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heabooknerd's review
4.0
ANTIGEN was a great follow up to ANTIDOTE and takes place immediately after the end of the last one. We knew Temple was being held in prison but now we see the horrible conditions he's enduring and we know that he could easily be killed if he's not rescued soon. I really liked Temple as a hero but I felt like his past was still a bit of a gray area by the end of the book. After all, Temple is actually Skye's foster brother but there are still a lot of holes in the family history. Other than that, Temple is honorable, brave, and not afraid to protect those who need it. Of course, the action kept me gripped in the story so I didn't really notice the lack of backstory until the very end. Part of it comes from Ryder's history, which is so richly revealed throughout that the missing parts of Temple's past were more noticeable.
The majority of the story takes place in the prison, which I was not expecting, but still really enjoyed. That does mean that Ryder and Temple spend a large part of the book apart or running for their lives but that also creates tension as the attraction grows. However, Ryder is used to keeping people at arm's length because she believes she doesn't deserve anything. Her past is quite tragic and I really felt for Ryder and what she's been through, especially because Vithii biology and culture has led to her being ostracized. The last book showed us a bit of the mating practices of the Vithii but this one showed us a deeper, and darker, look at Vithii culture and it's overwhelmingly patriarchal ways. It takes Ryder a bit to accept her self-worth but Temple is there to help her and love her. They fall in love quickly but after everything they've been through, they truly deserve it.
Even though we see a more vulnerable side of Ryder, she's still her usual kick-ass self and I loved every second of it. This woman clearly knows how to take care of herself and she doesn't need a prince charming to rescue her. Of course, the rest of the Shadow Wing is present but Ash plays a particularly strong role in the book and I'm dying for his story but I just know R.A. Steffan is going to make us wait. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I'm loving all that we're learning about these characters and this world as we go. I still have a lot of questions and I would love a better understanding of how the humans and Vithii came to be living on the same planet, but either way, this series has completely grabbed me and I can't wait for more!
Content Warning: References to the death of a child
The majority of the story takes place in the prison, which I was not expecting, but still really enjoyed. That does mean that Ryder and Temple spend a large part of the book apart or running for their lives but that also creates tension as the attraction grows. However, Ryder is used to keeping people at arm's length because she believes she doesn't deserve anything. Her past is quite tragic and I really felt for Ryder and what she's been through, especially because Vithii biology and culture has led to her being ostracized. The last book showed us a bit of the mating practices of the Vithii but this one showed us a deeper, and darker, look at Vithii culture and it's overwhelmingly patriarchal ways. It takes Ryder a bit to accept her self-worth but Temple is there to help her and love her. They fall in love quickly but after everything they've been through, they truly deserve it.
Even though we see a more vulnerable side of Ryder, she's still her usual kick-ass self and I loved every second of it. This woman clearly knows how to take care of herself and she doesn't need a prince charming to rescue her. Of course, the rest of the Shadow Wing is present but Ash plays a particularly strong role in the book and I'm dying for his story but I just know R.A. Steffan is going to make us wait. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I'm loving all that we're learning about these characters and this world as we go. I still have a lot of questions and I would love a better understanding of how the humans and Vithii came to be living on the same planet, but either way, this series has completely grabbed me and I can't wait for more!
Content Warning: References to the death of a child
redhairedashreads's review
4.0
4 stars - It was really good
This was an excellent sequel to Antidote. This takes place shortly after the events in the previous book. Ryder has gone undercover as one of the prison doctors to try and rescue Skye’s brother Temple who was captured during Skye’s escape. But her undercover mission quickly goes belly up and she finds herself a prisoner as well.
Like the previous book, I really enjoyed this one. Ryder was a very interesting heroine. We know she is an experienced doctor but she instantly denies her status as a doctor and that she is a criminal. Ryder’s history was heartbreaking but she has become a strong and dangerous woman. I loved how badass she was and that she has used her heartbreak to do some good. Also, the Vithii culture and mating practices are kind of terrible but I am glad Ryder still let herself open up to love.
“I don’t care what anyone else says, or what they think….You’re mine, and I’m yours. I’m not letting you go. Society can go fuck itself.”
Temple was a very interesting hero who was honorable, brave, and protective. While I really liked Temple, he is still a bit of a mystery by the end of this book. We know very little about his past and his family history, outside of the fact he is Skye’s foster brother. These two had a very emotional relationship that built over their harrowing time escaping the prison. While it was a fast paced relationship, I still loved seeing Ryder slowly learn to trust Temple and embrace her feelings for him.
Overall, I am loving this world and the characters within it. I have so many questions about what is happening in this world that I can't wait to jump into the next book.
Trigger Warnings: references to the death of a child; grief; imprisonment
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child death
phallucee's review
3.0
Yikes. I didn't like this book as much as the first and it seemed to end so suddenly! Also, I really dislike the audiobook narrator, she is much too dramatic and it makes me roll my eyes frequently with how melodramatic she makes certain scenes.
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