Lies (Gone, #3) in It's not just a FAYZ

Dec 18, 2010 Stephen rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction, teen-reads, z-read-in-2011, z-read-in-2010

Unexpected menace. We usually think of children as little folk that need our protection and yet, they are really uncivilized savages. They've not learned the inhibitions that adults have learned and are equally capable of the tenderest caring and the most horrific violence. It's this potential for violence, this feeling of menace that makes Michael Grant's stories from the FAYZ so compelling.

The third installment in the series continues the tradition and manages to find new ground to cover; new ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Dec 18, 2011 Crazyjamie rated it liked it · review of another edition

After the intriguing Gone and the excellent Hunger, Michael Grant now tempts us with the third instalment of his series which, at this point, seems to be gathering some notable pace.

The story this time around follows on closely from the events of the last book. Ford is still short and there is no electricity, but starvation is no longer a major concern. Instead the newly appoint Town Council is doing its best to control an increasingly strained society of kids within the FAYZ. Orsay, the girl w After the intriguing Gone and the excellent Hunger, Michael Grant now tempts us with the third instalment of his series which, at this point, seems to be gathering some notable pace.

The story this time around follows on closely from the events of the last book. Ford is still short and there is no electricity, but starvation is no longer a major concern. Instead the newly appoint Town Council is doing its best to control an increasingly strained society of kids within the FAYZ. Orsay, the girl with the power to see the dreams of others, is now accompanied by a mysterious girl called Nerezza, and proclaiming that kids should 'step out' when they reach their fifteenth birthday in order to see their family again. Over at Coates, Caine and his small band of followers are genuinely starving, to the point where Caine seeks to strike a deal with the zealously anti mutant Zil and his Human Crew. And in addition to all of this, sightings are being reported of the evil Drake, who everyone thought dead.

With his last book, Grant made it abundantly clear what one of the main theme was in the title of the book. With Lies, he effectively does the same. However, unlike the one dimensional problem of starvation in Hunger, in Lies the theme of lying and trust (or lack of it) spreads beyond a single plot strand. In the main the title refers to the mystery of whether or not Orsay is telling the truth regarding 'stepping out', which is an intriguing question in itself for the reader, but there are certainly other notable examples of characters lying which are not at all clear cut in terms of the morality of their actions.

In a way bringing into question the actions of several different characters in how they deal with unfolding events is a slightly new direction for Grant to move in. Previously 'good' characters are no longer making major decisions out of necessity, which leads them open to criticism from both other characters in the book and the reader, and in turn gives the book a darker tone. It's a clever way of developing the relationships between characters and the characters themselves, and for the most part it works quite well.

Unfortunately, however, this focus seems to come at a cost. Specifically, the main plot in this week feels quite weak in comparison to the previous book. With Caine crippled, no Gaiaphage and (initially at least) no Drake, Grant has to introduce new plot elements to create the sense of adversarial tension that was so effective in Hunger. And these simply aren't as strong as in the previous books.

There is clearly still an overarching plot that will no doubt be revealed in good time, and a couple of interested tidbits towards the end work well to perk the reader's interest in these, but on the whole Lies feels a lot like filler after a previous book that came to a solid conclusion. It is still perfectly readable and enjoyable, and fans of the first two books will lap it up, but given what Grant produced in Hunger there is surely better to come in subsequently instalments. ...more

Like · see review

Jan 24, 2012 Shyla rated it liked it

Shelves: favorites, children-teen-favs, dystopia-utopia, ya

Finished about a week and half ago....can't think of anything but getting the next book, Plague. This was a gateway book....just filler and expanding of the existing story and characters. Not necessary but still an engrossing read that sheds light on the Darkness and his evil plans.

Characters:
Good charter development, Astrid and Sam are having trouble in Paradise and it's no wonder. Relationships at 14 and 15 are hard enough without throwing in the end of the world as you know it including an e ...more

Like · see review

Jul 15, 2013 Lexie rated it really liked it

really great books. really great, really depressing books. (although I have to say, I am SO over the whole "male protector" deal. give me some girl heroes, please and thanks.) ...more

Like · see review

Mar 23, 2010 Astoria rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010-favorite-reads

I read this book in less than 12 hours.
When I first bought the first book I wasn't sure If I was going to like it, but it was worth it.
The series are one of my favorite. This book made what twilight and the other Twilight books couldn't do It made me crave for me.
The characters are afraid, some deal with it, Sam is not a perfect leader, he is a 15 year old. And Astrid proved she is not that good.
I love Dekka.
Edilio is probably my favorite normal character. And I felt bad for John when his si ...more

Like · see review