Reviews

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

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hurrikanekathrina's review against another edition

4.0

Weeeeeow, this book was MUCH BETTER than the first one! I actually really enjoyed this! Now, I'm hooked for the finale one... didn't think I would come to enjoy this quite so much, but Never Fade really had some great characters.

There are still things that bug me. For example, I still think that Ruby is a rather boring, clichée character and her relationship with Liam is beyond cheesy. But it's not the main focus of the story, so that's not that much of a problem.
I don't really like the writing style all that much, even though I think that Alexandra Bracken is a good writer, it's just not my thing. In action-packed moments, she tends to describe too much how everything looks and also, we have to put up with page-long metaphors and images that Ruby creates... it seems forced sometimes. Also, like the first book, I found the lack of a clear plot somehow annoying...

Now to the things I liked: The new characters!
They were ALL awesome!I loved Vida and Jude, they are so cool. Cole, too, I like him a lot!
My favorite character by far, very very far, is Chubs. HE IS AMAZING! I LOVE him and enjoyed every scene with him. Intelligent, dry humor and just a fantastic character.
Also, the other TDM characters we already knew really came around. I really like Clancy, too, he's such a treat! Liam and Ruby are still kind of meh for me, but Cate came around, too.

And now this is going to be a SPOILER, so don't read, if you haven't read Never Fade yet:
The ending. OMG! I could't belive that Jude died! WHY??? Not my poor little baby!!
Also, I think it's kind of ridiculous, that everyone is angry at Clancy for surviving, because Jude didn't. The one surviving had nothing to do with the other dying. How is it Clancy's fault for saving his ass?
Also, what the hell is wrong with everyone? Why do you want A CURE? I was starting to find the whole what caused IAAN thing interesting, and then we find out, that's not what the research is about, but instead its a cure... I was so disappointed. Such a boring twist.
I was hoping we'd get some conspiracy here and that the kids would rise up and use their powers in a badass way, but nope, they want to be cured... Is Clancy really the only normal character for NOT wanting his superpowers taken? I wouldn't want that taken away from me either...

I'm kind of confused, who the main villain is. Is it the president? Because he hasn't really been present in the books... If it's Clancy... I dunno. I think most of the things he does aren't that evil. He is a selfish bastard, alright, but he really just wants to keep his powers and save his own ass... there's nothing wrong with that..

I'm definetely going to read the last one, now, I won't leave this story unfinished...
Oh and a last thing. I kind of ship Vida and Chubs, is that weird?

blurrypetals's review against another edition

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5.0

September 7, 2017:
[re-read for my Greatest Hits Bookshelf Tour 2017]
When I read this book for the first time two and a half years ago, I was pretty disappointed. I came straight off the first book directly into this one, expecting more road trips, more classic rock, Ruby breaking away from the Children's League to rejoin Liam, find out what happened to Chubs, and track down Zu and work on finding their families together. So, when I got a hardboiled Ruby, chewed up and spat back out after six whole months in the League, zero Suzume, and way less Liam than anyone ever expected, I was really disappointed.

Don't get me wrong: I really like the additions of Jude and Vida (and Nico, too, I suppose) in this story. They make up for a lot of the fun you lose when your sweet and southern as molasses lead isn't in half of the book and, when he IS in the book, he's silent or unconscious for most of that time, the fun you lose when your adorable mute girl is stuck in the wilderness with a dude named Gabe and having her own heartbreaking interaction that is THANKFULLY a short story all its own, the fun you lose when your protagonist, who wasn't all that fun to begin with (not a bad character, just a serious one), ends up spending six months in basic training becoming kind of a bitch.

That said, this time around, I had my expectations checked. I obviously knew what to expect from this story and, because of that, I enjoyed it a lot more because I was much more able to enjoy it for what it was. Vida is fucking hilarious and I connect with her and her potty mouth on a spiritual level. Chubs and his absolutely perfect character development and character arc continues to be a perfect character. Jude is exactly what his codename makes him out to be: Sunshine. What little Liam we get is still really good and the moments he and Ruby have one on one are absolutely Alexandra Bracken at her best.

The twists are easier to guess and a little more difficult to latch onto, especially with this second go around, but I will say one thing, and it's a huge spoiler.

Spoiler

Jude's death hit me so very, very much harder this time because I spent the book appreciating the fuck out of him, knowing this was the only time I would ever get with him as a character...and he's a really good character. I didn't cry the first time I read this book. I did this time. A lot.

This book is inferior to its predecessor, but there is still so much to love about it, especially when you know what to expect from it. I loved it more this time and it was because I knew which parts and which characters to enjoy while they were around, because I knew they would only be here for this book and this book alone. It isn't Alexandra Bracken's best effort, but it's still pretty goddamn fucking good and, at the end of the day, that's all I really want.

April 5, 2015:
NNNNNNGHH

clarrmp_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging informative tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Clancy when I catch you Clancy

boman_parker's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

victoria_s112's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

denali_epub's review against another edition

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5.0

Another book in which Alexandra Bracken SLAYED.

I'm going to be 100% honest, and let you all know I went into this book with some major reservations. In a typical series, I tend to find myself grossly attached to book one, and steadily disappointed as the books continue on. I'm happy to report, however, that Never Fade was very much the opposite of that stigma.

Introducing Ruby its the Children's League gave a very different feel from the start of book one, but with the same compelling, almost haunting voice to Bracken's writing, I was still pulled in from the get go. The introduction of the new characters, including Cole, Vida and Jude, was a nice twist from the norm, and I love the new dynamic as Ruby becomes a leader among the Psi's. Though I was saddened immensely (this is an understated - I was w r e c k e d) but the ending and the death of a beloved character, I'm happy to report that Bracken blew herself away with another 5 star novel I'm not likely to recover from anytime soon.