Outpost (The Razorland Series) by Ann Aguirre

     When I read the first book in the Razorland tetralogy, yes I found out there are four books, I was entertained but slightly bothered.  Outpost brought some interesting growth in a few areas but heavier disappointment in others.  What will the final book bring?

     Outpost, was about Deuce getting used to her new home, Salvation, while dealing with problems concerning her treatment by adults.  Below ground, in the College enclave, she was considered an adult.  She hunted and fought for the safety of the residents, but they weren't a family- more like a clan.  So after relocating, she had to deal, not with hunting and defense, but how to be a lady and attend elementary school.  After proving her worth, she practically takes over the defensive strategy and ends up going out on a mission to another town/outpost for the betterment of Salvation.

     Okay, let me start off by saying, kids can't run the world!  It's ridiculous how so many books have kids like Deuce, Fade and Stalker living like adults, but so immature it's sickening!  We go through the states of puberty and maturity for a reason.  This book had Deuce behaving like a whiny, almost spoiled-like teen, going around trying to prove she was an adult Huntress!  (Oh I can' t wait to stop hearing that claim!)  Fade became so clingy and sophomoric, I just wanted him to be killed off.  And let's not forget about our rapist turned lovestruck, wanna-be hero, Stalker.  He ended up being more interesting than any of them- adults included!
     I have to say I was torn three-fourths and a fourth with this book.  The three-fourths was disappointing because the adults were so ignorant when it came to defending Salvation.  It took a sixteen year old kid- a girl, to bring on some active defense!  The majority of the men were so concerned with being chauvinistic they couldn't even stay alive.  And the  adult ladies pushed Women's Lib back to the stone ages, sitting about knitting and thumping the bible about where a woman's place should be!  THEN...

    When it's do or die for Salvation, it takes Deuce, and her friends to save it?  Nah, I didn't like it.  The portions I enjoyed were all about normalcy.  Deuce, Fade, Tegan and Stalker had to go to school, learn a trade and do their share, which two of the four could relate to.  They developed as characters a bit more and some received loving families, but not enough for me to really care about them.  They were rather flat and too concerned with tongue kissing and fighting the Breeding Feeling.

     I have the next book, Horde, and must purchase the upcoming Restoration.  I sure hope book three is better than the first two.  I have to continue on though...I'm committed to the cause!  Happy reading and find a happy book too!