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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
July 6, 2024
I always remember Never Fade as not being as good as The Darkest Minds, since it's a massive change of pace and tone from the first book and therefore is an extremely different book from its predecessor.
This time around, that difference was less of a detriment than ever before. I'm a completely different person from who I was when I first read these books 9 years ago in 2015 and when I read them again 7 years ago in 2017. I sympathize so much more with Cate, a character who is now younger than me, and even with Ruby, whose cold attitude I always failed to understand as a younger person.
This is all to say, Never Fade has always been great, but I appreciate it so much more now that I can understand its nuance from a far more adult perspective. Isn't that wonderful, to reread a YA series I read when I was 20 or 23 and love it so much more now that I'm 30?
So much of this book hinges on In the Afterlight, though, so with that all said, onward we go.
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.
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
I always remember Never Fade as not being as good as The Darkest Minds, since it's a massive change of pace and tone from the first book and therefore is an extremely different book from its predecessor.
This time around, that difference was less of a detriment than ever before. I'm a completely different person from who I was when I first read these books 9 years ago in 2015 and when I read them again 7 years ago in 2017. I sympathize so much more with Cate, a character who is now younger than me, and even with Ruby, whose cold attitude I always failed to understand as a younger person.
This is all to say, Never Fade has always been great, but I appreciate it so much more now that I can understand its nuance from a far more adult perspective. Isn't that wonderful, to reread a YA series I read when I was 20 or 23 and love it so much more now that I'm 30?
So much of this book hinges on In the Afterlight, though, so with that all said, onward we go.
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
the end of this book !!!! i could NOT handle the fact that jude died and i am completely devasted and the fact that clancy isn't dead angers me even more ! this book was amazing altogether from start to finish and i can't wait to begin the third
I could not get into this book, I just couldn't find it interesting. I rarely have problems like this but I did with the first and second book! The second half of Never Fade was a lot better and there were a lot of good turns in this book towards the end and the ending was really good but I really didn't enjoy the book on the whole. I don't know whether to read book 3 now, this might just be the second book slump and I really want to know what happens to the characters! Really torn with this series!
This series is very engaging, it pulls me in at every turn. I am glad that the next book is already written, because I can’t wait to start the third book.
I finally finished! yay.
Probably about a 3.5 though. I don't know. I struggled so much with this though, so I am not sure how to go about it.
I enjoy the idea, the powers are always intriguing, and some of the characters.
The one thing that really bugs me though is the intelligence of some of the characters. They have schooling of a 10 year old. Yet they seem to have the complete intelligence and knowledge of their age. Maybe 10 year old's know more than I remember, but I'm not so sure.
Bit bummed that I can't read the e-book about Suzume, because I live in Australia. I'd love to know where she is.
The end of this book, finally grabbed my attention a bit, also makes me want to continue.
I also want Chubs and Vida to be a thing. But that might just be me. :)
Probably about a 3.5 though. I don't know. I struggled so much with this though, so I am not sure how to go about it.
I enjoy the idea, the powers are always intriguing, and some of the characters.
The one thing that really bugs me though is the intelligence of some of the characters. They have schooling of a 10 year old. Yet they seem to have the complete intelligence and knowledge of their age. Maybe 10 year old's know more than I remember, but I'm not so sure.
Bit bummed that I can't read the e-book about Suzume, because I live in Australia. I'd love to know where she is.
The end of this book, finally grabbed my attention a bit, also makes me want to continue.
I also want Chubs and Vida to be a thing. But that might just be me. :)
This book can be summed up in just a whole bunch of walking from place to place, Chubs and Vida's banter, Jude being his adorable self , and all the action being shoved to the final three chapters.
I AM BORED. I AM UPSET I DIDN'T LIKE THIS BOOK.
Spoiler
and not deserving that endingI AM BORED. I AM UPSET I DIDN'T LIKE THIS BOOK.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
I struggled a bit in the beginning bc it felt slow and I missed all the characters I loved being together. I also felt like the motivations of certain entities seemed murky like.. I got why things were happening but I dunno I wasn't as into it. I think what I loved most from the darkest minds was the group working together and I really missed that comraderie in the first half especially. However I still enjoyed the book overall and am curious how it will all end.