favor. You're going to laugh and you're going to cry. But if it's anything like the way I cried in these last couple of pages, it's going to feel amazing.
[The only (spoiler-y) comment I have for the book is that I wished I would have gotten a little bit of closure on Sam/Lucas. I know I'm asking for a lot, but after having so much connection to In Time, I wish there would have been more on whether Lucas resurfaced, if it was even possible for any of the Reds.]
I loved this trilogy. I LOVED IT I LOVED IT I LOVED IT the way Ruby loves Liam. (I also love Liam the way Ruby loves Liam, but that is beyond the point.)
Thank you, Alex!
I am having such a difficult time putting my thoughts together. I have all these things to say, but I don't know how phrase them to give this trilogy the praise it deserves.
The story, the characters, Ruby's voice. This is the journey of hope, of seeing a better world even when you're in the darkest corners of it. This is about living life. Living the hell out of life, because it's the only one you've got.
If you've read the trilogy, you know what I'm talking about. I have never read a dystopian with such an impact like Alexandra Bracken's. If you haven't read it... do yourself a favor. You're going to laugh and you're going to cry. But if it's anything like the way I cried in these last couple of pages, it's going to feel amazing.
[The only (spoiler-y) comment I have for the book is that I wished I would have gotten a little bit of closure on Sam/Lucas. I know I'm asking for a lot, but after having so much connection to In Time, I wish there would have been more on whether Lucas resurfaced, if it was even possible for any of the Reds.]
I loved this trilogy. I LOVED IT I LOVED IT I LOVED IT the way Ruby loves Liam. (I also love Liam the way Ruby loves Liam, but that is beyond the point.)
Thank you, Alex!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overview
I didn't think I'd enjoy this book so much, but I did. It absolutely transcended the level that the previous two books had set before it. I have never been so hooked in a story as I was with this one. That prologue really did wonders. The action had me on the edge of my seat, the character arcs were fascinating, each character brought something different and enjoyable to the table, and, of course, this being a dystopian, the discussion of whether or not the powers/abilities were something to be embraced because of the responsibility that rested on how someone used them. I'm actually sad to see this come to a conclusion. I hope we see these same characters in Zu's book because I'm unwilling to part with everyone just yet.
Characters
Ruby: I have had a really rocky experience reading Ruby's perspective for these last three books. At first I really didn't like her, but seeing how much she's grown and changed, even if some things may have taken a while, I actually really appreciate her as a main character. She learned from her mistakes when it counted, and I enjoyed seeing that.
Clancy: Do I love him or do I love to hate him? If you know anything about me, you know I love complex antagonists. Clancy was someone whose motives I understood and partially agreed with, but his methods of survival were ones I couldn't get behind, and I loved having that internal struggle. Every time Clancy appeared on the page I was so excited to read what he had to say even if I knew it was going to be something disturbing or frustrating.
Cate: I actually didn't know how I felt about her. Ruby spends so much time in Never Fade keeping her distance from Cate that by the time we're supposed to believe that she and Ruby have this sweet, strong relationship where Cate's love for Ruby is so evident, it just doesn't seem believable.
Zu: I'm so proud of this little bean. She's come so far. I can't wait to see what the fourth book has in store for her because she's so inspiring at such a young age that I'm so excited to see what she's like when she's older.
Relationships
Ruby and Liam: I have yet to see a relationship in YA that I truly love. This one got close, but there was something so unrealistically cheesy about them that didn't feel fun. It was nice to have this strong love survive through its complications in the midst of all the heartbreak that was going on, but it just didn't feel enjoyable to read. I can say with certainty, however, that I loved how heavily Liam emphasized consent in everything that he did with Ruby. There aren't many relationships in media that exemplify that, and I appreciated it being put into this story.
I didn't think I'd enjoy this book so much, but I did. It absolutely transcended the level that the previous two books had set before it. I have never been so hooked in a story as I was with this one. That prologue really did wonders. The action had me on the edge of my seat, the character arcs were fascinating, each character brought something different and enjoyable to the table, and, of course, this being a dystopian, the discussion of whether or not the powers/abilities were something to be embraced because of the responsibility that rested on how someone used them. I'm actually sad to see this come to a conclusion. I hope we see these same characters in Zu's book because I'm unwilling to part with everyone just yet.
Characters
Ruby: I have had a really rocky experience reading Ruby's perspective for these last three books. At first I really didn't like her, but seeing how much she's grown and changed, even if some things may have taken a while, I actually really appreciate her as a main character. She learned from her mistakes when it counted, and I enjoyed seeing that.
Clancy: Do I love him or do I love to hate him? If you know anything about me, you know I love complex antagonists. Clancy was someone whose motives I understood and partially agreed with, but his methods of survival were ones I couldn't get behind, and I loved having that internal struggle. Every time Clancy appeared on the page I was so excited to read what he had to say even if I knew it was going to be something disturbing or frustrating.
Cate: I actually didn't know how I felt about her. Ruby spends so much time in Never Fade keeping her distance from Cate that by the time we're supposed to believe that she and Ruby have this sweet, strong relationship where Cate's love for Ruby is so evident, it just doesn't seem believable.
Zu: I'm so proud of this little bean. She's come so far. I can't wait to see what the fourth book has in store for her because she's so inspiring at such a young age that I'm so excited to see what she's like when she's older.
Relationships
Ruby and Liam: I have yet to see a relationship in YA that I truly love. This one got close, but there was something so unrealistically cheesy about them that didn't feel fun. It was nice to have this strong love survive through its complications in the midst of all the heartbreak that was going on, but it just didn't feel enjoyable to read. I can say with certainty, however, that I loved how heavily Liam emphasized consent in everything that he did with Ruby. There aren't many relationships in media that exemplify that, and I appreciated it being put into this story.
Spoiler
Chubs and Vida: their personalities were just too opposite of each other for this not to happen. They fit together like a puzzle piece, and I am weak for the rivals to lovers trope. I'm upset we didn't get to see more of them, especially because Zu is always around them, and they both fuss over her in their own sweet ways.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
4.5 stars.
I thought I'd be ready for anything after the last book. I don't learn. Once again, I cried. But at least I handled it better than last time.
I feel I should review the first two books before this one, because for some reason I never got around to it. Oh well...
Short of it? I loved it.
The book condensed:
Ruby: I will do anything to help all of these smol, defenseless children, some of which are not children anymore and are actually older than me, and protect everyone with my life if it comes to it, I just need the perfect plan.
Liam: Darlin', I think I have an idea that—
Ruby: Shh, baby, these are adult matters. No need to worry your pretty, innocent, and naïve head over it.
Liam: I am older than you and I have some thoughts—
Cole: Liam, go play with your toys or you'll get time out.
Liam: ...
Ruby: *baby voice* Who's a good boy?
~~~ Yeaaah
Anyway...
The strongest thing about this book and the trilogy overall was the characters.
Liam, Ruby, Vida, Chubs, Zu, Jude, Nico, Cate, Cole, Sam, Alice, Senator Cruz, even freaking Clancy (who I wanted to choke every time he showed up). Major and minor characters, they all left an impression on me.
Liam was my absolute favorite, though. Characters like him are alway so refreshing. He's just so inherently good, caring, patient, brave. Sweet child. Why are you so pure?
It's hard to get mad at Ruby for being so fiercely protective of him. Not that I didn't still manage to. Which brings me to one of the reasons this book didn't get five stars from me.
Ruby, despite being a fantastic character, became very hard to tolerate for most of the book. She's perhaps the most overprotective character I've read in a while to the point that I realized she became, for a while, the female version of the sterotypical alpha males we see in other books. Condescending, controlling, thinking they know better than everyone, being hurtful and excusing their behavior because they're just doing "what's right". Reading everything through her POV helped nothing. She acted like a martyr and was very frequently over-dramatic. She kept information from anyone and everyone, and when the same was done to her she acted hurt and angry..acknowledging that she had done the same but AGAIN excusing her own decisions because SHE knows better. She acted like a big hypocrite (especially towards Liam), no matter how well intentioned her actions were.
It was hard to swallow that side of Ruby, seeing how she hurt those closest to her and herself because she couldn't trust anyone else to keep everyone safe. I had to stop reading several times because Ruby was making me so very angry with her Mom / Martyr act.
I think the book was unnecessary long and at the same time didn't explain enough. The first half , if not more, was excruciatingly slow and then BOOM, evrything was happening, I suddenly could not put it down, so much went on and we got to see only half of it (which is the downside of first-person narrative). I would have traded three chapters from the first half of the book for a more fleshed out ending.
I will miss these characters so much.But hey, there are still those novellas I have yet to read!! Yay!
I thought I'd be ready for anything after the last book. I don't learn. Once again, I cried. But at least I handled it better than last time.
I feel I should review the first two books before this one, because for some reason I never got around to it. Oh well...
Short of it? I loved it.
The book condensed:
Ruby: I will do anything to help all of these smol, defenseless children, some of which are not children anymore and are actually older than me, and protect everyone with my life if it comes to it, I just need the perfect plan.
Liam: Darlin', I think I have an idea that—
Ruby: Shh, baby, these are adult matters. No need to worry your pretty, innocent, and naïve head over it.
Liam: I am older than you and I have some thoughts—
Cole: Liam, go play with your toys or you'll get time out.
Liam: ...
Ruby: *baby voice* Who's a good boy?
~~~ Yeaaah
Anyway...
The strongest thing about this book and the trilogy overall was the characters.
Liam, Ruby, Vida, Chubs, Zu, Jude, Nico, Cate, Cole, Sam, Alice, Senator Cruz, even freaking Clancy (who I wanted to choke every time he showed up). Major and minor characters, they all left an impression on me.
Liam was my absolute favorite, though. Characters like him are alway so refreshing. He's just so inherently good, caring, patient, brave. Sweet child. Why are you so pure?
It's hard to get mad at Ruby for being so fiercely protective of him. Not that I didn't still manage to. Which brings me to one of the reasons this book didn't get five stars from me.
Ruby, despite being a fantastic character, became very hard to tolerate for most of the book. She's perhaps the most overprotective character I've read in a while to the point that I realized she became, for a while, the female version of the sterotypical alpha males we see in other books. Condescending, controlling, thinking they know better than everyone, being hurtful and excusing their behavior because they're just doing "what's right". Reading everything through her POV helped nothing. She acted like a martyr and was very frequently over-dramatic. She kept information from anyone and everyone, and when the same was done to her she acted hurt and angry..acknowledging that she had done the same but AGAIN excusing her own decisions because SHE knows better. She acted like a big hypocrite (especially towards Liam), no matter how well intentioned her actions were.
It was hard to swallow that side of Ruby, seeing how she hurt those closest to her and herself because she couldn't trust anyone else to keep everyone safe. I had to stop reading several times because Ruby was making me so very angry with her Mom / Martyr act.
I think the book was unnecessary long and at the same time didn't explain enough. The first half , if not more, was excruciatingly slow and then BOOM, evrything was happening, I suddenly could not put it down, so much went on and we got to see only half of it (which is the downside of first-person narrative). I would have traded three chapters from the first half of the book for a more fleshed out ending.
I will miss these characters so much.But hey, there are still those novellas I have yet to read!! Yay!
I was torn between 4 and 5 stars with this one. Lets say 4.5. My reason being that the first part of it was slow There was stuff going on, but it was all leading up to things so it almost felt like there wasn't much going on if that makes sense? The last handful of chapters though?! WWWOOOWWW!! So much happened to end the book (and the series) I absolutely could not put it down! I am satisfied and feel good about how this series has ended. I would definitely recommend the series to others :)
3.5 stars.
The writing style was a consistent stumbling block, but I actually am glad I decided to read this book despite my disappointment with the middle installment of the trilogy. Kind of a Mockingjay vibe, which isn’t at all a bad thing — it’s one of the few series finales that I was satisfied with.
Pacing felt a bit rushed, particularly towards the end; it’s not my preference, but it did create an appropriate sense of urgency so it does work. What didn’t work, surprisingly, was Ruby’s POV: there were few if any clues (that I noticed) as to the major twist, and her values/the plans she favored never wavered despite the vast responsibility hanging over her head, which really makes me side with the other kids in mistrusting her. Also, the fact that the ending doesn’t even address what she would choose feels almost sloppy, too all-loose-ends-tied HEA.
The writing style was a consistent stumbling block, but I actually am glad I decided to read this book despite my disappointment with the middle installment of the trilogy. Kind of a Mockingjay vibe, which isn’t at all a bad thing — it’s one of the few series finales that I was satisfied with.
Pacing felt a bit rushed, particularly towards the end; it’s not my preference, but it did create an appropriate sense of urgency so it does work. What didn’t work, surprisingly, was Ruby’s POV: there were few if any clues (that I noticed) as to the major twist, and her values/the plans she favored never wavered despite the vast responsibility hanging over her head, which really makes me side with the other kids in mistrusting her. Also, the fact that the ending doesn’t even address what she would choose
Spoiler
whether to undergo the operation
Although it is a good wrap up to the end of the series plot-wise, there are so many things that just didn't get through. Ruby did some horrible things that made her an unlovable character. Her relationship with Liam didn't seem like they were together anymore and I felt like something was starting up with Cole, but his character is never truly developed. I get they watch a lot of people die all the time, so they are used to it, but they don't mourn anyone. Not really. The dead characters get a couple of chapters of "oh, if only I could have done something" and then they are forgotten. Never mentioned again. Ruby also came off as a bad leader and person. She's described as this girl who cares too much about everyone, but in reality seems to only think about how things affect her and only gives a second though to others if absolutely necessary. A true letdown for such an awesome series.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes