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alicebme's review
3.0
Still intriguing. Unique. Can't imagine how the trilogy will continue after how this one ends. Pressia makes an unforgivable decision in my opinion.
books4susie's review
5.0
Now I must wait for book 3! Partridge, Lyda, Pressia, El Capitan and Bradwell, what is in store for you.
nicolemhewitt's review
4.0
Find my full review on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction.
Fuse, like its predecessor Pure, is a gritty, post-apocolyptic YA novel that doesn't hold back. Baggott has created a detailed, intriguing world where no one is safe and where anything can happen. It makes for exciting reading because you're never sure what is going to be lurking around the next corner.
Fuse, like its predecessor Pure, is a gritty, post-apocolyptic YA novel that doesn't hold back. Baggott has created a detailed, intriguing world where no one is safe and where anything can happen. It makes for exciting reading because you're never sure what is going to be lurking around the next corner.
missbookiverse's review
5.0
Fazit
Fuse hat sie nicht, die typische zweiter-Teil-Krankheit, bei der man das Gefühl hat der Verlag wollte mit Hängen und Würgen aus einer Story für zwei Bücher eine für drei rausholen. Fuse braucht jede seiner fast 500 Seiten, denn diese sind gefüllt mit schaurigen Erkenntnissen, Charakter- und Beziehungsentwicklungen, Abenteuern, Spannung und fortschreitender Handlung.
Damals habe ich Pure „nur“ mit 4 Sternen bewertet. Im Rückblick würde ich dem Buch wie seinem Nachfolger volle 5 verpassen.
» El Capitan & Helmud.
Wie einem dieses Chaotenteam ans Herz wachsen kann, ist beeindruckend. Ich bin mir gar nicht sicher wie alt El Capitan eigentlich sein soll, er wirkt immer etwas älter als Pressia und co. Die Kapitel, in denen er mit einer tickenden Zeitbombe im Bein herumläuft haben mich fertig gemacht. Ich hatte solche Angst, dass er und Helmud daran sterben würden, aber ZUM GLÜCK hat Helmud sie gerettet. Wunderbar gruselig fand ich wieder wie Helmud Satzstücke von El Capitan wiederholt und ihnen durch das Weglassen bestimmter Wörter eine völlig neue Bedeutung gibt. Überhaupt ist es schön zu sehen wie sich die Beziehung zwischen den beiden Brüdern entwickelt, wie El Capitan seinem Bruder mehr vertraut und wie Helmud auch mal die Rolle des Stärkeren übernehmen darf (z.B. nach dem Raumschiffabsturz als er El Capitan füttert).
Dass El Capitan Gefühle für Pressia hegt, war clever eingeflochten. Schon nach den ersten Kapiteln aus seiner Sicht hat sich dieser Eindruck bei mir eingeschlichen, ich war aber nicht sicher, ob ich da zu viel hineininterpretiere. Tat ich nicht! Pressia reagiert darauf eher zurückhaltend und Cap muss sich erst mal mit Bradwell auseinandersetzen. Hier fand ich es total cool, dass kein dramatisches Liebesdreieck entsteht. Durch Pressias eindeutige Vorliebe Bradwell gegenüber, beschließt El Capitan es mit Klasse zu nehmen und sich lieber mit Bradwell zu verbrüdern als Gefühle für eine Frau zwischen sie kommen zu lassen. Applaus.
» Bradwell & Pressia.
Gott sei Dank verliert Pressia innerhalb des Buches ihre „ich kann Bradwell nicht an mich heranlassen, das ist sicherer für uns beide“ Meinung. Das wäre sonst die reine Qual geworden. Es gibt so viele intensive Szenen zwischen den beiden, allen voran die Überquerung des Flusses, das eiskalte Wasser und das gegenseitige Wärmen danach, das sie beinahe umbringt.
Das Highlight der beiden findet sich am Schluss. Ich war ganz dicht davor zu glauben, dass Bradwell stirbt und wir ihn in Band 3 nicht wiedersehen. Gott sei Dank hat Pressia alle Bitten seinerseits in den Wind geworfen und ihn gerettet. Das Resultat ist schaurig, interessant und verwirrend… anscheinend hat er nun 6 gewaltige Flügel… aber die Vögel auf seinem Rücken waren ja vorher schon da… sind sie das immer noch oder sind da nur Flügel? Oder sind die Vögel einfach gewachsen? Ich bin verwirrt. Ich will mehr wissen! Ich bin froh, dass das Verständnis der beiden zueinander auf einer positiven Note endet. Allerdings kann ich mir vorstellen, dass da noch ordentlich Drama kommt, weil Bradwell Pressia nicht verzeihen kann, was sie ihm angetan hat.
» Partridge & Lyda.
Ich könnte mich kaum entscheiden, welches Paar in diesem Buch mir mehr am Herzen liegt. Die Szenen zwischen Partridge und Lyda sind so intensiv und gefühlsgeladen… wahrscheinlich wegen der düsteren Kulisse, in der sie stattfinden. Wie die beiden miteinander schlafen in dieser kaputten Hütte, eins meiner Lieblingskapitel. Und dann die Konsequenzen, OH LYDA! Sie tat mir so leid, weil ihr im Dome ja absolut nichts über Sex und seine natürlichen Folgen erklärt worden ist. Trotzdem bleibt sie stark, obwohl sie Partridge für sich abgeschrieben hat, unheimlich bewundernswert.
» Partridge.
Seine Erlebnisse im Dome waren erschreckend. Dass alle Erwachsenen bereits Bescheid wissen, hat mir Gänsehaut bereitet. Zum Glück gibt es noch die Gegenbewegung.
Der Part, in dem er seine Erinnerungen verliert, hat mich ein wenig enttäuscht. Das war ein harter Schritt für ihn, aber es dauert gar nicht lange bis er die Lösung und damit sein Gedächtnis findet. Da hätte die Autorin uns Leser noch mehr mit quälen können – verrückt, dass ich mir das freiwillig wünsche.
» Iralene.
Partridges zugeteilte Partnerin im Dome hatte viel mehr zu bieten als ich auf den ersten Blick erwartet hätte. Bis zum Ende bleibt sie ein bisschen undurchschaubar. Ich hätte gar nicht gedacht, dass dieses naiv wirkende Mädchen gleichzeitig auf so vielen Partys tanzt. Ich bin gespannt, ob es im letzten Teil noch eine Art Happy End für sie geben wird.
» Die Formel.
Pressia, Bradwell und El Capitan suchen außerhalb des Domes nach der Formel. Die kleine, schwarze Geheimnisbox Fignan steht ihnen dabei zur Seite. Unglaublich wie ein Gegenstand so vermenschlicht werden kann. Ich hatte bei Fignan immer eher das Gefühl er wäre ein tierischer Gefährte und keine allwissende Box. Auf jeden Fall finden sie irgendwann heraus, dass sie nach Irland müssen, am besten mit einem Raumschiff. Ehrlich gesagt fand ich das ein bisschen blöd. Dieser Ortswechsel war mir zu weit weg und dann auch noch mit einem Raumschiff (zugegeben die einfachste Lösung, alles andere hätte sicher Monate gedauert)… das war mir irgendwie zu doof. Funktioniert hat’s dann aber doch, sowohl für die Figuren als auch im Kontext der Geschichte.
Fuse hat sie nicht, die typische zweiter-Teil-Krankheit, bei der man das Gefühl hat der Verlag wollte mit Hängen und Würgen aus einer Story für zwei Bücher eine für drei rausholen. Fuse braucht jede seiner fast 500 Seiten, denn diese sind gefüllt mit schaurigen Erkenntnissen, Charakter- und Beziehungsentwicklungen, Abenteuern, Spannung und fortschreitender Handlung.
Damals habe ich Pure „nur“ mit 4 Sternen bewertet. Im Rückblick würde ich dem Buch wie seinem Nachfolger volle 5 verpassen.
» El Capitan & Helmud.
Wie einem dieses Chaotenteam ans Herz wachsen kann, ist beeindruckend. Ich bin mir gar nicht sicher wie alt El Capitan eigentlich sein soll, er wirkt immer etwas älter als Pressia und co. Die Kapitel, in denen er mit einer tickenden Zeitbombe im Bein herumläuft haben mich fertig gemacht. Ich hatte solche Angst, dass er und Helmud daran sterben würden, aber ZUM GLÜCK hat Helmud sie gerettet. Wunderbar gruselig fand ich wieder wie Helmud Satzstücke von El Capitan wiederholt und ihnen durch das Weglassen bestimmter Wörter eine völlig neue Bedeutung gibt. Überhaupt ist es schön zu sehen wie sich die Beziehung zwischen den beiden Brüdern entwickelt, wie El Capitan seinem Bruder mehr vertraut und wie Helmud auch mal die Rolle des Stärkeren übernehmen darf (z.B. nach dem Raumschiffabsturz als er El Capitan füttert).
Dass El Capitan Gefühle für Pressia hegt, war clever eingeflochten. Schon nach den ersten Kapiteln aus seiner Sicht hat sich dieser Eindruck bei mir eingeschlichen, ich war aber nicht sicher, ob ich da zu viel hineininterpretiere. Tat ich nicht! Pressia reagiert darauf eher zurückhaltend und Cap muss sich erst mal mit Bradwell auseinandersetzen. Hier fand ich es total cool, dass kein dramatisches Liebesdreieck entsteht. Durch Pressias eindeutige Vorliebe Bradwell gegenüber, beschließt El Capitan es mit Klasse zu nehmen und sich lieber mit Bradwell zu verbrüdern als Gefühle für eine Frau zwischen sie kommen zu lassen. Applaus.
» Bradwell & Pressia.
Gott sei Dank verliert Pressia innerhalb des Buches ihre „ich kann Bradwell nicht an mich heranlassen, das ist sicherer für uns beide“ Meinung. Das wäre sonst die reine Qual geworden. Es gibt so viele intensive Szenen zwischen den beiden, allen voran die Überquerung des Flusses, das eiskalte Wasser und das gegenseitige Wärmen danach, das sie beinahe umbringt.
Das Highlight der beiden findet sich am Schluss. Ich war ganz dicht davor zu glauben, dass Bradwell stirbt und wir ihn in Band 3 nicht wiedersehen. Gott sei Dank hat Pressia alle Bitten seinerseits in den Wind geworfen und ihn gerettet. Das Resultat ist schaurig, interessant und verwirrend… anscheinend hat er nun 6 gewaltige Flügel… aber die Vögel auf seinem Rücken waren ja vorher schon da… sind sie das immer noch oder sind da nur Flügel? Oder sind die Vögel einfach gewachsen? Ich bin verwirrt. Ich will mehr wissen! Ich bin froh, dass das Verständnis der beiden zueinander auf einer positiven Note endet. Allerdings kann ich mir vorstellen, dass da noch ordentlich Drama kommt, weil Bradwell Pressia nicht verzeihen kann, was sie ihm angetan hat.
» Partridge & Lyda.
Ich könnte mich kaum entscheiden, welches Paar in diesem Buch mir mehr am Herzen liegt. Die Szenen zwischen Partridge und Lyda sind so intensiv und gefühlsgeladen… wahrscheinlich wegen der düsteren Kulisse, in der sie stattfinden. Wie die beiden miteinander schlafen in dieser kaputten Hütte, eins meiner Lieblingskapitel. Und dann die Konsequenzen, OH LYDA! Sie tat mir so leid, weil ihr im Dome ja absolut nichts über Sex und seine natürlichen Folgen erklärt worden ist. Trotzdem bleibt sie stark, obwohl sie Partridge für sich abgeschrieben hat, unheimlich bewundernswert.
» Partridge.
Seine Erlebnisse im Dome waren erschreckend. Dass alle Erwachsenen bereits Bescheid wissen, hat mir Gänsehaut bereitet. Zum Glück gibt es noch die Gegenbewegung.
Der Part, in dem er seine Erinnerungen verliert, hat mich ein wenig enttäuscht. Das war ein harter Schritt für ihn, aber es dauert gar nicht lange bis er die Lösung und damit sein Gedächtnis findet. Da hätte die Autorin uns Leser noch mehr mit quälen können – verrückt, dass ich mir das freiwillig wünsche.
» Iralene.
Partridges zugeteilte Partnerin im Dome hatte viel mehr zu bieten als ich auf den ersten Blick erwartet hätte. Bis zum Ende bleibt sie ein bisschen undurchschaubar. Ich hätte gar nicht gedacht, dass dieses naiv wirkende Mädchen gleichzeitig auf so vielen Partys tanzt. Ich bin gespannt, ob es im letzten Teil noch eine Art Happy End für sie geben wird.
» Die Formel.
Pressia, Bradwell und El Capitan suchen außerhalb des Domes nach der Formel. Die kleine, schwarze Geheimnisbox Fignan steht ihnen dabei zur Seite. Unglaublich wie ein Gegenstand so vermenschlicht werden kann. Ich hatte bei Fignan immer eher das Gefühl er wäre ein tierischer Gefährte und keine allwissende Box. Auf jeden Fall finden sie irgendwann heraus, dass sie nach Irland müssen, am besten mit einem Raumschiff. Ehrlich gesagt fand ich das ein bisschen blöd. Dieser Ortswechsel war mir zu weit weg und dann auch noch mit einem Raumschiff (zugegeben die einfachste Lösung, alles andere hätte sicher Monate gedauert)… das war mir irgendwie zu doof. Funktioniert hat’s dann aber doch, sowohl für die Figuren als auch im Kontext der Geschichte.
michalice's review against another edition
4.0
Pure was one of my favourite reads last year and I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Fuse to find out what happens with the characters I fell in love with. I am going to try not to give too much away with my review. There is so much that happens in Fuse that not only will it be too much to put in my review, but all the pieces link together and telling you one may spoil it for what may happen because of it.
Fuse is told through multiple points of view, Pressia, Partridge, Lyda, El Capitan, and Bradwell. We get to follow their journey as they set out with their own tasks and get a full view on how all the pieces interlock together. One action results in another being taken by the opposing force.
Freedle also makes an apperence in Fuse, and he is just as cute as he was in Pure. We are also introduced to Fignan, one of the black boxes that Bradwell discovered in Pure, that has formed an attachment to him, however he is more than just a simple black box, and inside he is a treasure trove of secrets and clues to helping Pressia and Bradwell. I enjoyed seeing Pressia and Bradwell try to solve the riddles and secrets that Fignan holds, working together and pooling ideas and thoughts to make it work.
From the minute I began reading Fuse I was hooked, the plot takes hold and doesn't let go till the last page. A long gap between books sometimes means I lose track of what has previously happened, but with Fuse it was easy to jump straight back in and fall in love with the characters all over again. The tension in the book has you sitting on the edge of your seat wanting to find out what happens, and then there are OMG moments that you did not see coming at all. I loved the build up towards the end of Fuse and it ended far too soon for my liking. Like the last few books I have read, I need to know what happens next right now.
Fuse is told through multiple points of view, Pressia, Partridge, Lyda, El Capitan, and Bradwell. We get to follow their journey as they set out with their own tasks and get a full view on how all the pieces interlock together. One action results in another being taken by the opposing force.
Freedle also makes an apperence in Fuse, and he is just as cute as he was in Pure. We are also introduced to Fignan, one of the black boxes that Bradwell discovered in Pure, that has formed an attachment to him, however he is more than just a simple black box, and inside he is a treasure trove of secrets and clues to helping Pressia and Bradwell. I enjoyed seeing Pressia and Bradwell try to solve the riddles and secrets that Fignan holds, working together and pooling ideas and thoughts to make it work.
From the minute I began reading Fuse I was hooked, the plot takes hold and doesn't let go till the last page. A long gap between books sometimes means I lose track of what has previously happened, but with Fuse it was easy to jump straight back in and fall in love with the characters all over again. The tension in the book has you sitting on the edge of your seat wanting to find out what happens, and then there are OMG moments that you did not see coming at all. I loved the build up towards the end of Fuse and it ended far too soon for my liking. Like the last few books I have read, I need to know what happens next right now.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
5.0
Fuse is the sequel to Pure and therefore this review may contain spoilers for the previous book.
A wretch has been captured by the dome and returned Pure. She comes with a message; return our son. Willux wants Partridge to return to the dome. With his enhancements catching up to him, does he want one last moment with his son? Is this a sign that Partridge could take over the dome as a legitimate leader? Meanwhile, Pressia and Bradwell are studying the black boxes retrieved from the farmhouse; one of which is holding secrets just outside their reach. Can they work out the puzzle and could there really be a cure?
Overall, Fuse is a much slower story than Pure but one I found myself loving (more so than the first book). Where I took a while to get my head round the world before, this time I could dive right in and feel at home. There were several “there all about to die!” moments, usually at a point I had to stop reading, which meant it was still gripping.
There are lots of little threads but there are really two main storylines; Partridge’s return to the dome and Pressia’s search for the cure. The kindling relationships started in Pure are built apon a little, but I didn’t feel they overwhelmed the plot. Lyda’s experience with The Mothers is frightening but it pushes the story to extremes. In a warped way, their bitterness has logic. They were left to their fate by men the day of the attacks and their grief and anger has turned them to revenge. I adored Fignam. Yes he’s a black box, designed to hold information, but Julianna gives him the mannerisms of a dog and he has such character.
You know what I really loved about Fuse? El Capitan and Helmud. In Pure, they were characters introduced to us as the enemy and El Capitan continued to be easy to dislike. But then there was that bit at the end with Helmud and the garrotte. A little hint of something more going on in Helmud’s head as well as the push for El Capitan to reconsider their relationship. I love the interactions between them in Fuse. Helmud’s echo contains little deviations in inflection or he’ll pick out a specific word. There’s a huge desire in me as a reader for Helmud to become more of an individual. Cap starts to change in the presence of Pressia; having a purpose and friendship makes a huge difference to him and I just love this unorthodox pairing of characters.
My final thoughts were “what have you done?” and I cannot wait until Burn, the final instalment in the trilogy.
A wretch has been captured by the dome and returned Pure. She comes with a message; return our son. Willux wants Partridge to return to the dome. With his enhancements catching up to him, does he want one last moment with his son? Is this a sign that Partridge could take over the dome as a legitimate leader? Meanwhile, Pressia and Bradwell are studying the black boxes retrieved from the farmhouse; one of which is holding secrets just outside their reach. Can they work out the puzzle and could there really be a cure?
Overall, Fuse is a much slower story than Pure but one I found myself loving (more so than the first book). Where I took a while to get my head round the world before, this time I could dive right in and feel at home. There were several “there all about to die!” moments, usually at a point I had to stop reading, which meant it was still gripping.
There are lots of little threads but there are really two main storylines; Partridge’s return to the dome and Pressia’s search for the cure. The kindling relationships started in Pure are built apon a little, but I didn’t feel they overwhelmed the plot. Lyda’s experience with The Mothers is frightening but it pushes the story to extremes. In a warped way, their bitterness has logic. They were left to their fate by men the day of the attacks and their grief and anger has turned them to revenge. I adored Fignam. Yes he’s a black box, designed to hold information, but Julianna gives him the mannerisms of a dog and he has such character.
You know what I really loved about Fuse? El Capitan and Helmud. In Pure, they were characters introduced to us as the enemy and El Capitan continued to be easy to dislike. But then there was that bit at the end with Helmud and the garrotte. A little hint of something more going on in Helmud’s head as well as the push for El Capitan to reconsider their relationship. I love the interactions between them in Fuse. Helmud’s echo contains little deviations in inflection or he’ll pick out a specific word. There’s a huge desire in me as a reader for Helmud to become more of an individual. Cap starts to change in the presence of Pressia; having a purpose and friendship makes a huge difference to him and I just love this unorthodox pairing of characters.
My final thoughts were “what have you done?” and I cannot wait until Burn, the final instalment in the trilogy.
pewterwolf's review against another edition
4.0
Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf
With the world divided into those in the Dome - the Pure - and those outside the Dome when the bombs went off - the wretches, things are dark and morbid. When Partridge - a Pure - escaped from the Dome and met Pressia, a wretch, their worlds get turned upside down and he end is no where in sight.
And now, the Dome wants Partridge back. At whatever cost. Snatching children wretches and making them "Pure", even though the enhancements are no way suitable for children so young, and all they can say is one message: "We want our son back. This girl is proof hat we can save you all. If you ignore our plea, we will kill our hostages one at a time." To save lives, Partridge has to go back into the Dome and into the clutches of the Dome's ruler, his father.
Meanwhile, Pressia, Bradwell and El Capitan must decode secrets that could set the wrecthes free from the fusing safely.
But how far will those fighting Willux go to stop him? Over land? Over sea? Over body? Or mind?
Now, I'm going to admit this here and now: I am very much torn over this book. I do like it and yet, at the same time, I have issues with it. Well, one issue, mainly.
Let's start with the pros. The writing is wonderful. It's Julianna's writing that kept me going. It's so lyrical. It just works. And for character development. The characters - all the characters - change so slowly and carefully that, by the time you get to the end of the book, you are surprised that the characters changed so much. You don't see the changes in an instant. The changes are subtle.
The plot and the ideas Julianna put forward are quite scary. I said earlier in the review and in my review for Pure that this series is one of the scariest post-apocalyptic series I have come across. And, while this book didn't have me as scared as Pure (because I had no idea what Pure was about), Fuse sets up ideas which are frightening and set me on edge while reading as these ideas seem possible. The whole world that Julianna writes is very much in the realm of possible and that's why I see these books as dark and scary.
Cons. *sighs* I have one huge con and one little con. Let's start some. This book is DARK. And morbid. There will be times where, if you're not in the right frame of mind, where you will go "Why am I reading this?!" You have to be in the right frame of mind. If not, this book/series is going to be a struggle for you.
My second con is length. Yes, I know that I said the character development is subtle and that is due to the book's length, but there were times over the two week course I read this where I honestly thought "Is this chapter REALLY important to the point?". I honestly thought a good 50 or so pages could have been cut out. I found it hard to keep my bounce on reading this when I would look at what I had left and think "I'm never going to finish this."
But finish this I have. And I still don't know how I feel about this. I think this book will be one of those books I will be thinking about for a while so my instant reaction might be clouded. But I do know I want the third and final book in the trilogy (it's been announced that it will be called Burn) and I am getting excited over movie news to this series. But I'm still on the fence with this at time of writing this.
With the world divided into those in the Dome - the Pure - and those outside the Dome when the bombs went off - the wretches, things are dark and morbid. When Partridge - a Pure - escaped from the Dome and met Pressia, a wretch, their worlds get turned upside down and he end is no where in sight.
And now, the Dome wants Partridge back. At whatever cost. Snatching children wretches and making them "Pure", even though the enhancements are no way suitable for children so young, and all they can say is one message: "We want our son back. This girl is proof hat we can save you all. If you ignore our plea, we will kill our hostages one at a time." To save lives, Partridge has to go back into the Dome and into the clutches of the Dome's ruler, his father.
Meanwhile, Pressia, Bradwell and El Capitan must decode secrets that could set the wrecthes free from the fusing safely.
But how far will those fighting Willux go to stop him? Over land? Over sea? Over body? Or mind?
Now, I'm going to admit this here and now: I am very much torn over this book. I do like it and yet, at the same time, I have issues with it. Well, one issue, mainly.
Let's start with the pros. The writing is wonderful. It's Julianna's writing that kept me going. It's so lyrical. It just works. And for character development. The characters - all the characters - change so slowly and carefully that, by the time you get to the end of the book, you are surprised that the characters changed so much. You don't see the changes in an instant. The changes are subtle.
The plot and the ideas Julianna put forward are quite scary. I said earlier in the review and in my review for Pure that this series is one of the scariest post-apocalyptic series I have come across. And, while this book didn't have me as scared as Pure (because I had no idea what Pure was about), Fuse sets up ideas which are frightening and set me on edge while reading as these ideas seem possible. The whole world that Julianna writes is very much in the realm of possible and that's why I see these books as dark and scary.
Cons. *sighs* I have one huge con and one little con. Let's start some. This book is DARK. And morbid. There will be times where, if you're not in the right frame of mind, where you will go "Why am I reading this?!" You have to be in the right frame of mind. If not, this book/series is going to be a struggle for you.
My second con is length. Yes, I know that I said the character development is subtle and that is due to the book's length, but there were times over the two week course I read this where I honestly thought "Is this chapter REALLY important to the point?". I honestly thought a good 50 or so pages could have been cut out. I found it hard to keep my bounce on reading this when I would look at what I had left and think "I'm never going to finish this."
But finish this I have. And I still don't know how I feel about this. I think this book will be one of those books I will be thinking about for a while so my instant reaction might be clouded. But I do know I want the third and final book in the trilogy (it's been announced that it will be called Burn) and I am getting excited over movie news to this series. But I'm still on the fence with this at time of writing this.
tiffanywang29's review
4.0
Sadly, I can't say I liked this one as much as the first (please don't be like The Hunger Games because if the last book sucks I'll be really sad). That being said, it was still really good and kept me reading the majority of the book in less than two days, but that's not the point. Something about the plot just wasn't as interesting as the first. I felt like last book, I was constantly rooting for Bradwell and Pressia to get together and then this book made that little relationship seem anti-climatic even though so many climatic things happen between them. We do find out more secrets and are one step closer to overthrowing the Dome (I must say, even though I don't care for Partridge that much, his part of the story was more exciting and ended in a nice cliffhanger). The ending was sweet, but still somewhat disappointing in a way I can't really pinpoint. I wanted something to blow up (literally or figuratively, your choice) and that ending seemed like the end of a section of the book-something that leads into something bigger on the next page. Regardless, I am 100% sure that I will read the last book, though I wish it already came out. I did run into some struggles of forgetting what happened in the 1st book, since some of the details were blurry. When I read, I like connecting the puzzle along with the characters, but it's harder when I don't have the pieces on the edges to set a foundation. Anyways, that isn't Baggott's fault (though if she wrote faster I guess I wouldn't have had to wait so long-haha jk this book has been out for so long now). What is (somewhat) her fault is the minor typos. There was one that really stood out. Even though it didn't confuse the meaning of what was going on, it was an obvious typo that someone probably should have caught.
Side note: I found it amusing near the beginning of the book when El Capitan was trying to be "nicer" and apologized for making a sarcastic comment because it was "too mean." Does that make me a super mean person?
Side note: I found it amusing near the beginning of the book when El Capitan was trying to be "nicer" and apologized for making a sarcastic comment because it was "too mean." Does that make me a super mean person?
ja3m3's review
5.0
I read [b:Pure|9680114|Pure (Pure, #1)|Julianna Baggott|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1302743156s/9680114.jpg|14568028] the first book in the trilogy and loved it. I wasn’t sure Baggott would be able to follow it, but I was delightfully surprised. Fuse is just as good as Pure, if not better. In Pure Baggott meticulously detailed the world after the detonation and in Fuse she delves into the characters. I wish the third book was out now… 2014 seems very far away. If you love dystopian novels, you really must read this series.
laughlinesandliterature's review
4.0
Fuse was definitely a good followup to the first book, Pure. I really liked the character development in this book. We did have multiple POV’s in this book, and while in the first one the changes didn’t bother me it did detract from this book for me. There were 4 total, but I will touch on each of them even though it was a bit much for me.
Pressia was totally awesome in this book, and while her hot and cold behavior towards Bradwell did bother me it also felt realistic. I don’t know that in her position loving someone is a good idea. The romantic side of me says of course love is worth it, but the pragmatic side says survival is all that matters. I also liked how Pressia grew in this installment, she really started to come into her own. She began to figure out what she wanted, and what she was willing to give up. I also liked that we got see Pressia’s brilliance come out. She started to figure out the mystery that surrounds the Dome and what they want by herself. It’s easy to see Bradwell is not the only highly intelligent member of their group.
Partridge was a difficult character for me to get into once he leaves Lyda and the rest of the group behind. I just don’t feel much sympathy for Partridge, and while I think he wants to do the right thing, I also think he wants to do the easy thing. I did like that he was able to deceive his father, even if it was with the help of Iralene. Iralene ended up being a character that I found intriguing, and I wish we knew more about her story. In the end though, I just felt like Partridge regressed. Instead of growing like other characters he really just became dependent on those around him.
Lyda was the hardest POV of view for me to read, and I will be honest I did end up skimming/skipping large sections of her POV. I did like that she ended up being her own person, and able to tell Partridge that she was not going to just follow him.There was nothing wrong with Lyda in general, but it just felt like she wasn’t contributing to the overall story. In this book it just felt like she was there because of her romantic entanglement to Partridge. I also could have done without a few of things that happened towards the end of the book. I just felt like Lyda’s POV was the least important.
On the other hand even though it wasn’t important I LOVED El Capitan’s POV. Part of it is because his character growth from Pure to the end of Fuse was amazing. Especially with his brother Helmud. I loved these two together, and there were even laugh out loud moments, which in a series so incredibly dark is always amazing. I truly felt for El Capitan in this book, he definitely realizes a few things about himself, Pressia and Bradwell. It was heartbreaking, because while I adore his character there is no way he is going to get the happy ending that he deserves. El Capitan knows this and is resigned to it, but he is still a wonderful person in spite of that.
Julianna Baggott does a fantastic job of creating this world, and it is dark, complex, and wonderful. Her writing draws you in, and makes you think. There is mystery and intrigue everywhere, but yet every character is multi-faceted. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars simply because the multiple POV did detract from the storyline, but this is frequently my complaint and probably will not ruin the book for any readers who don’t mind it.
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/03/fuse-burn-by-julianna-baggott.html*
Pressia was totally awesome in this book, and while her hot and cold behavior towards Bradwell did bother me it also felt realistic. I don’t know that in her position loving someone is a good idea. The romantic side of me says of course love is worth it, but the pragmatic side says survival is all that matters. I also liked how Pressia grew in this installment, she really started to come into her own. She began to figure out what she wanted, and what she was willing to give up. I also liked that we got see Pressia’s brilliance come out. She started to figure out the mystery that surrounds the Dome and what they want by herself. It’s easy to see Bradwell is not the only highly intelligent member of their group.
Partridge was a difficult character for me to get into once he leaves Lyda and the rest of the group behind. I just don’t feel much sympathy for Partridge, and while I think he wants to do the right thing, I also think he wants to do the easy thing. I did like that he was able to deceive his father, even if it was with the help of Iralene. Iralene ended up being a character that I found intriguing, and I wish we knew more about her story. In the end though, I just felt like Partridge regressed. Instead of growing like other characters he really just became dependent on those around him.
Lyda was the hardest POV of view for me to read, and I will be honest I did end up skimming/skipping large sections of her POV. I did like that she ended up being her own person, and able to tell Partridge that she was not going to just follow him.There was nothing wrong with Lyda in general, but it just felt like she wasn’t contributing to the overall story. In this book it just felt like she was there because of her romantic entanglement to Partridge. I also could have done without a few of things that happened towards the end of the book. I just felt like Lyda’s POV was the least important.
On the other hand even though it wasn’t important I LOVED El Capitan’s POV. Part of it is because his character growth from Pure to the end of Fuse was amazing. Especially with his brother Helmud. I loved these two together, and there were even laugh out loud moments, which in a series so incredibly dark is always amazing. I truly felt for El Capitan in this book, he definitely realizes a few things about himself, Pressia and Bradwell. It was heartbreaking, because while I adore his character there is no way he is going to get the happy ending that he deserves. El Capitan knows this and is resigned to it, but he is still a wonderful person in spite of that.
Julianna Baggott does a fantastic job of creating this world, and it is dark, complex, and wonderful. Her writing draws you in, and makes you think. There is mystery and intrigue everywhere, but yet every character is multi-faceted. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars simply because the multiple POV did detract from the storyline, but this is frequently my complaint and probably will not ruin the book for any readers who don’t mind it.
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/03/fuse-burn-by-julianna-baggott.html*