Hey Bookworms!

Hope you’re having a great weekend. It’s time for another book review!

I just finished my read of Never Fade, the second in the Darkest Minds series by Alexandra Bracken.

After reading The Darkest Minds, I had some slight reservations in continuing the series, but decided to move on forward with it.

So how did I feel about it? Keep on scrolling!

Blurb:

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

GoodReads

The Review:

DNF @ 60%

Unfortunately, I did not finish this read and stopped at 60% of the way through.

The first book in this series was good, but not great, so I had some reservations going into this one. I guess I should’ve trusted that hesitant feeling.

Continuing on from the first book, Ruby is now working with The Children’s League on missions. She hates it there and plans to leave as soon as possible, but finds herself torn when she learns some disturbing plans of some of the adults there. With few options and a golden opportunity to expose the truth of what really caused the Everhart disease she embarks on a dangerous journey.

This book felt very different from the first book, but similar in some ways.

The characters did change a bit, and while that was refreshing they didn’t quite do it for me. I think the author wanted to have Ruby progress on a personal level, and to some extent she did. She’s received some training in her abilities and has learned not to trust any adult who claims to have her best interests at heart. That being said, the pity parties are definitely still present in this one. She isn’t as tender-hearted as she was in the first book, but I just didn’t feel she progressed enough to maintain my interest. Also, some of her actions didn’t make sense.

Other characters like Jude and Vida I enjoyed, but they felt two-dimensional. Sure, they had a good backstory and unique personalities, but they were just too simple for me and their actions predictable.

The plot started off well enough, but it took too many turns away from the main premise for me. The book started off feeling more like an espionage thriller, and while that was disappointing I was determined to continue forward. However, things really start to drag in spots, and by the time she encounters Knox and his group I had to throw in the towel. That part just didn’t work for me because Ruby’s thought process was suspect and I thought she could’ve come up with a much better plan that would’ve worked easier. The book honestly started feeling like a chore to get through, and once I stop having fun I just have to put a book down and call it quits.

I can’t recommend this book, but if you enjoyed the first one and have an open mind you might enjoy it.

That’s a Wrap!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy reading!

Have you read this book before? What did you think? Do you have a book recommendation similar to this one? Feel free to share in the comments!

If you’d like to see other reviews of mine, feel free to check out the book review section of my blog or my GoodReads. You can also follow my GoodReads reviews here. There are some great binge-worthy books on there!

Have a great day!

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