Jess Peters's Blog, page 36

In The Afterlight (Book 3) by Alexandra Bracken

This book is the 3rd in The Darkest Minds series. It leads on after the events of the end of the previous book.

The book has a tonne of action in it. The storyline is great and moves at a good, fast pace. I love the way the plot develops and how it finally meets the end. It ends at a nice point. The fact they brush on the afterwards is a good touch.

I continued to love the characters. All of them have developed from when we first met them. Zu’s personal development in this book definitely makes up for her absence in the previous. Ruby by far, has the greatest development. Her courage and bravery at the end to get the job done in the place she hates the most is a show for how far she has come me from the start.

The only criticism I have is that it’s great that it is all from Ruby’s perspective, however this has meant that we missed most of the action at the end. They spent quite a whike in the book talking about this plan that it would have just be nice to read it all oan out. I know Liam tells her what happened, so we do get to know somewhat but its never the same as reading the action happen. I do also get that Ruby’s situation did prevent her from joining them. This hasn’t had an impact on what I think of the book at all though.

Overall, this book is a brilliant book. It’s full of action, well written, grest characters and with some surprises thrown in. I would definitely recommend this series.

My rating: 5/5*

Never Fade (Book 2) by Alexandra Bracken

This book is the second book in The Darkest Minds series. This is the second time I have read this book and I have enjoyed it as much as I did the first tine round.

It starts a few months after the previous book. Ruby is working with the Children’s League after wiping Liams memory and making sure that he is free. She is leading a small team of kids, Vida a blue, Jude, a yellow and Nico, a green.

I enjoyed this book. It leads on well from the first, although it did take a little while for the plot to properly get going. Once Ruby leaves on a ‘special mission’, the pace really picks up.

I liked the connection between Ruby and Liam, especially after the events of the first and the fact he doesnt entirely remember her. I found it really sweet how he still had this longing to be with her.

I continued to like Chubs and his sense of humour. It was interesting to read how he had kept himself safe over the months. I just felt it was a shame to have a lack of mentioning of Zu. We don’t know if she has made it to California safely or not. I guess that also adds to the excitement of the next book.

I liked the added storyline within the Children’s League. Jude and Vida were great characters and Nico and his backstory near the end was a good addition. I think the ending sets up well for the next book.

Overall, this book was brilliant. I would definitely recommend this series. It is exciting, well paced, full of action and well written.

My rating: 5/5*

Searching For Home by Aspen Kendrick

This book follows twins, Aurora and Ambrose who have lived on Pendra for as long as they can remember. Their unique abilities to see into the future and the past tell them that their parents are not dead and nor were they abandoned. They set out on a journey to find their parents, however, when they find them, all is not what they expected. They then find their own adventures on Terra.

This book was a nice read. It was light hearted the majority of the way through with aspects of darkness thrown in. It had a good storyline and the characters were good.

Aurora and Ambrose were incredibly likable. They started out as the sweet innocent children and developed as teenagers who kept they’re innocence on the new world of Terra (Earth). As they learnt new things, they both developed in character. They had a great connection together and even when they drifted slightly apart, events happened which they soon drifted back, needing eachother.

My only problem with this book was the pace in which it moved at. I felt it needed to move faster. It would have added more excitement to it. The last quarter was where things suddenly moved at a faster pace and different events started to happen.

As good as the writing is, and the characters are, the story just needed that extra push for me. Nonetheless, I stilled enjoyed this book and the last quarter saved it for me.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It had a good story and great characters.

My rating: 4/5*

 

Free Souls (Mindjack: Kira Book 3) by Susan Kaye Quinn

This book leads on a few months after the previous one. Kira has joined Julian’s Mindjacker movement whilst also working in finding Agent Kestrel.

This book was enjoyable to read. It moved at a nice fast pace throughout and the plot developed well.

I have enjoyed seeing Kira grow as an individual. She’s become a strong independent women. I also liked getting to know various other characters more such as Julian, Sasha, Anna and Ava.

I liked the different types of Mindjackers and seeing what their different skills were. That was alot better than everyone simply being the same and doing the same thing.

I liked how the storyline progressed. The smaller details were good and especially the ones I didn’t see coming, such as her mum and the ending in general.

The was great and very different to what you could have guessed. Kira choose to make a decision which to some in the book, would have been controversial. It made the final outcome more exciting to read.

Through all the heartbreak and tears Kira had to endure, it was nice to see her happy with Julian. As much as it was sad to see her lose Raf, it was nice to see someone else make her happy.

I would definitely recommend this series. It moves at a nice pace with a great storyline. The second and third books are definitely better than the first.

My rating: 5/5*

Closed Hearts (Mindjack: Kira Book 2) by Susan Kaye Quinn

AwThis book picks up 8 months after the previous one. Kira has tried getting on with a normal life after telling the world the truth about Mindjackers. Her family and herself have had to move and change names after being attacked in their home. She wonders is telling the truth was the right thing.

This book was at a much faster pace than the first. It was event after event the whole way through. Raf and herself end up in Jackertown against their will after he collapses in her arms. Kira is forced into breaking into FBI agent Kestrel’s experimental torture chamber for jackers.

Various things in this story help to develop Kira’s character. She is already a stronger person after the first book and she just continues to develop further. I like her character and the vulnerability she has at times. One girl changed life for Mindjackers already. Can she really be expected to do more?

I liked the new characters involved and how mysterious they were, particularly Julian. It’s great to see different Mindjackers and see what they can and can’t do. Everyone is their own individual in this book.

I liked getting to know her Dad more in this book. He was absent most of the first and became a complicated mystery. He still seems to end up on conflicting sides at times, but I do believe he just wants the best for Kira.

The ending was tough. I found it unexpected. I’m looking forward seeing what she is going to do about that situation as I don’t believe she will just let it go like she is making us think.

Overall, I’m looking forward to the next book. This book was definitely better than the first. I would definitely recommend checking this series out.

My rating: 5/5*

Open Minds (Mindjack: Kira Book 1) by Susan Kaye Quinn

This book follows a girl called Kira on a journey of discovery. In a world were everybody can hear each others thoughts, Kira finds that she hasn’t developed this, making her a zero. Then something strange happens and she finds that she isn’t a zero, but also, she is still not like everyone else. She is different. She is a Mindjacker.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a good storyline and the plot moved nicely.

I liked Kira. She starts of quite naive and stuck in her own world. She s under Simon’s charm easily which soon gets her in a bit of a sticky situation. How she treats Raf, her best friend becomes frustrating until the end. By the end, Kira becomes a strong independent women.

I felt that although the storyline generally moved at a nice pace with a good amount of action, however, there were times when it slowed and needed more push. The ending was rather adrupt that you have no idea where book 2 will go. This is one situation where I felt a cliffhanger was probably needed.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will read book 2 in the series.

My rating. : 4/5*

Deep Shadows (The Child Thief #2) by Bella Forrest

This book was brilliant. It lead on we from the last one with the plot continuing to progress well. Robin has continued on her journey on bringing down the CRAS, starting with getting out of the warehouse and the badly gone situation she has found herself in at the end of the previous book.

It was full of action and ran at a very fast pace right from the start. There wasn’t a dull moment at all. The whole book was quite tense throughout.

I am continuing to like the characters as well and enjoying getting to know all the other characters which Robin has met on this journey. The secrecy between different characters has emerged in this book, but all for good reason. It makes for an exciting read finding out about various things the same time Robin does.

As per typical Bella Forrest style, it has ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.

I’m really looking forward to the next one. I would definitely recommend this series. Look back at my review on the first book in the series and check it out. Its truly brilliant.

My rating: 5/5*

Surviving The Evacuation, Book 13: Future’s Beginning by Frank Tayell

This series follows a zombie outbreak starting in London (the first book is literally called London).

It’s fast moving, full of action, full of surprises and also tackles real life situations which would most likely would occur if such a thing would happen. There is also aspects of nuclear war involved.

This book is the 13th in the series. The first few follow a character called Bill in a diary form. The next few then follow a character called Nilda. These characters and various people they meet on the way all end up intertwining into one big storyline which soon leads to where I am at now, in the 13th book.

I enjoyed this book. As much as I would like to know what has happened to Bill, I think having this story from those in Ireland and their problems has worked well. They don’t know what has happened either. It’s kept me wanting to read more and know what happens next.

The storyline was good and the plot developed nicely. I liked the way the subotage’s have been expanded on and then (hopefully) solved.

It’s nice to get to know some characters more, such a Sibhoan and of course, Sholto.

I do hope the next book goes back to Bill though.

These books have a good balance of zombie action as well as real life problems and politics which could arise in a situation like they’re in.

This is a brilliant series and I would definitely recommend reading these books. They definitely need to read in order otherwise I don’t think the storyline will completly make sense.

My rating: 5/5*

The Enhanced: Awakening by T. C Edge

This book is part of the Enhanced world. It follows Brie and Kira after the war of Haven.

I really enjoyed reading this. It’s always nice to see what happens next after the main series. It was also great to get a glimpse of the wider world outside of Haven.

The storyline was great and moved at a good pace. There was plenty of action within it and the plot developed nicely. Some events I didn’t see coming which made for a better read.

Brie and Kira’s relationship developed well on their journey. The challenges they faced strengthen it by the end of the book. Brie’s personal development continued in this, especially when after the war and events of the Enhanced series, she didn’t know what to do with herself.

I really hope this story is continued in the future. It was left at a point where it could be developed further, or left where it was. Afterv by the events and discoveries in the book, I think it would benefit from further development.

I would definitely recommend reading this book. I do feel it should be read after the Enhanced series.

My rating: 5/5*

Number’s Raging (Number’s Game #3) by Rebecca Rode

This book is a brilliant conclusion to the Numbers Game series.

The plot develops well and the story line moves at a fast pace, especially towards the end.

I liked how Treena had developed. She had to step up and become a leader through this book even though she didn’t really want it. The more she heard from Ruby and read Richard Peals diary, the more she started to realise she has to, that someone has to.

Vance started to annoy me in this book. He did become to overprotective, and then when he left, I was just plain angry at him. I get why Treena let it go, but it that was me, I wouldn’t have that easily.at the very end, he did finally become the man he should have acted like throughout.

The actual ending, like the last page, could have been a little bit better. It was left on a bit of a, ‘well what happens next’. It wasn’t enough to be a cliffhanger, but I still wanted to know what happened and what she said.

Overall, it was a brilliant book. The whole series was good. The last third of this. Book had me absolutely gripped that I just couldn’t put it down. These books definitely need to be read in order to understand the plot fully, but I would definitely recommend it.

My rating: 5/5*