Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2)

[Mary Pat]

This thread is to discuss Alexandra Bracken‘s book, Never Fade.

Pages: 507

Length: 1 month

Participants: Angela Jr, Susy, Satin, Agne

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Check out the introduction post (here) for more information about Buddy Reads!

You might also want to check out what other Buddy Reads are scheduled for 2018 here!.

Happy Buddy Reading!

[Angela Jr.]

Gonna start this one tonight!

[Susy]

I hope my copy will arrive this Monday...

[Angela Jr.]

I did start, but I'm only on page 20 or something haha. I really need to finish at least one other physical book I'm reading first, it's become a bit overwhelming 🙈

First chapter
(view spoiler)[i was a bit confused about who prisoner 27 was after the face was revealed. It's been too long since we read the first book and I don't have all the details in mind anymore. So i googled Liam's description and it seems to be him! That would also explain ruby's intense reaction. (hide spoiler)]

[Satin]

I’m starting tomorrow night!

[Agne]

Oh, this book is on my September TBR. I might as well join you all for the reading.

[Susy]

I think I'll start more towards the end of the month and read the third instalment right after that.

Made a mistake ordering my books... Now I have 2x Through the Dark and missing the 4th instalment :'(

[Susy]

Agnė wrote: "Oh, this book is on my September TBR. I might as well join you all for the reading."

Sure, the more the merrier Agné!

[Angela Jr.]

Oh, did you want to read the darkest legacy too? I only have the original trilogy plus through the dark.

[Susy]

Yes, want to read that one too. Going to return one copy of Through the Dark and order The Darkest Legacy.

[Agne]

First chapter
(view spoiler)[ Even tho I read first book last month it was a bit hard to get back into the story and into the world. First chapter was a bit slow to get through for me. I also was a little confused and it took me a while to realise that prisoner 27 is Liam. (hide spoiler)]

Second chapter
(view spoiler)[ After the end of first chapter, I was hopefull we are going to see Liam back in the story, but no. Not yet. The story went back to the time where Ruby joined Children’s League. A lot of new characters are introdused and I like them, but I still want the old gang back so much. (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

@agné regarding your spoiler for chapter 1
(view spoiler)[i felt the same way (and still do in chapter 4). For some reason it's really hard to get into the story with this one... And like I said, i had to google what liam looks like lol (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[so now we know who prisoner 27 actually is... Was it ever mention that the brothers look so much alike? I don't remember. Don't know what to think of it yet.
The interrogation with alban was quite weird. Why did ruby continue to lie after rob left the room? Alban and cole seemed to approve of what she did during the op, so they might have been inclined to believe and subsequently protect her. Either way, what was liam doing there when cole got captured? Seems like he has the flashdrive now, so ruby/the league will have to track him down if they want the intel. (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Susy wrote: "Yes, want to read that one too. Going to return one copy of Through the Dark and order The Darkest Legacy."

I'll wait until after the third book to decide if i want to continue :) i assume we're going to be reading through the dark afterwards? Then there'd still be a month inbetween for me to order the darkest legacy.
I don't even know if they're connected, or if the fourth one is one of those "ten years later" sort of thing.

[Agne]

@angela regarding your spoiler for chapter 3 (and 4)

(view spoiler)[ i tottally agree. I'm still a bit confused. And Liam showing on the memories... I don't know. I had an impression from first book that brothers left everything on non-speaking terms. I get why Ruby lied tho, she wants to keep Liam out of it. But honestly I'm on chapter 5 and still waiting for the moment where the story get less confusing and it'll get hocked (hide spoiler)]

[Susy]

Angela Jr. wrote: "Susy wrote: "Yes, want to read that one too. Going to return one copy of Through the Dark and order The Darkest Legacy."

I'll wait until after the third book to decide if i want to continue :) i a..."

Sounds good Angela.
As I understand they are connected.
http://alexandrabracken.tumblr.com/po...
Told from Zu’s POV.

I’ll be reading Through the Dark in between the other books:
The Darkest Minds series is comprised of three novels and a collection of three novellas found in Through the Dark. My recommended reading order is: The Darkest Minds, In Time (novella), Never Fade, Sparks Rise (novella), In the Afterlight, and, finally, Beyond the Night (novella). There is a free short story about Liam set between The Darkest Minds and Never Fade that you'll receive when you sign up for my newsletter.
(http://www.alexandrabracken.com/darke...)

[Agne]

Spoilers for chapters 5 to 7
(view spoiler)[ As soon as Ruby started to plan her escape to find Liam - story got more interesting for me. I still don't know how I feel about Liam's brother Cole, tho. From all new characters that have been introdused in this book, my favorite is Jude (He kinda reminds me a little of Zu). So I was happy that they both escaped together, because that means that I will be able to learn more aout him. (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 8
(view spoiler)[OMG! It's Chubs. So happy. (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Partway through chapter 14
(view spoiler)[I'm glad ruby and chubs found each other again! I'm really liking vida, but jude not really... Jude's abilities are awesome though, he's really powerful.
At first i thought, like ruby, that clancy had moved east river to a different location. I'm interested to see how this fake slip kid will change the story.
And i was really shocked that liam is at the camp! Didn't expect that to happen.
A thing I don't understand is the hostility between all the psi kids on the run. I understand that they might not want to take someone in who would increase their chances of being caught, but why not work together at least a little bit instead of attacking anyone who comes near?
Knox's dictatorship is pretty brutal on the members of the tribe... I'm wondering how our protagonists are going to escape the camp, especially with liam incapacitated like that. (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Spoilers up to chapter 18
(view spoiler)[damn, how ruby took out knox was impressive as hell!
I'm curious about the supply run for the meds. It'll probably end up being another narrow escape from capture, the way things have been going so far...
I'd also like to know how knox got mason? Does he have other reds stashed away somewhere or was that the only one? More importantly, if the government has lots of those reds at their disposal, a fight would turn out veeery nasty.... (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Chapter 21
(view spoiler)[well that was dramatic... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 22
(view spoiler)[i do feel for ruby, but she's annoying me too right now. Was this the first person she killed? I don't remember.
And the whole liam situation annoys me to no end. I keep rolling my eyes. It's probably going to turn out that he loves her sooo much, ruby just couldn't make him forget completely or some other bullshit...
Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying the book very much and i finally got really engrossed in the story today! (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Susy wrote: "Angela Jr. wrote: "Susy wrote: "Yes, want to read that one too. Going to return one copy of Through the Dark and order The Darkest Legacy."

I'll wait until after the third book to decide if i want..."

I think I'll do that too if the author recommends it, but I'll be reading the first two together after never fade, since I'm already three quarters done with it :)

[Angela Jr.]

Let me know if the free short story about liam adds anything vital to the story!

[Agne]

@angela regarding your spoiler for Chapter 22
(view spoiler)[ I thought I am the only one annoyed by all Liam and Ruby situation. And yes - I can see "love conquers all" thing going on here too. I feel for Ruby, she not just killed the guy, but tortured him too. It should affect her, but idk. It a war in a way.
I think Vida is growing up on me, and Jude - is like a lost puppy trying to please his owner. It's a bit sweet. Sometimes.
Overall, I am loving the story. I am so hocked right now and I think I'll finish last 150 p. tonight. (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 24
(view spoiler)[ I kinda knew and I was waiting for a moment Liam will remember everything. It had to happen.
But the end of this chapter - OMG, not Liam. I know he will be okay, He has to be. (Those kids has like 9 lives..) (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 26
(view spoiler)[ I wasn't expectic Clancy somehow... (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 31
(view spoiler)[ Oh no, not Judith... (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Finished book
(view spoiler)[ Okay, I wasn't expecting the book to end like this. Ugh. Cliffhanger. I have so much questions.. I hope all the answers will be in book 3.
I'm so sad for Jude. Really. I knew Clancy will be alive, but I wish Jude was too.
Overall, I loved the book. Second part more than the first one, tho. (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Uh hey, could you not spoil a character death/the end of the book for the other readers who aren't as far along yet? That's not very nice at all...
There's a reason the spoiler tags exist, please use them.

[Agne]

Omg I’m so sorry. I was commenting on my phone and somehow it messed up my post. I’m so so so sorry. :(

[Agne]

Im sorry again. I fixed it now. So sorry for spoiling anyone.

[Angela Jr.]

Don't beat yourself up, it happens! Thanks for fixing it :)
I've had quite a day today and I'm a bit cranky as a result, sorry 😅

[Susy]

Agnė wrote: "Omg I’m so sorry. I was commenting on my phone and somehow it messed up my post. I’m so so so sorry. :("

I hate doing anything on my phone (on GR) except for updating my reading progress and adding books to my TBR because of this. I just don't trust the app to do what it is supposed to and the website just doesn't let you navigate and do stuff very well because everything is so small. So updates/posts in threads I always do on my laptop...

[Susy]

Angela Jr. wrote: "Don't beat yourself up, it happens! Thanks for fixing it :)
I've had quite a day today and I'm a bit cranky as a result, sorry 😅"

Same goes for you Angela! Sure it happens but it is also quite normal to be frustrated by spoilers. So don't beat yourself up about letting that show ;-)

[Angela Jr.]

Agnė wrote: "Chapter 24"

(view spoiler)[i kept rolling my eyes throughout that whole scene in the gas station. I knew how that whole memory thing would turn out...
It seems like liam was struggling with it for quite a while. I can imagine his shock at remembering that chubs was shot, and subsequently not knowing how much ruby tampered with his mind, what's real and what isn't. That must be a horrible feeling.
I hope it's not him who gets shot in the next scene...
(hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Susy wrote: "Agnė wrote: "Omg I’m so sorry. I was commenting on my phone and somehow it messed up my post. I’m so so so sorry. :("

I hate doing anything on my phone (on GR) except for updating my reading progr..."

Yeah, i don't like the app either... I just use it on my phone's browser instead. It's a bit more cumbersome than on laptop, but it does the job waaay better than the app.

Susy wrote: "Angela Jr. wrote: "Don't beat yourself up, it happens! Thanks for fixing it :)
I've had quite a day today and I'm a bit cranky as a result, sorry 😅"

Same goes for you Angela! Sure it happens but i..."

Thanks susy!

[Angela Jr.]

I'm making such slow progress... Life is not accommodating any kind of reading right now 😔

Just finished chapter 25
(view spoiler)[I'm wondering who the woman shooting at the gas station was. Maybe some connection to the mystery person who's been texting them on the chatter? It would be a bit pointless to include this episode unless the woman ends up having some kind of significance later. (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Random thought i had, very minor spoiler - i think this happened at the house with the motion sensors?
(view spoiler)[the moment when jude explains why he doesn't care that vida calls him judith, when he says something along the lines of "i don't see why being called a girl is insulting? You two (meaning ruby and vida) seem to be doing just fine"
That was a really nice touch the author worked in! (hide spoiler)]

[Angela Jr.]

Agnė wrote: "Chapter 31
[spoilers removed]"

Lol that made me laugh out loud.

Finished.
(view spoiler)[seeing as i never quite warmed up to jude, I don't really have any strong feelings about his death... I feel bad for ruby and the others, but it wasn't one of those hard hitting character deaths that ruin you 🤷
Of course clancy survived. I do actually like his character though, he adds an interesting layer to the story. I'm wondering how his course is going to continue in the next book.

I'm also really curious about the cure research. Is there enough left of the papers to even make sense of them? Are they going to be able to recreate the cure and administer it?
But the more pressing issue will be getting out of l.a. and also locating cate. (hide spoiler)]

I still have the short story at the back of the book left to read, the one about vida before she joined the league.

[Angela Jr.]

Finished the short story. It was interesting to get a bit of background on vida.

[Angela Jr.]

Finished In Time (first story from Through the Dark)
(view spoiler)[and the ending was so sad :(
At first i thought, wait, is this some secondary character from the children's league whose name i forgot? But obviously not... (hide spoiler)]

[Susy]

Angela Jr. wrote: "I did start, but I'm only on page 20 or something haha. I really need to finish at least one other physical book I'm reading first, it's become a bit overwhelming 🙈

First chapter
[spoilers removed]"

Lol, I thought it was Liam because of Ruby's reaction but that would mean he had joined the League as well...?

[Susy]

Angela Jr. wrote: "@agné regarding your spoiler for chapter 1
[spoilers removed]

Chapter 3
..."

Probably it is hard to get into it because
1. it is at least six months later
2. a completely different setting with new characters who we havent developed a connection with yet
Well, that is how I feel anyway.

I'm at chapter 8 now and well into the story. Love Jude, he's adorable (though he seems younger than his 14 years).

[Susy]

Agnė wrote: "@angela regarding your spoiler for chapter 3 (and 4)

[spoilers removed]"

Yes I agree. I think Ruby continued lying not wanting to risk getting him in to trouble.
I'm sorry to hear the story hasn't picked up for both of you yet (although I see Angela has finished and liked it lol), I don't find it confusing but it did take me some time to get into the story. I am now and hope to finish it today or tomorrow at the latest. I think I'll just go ahead and read #3 right after that.

Are you reading the novellas in between the instalments? I researched the preferred reading order:
- The Darkest Minds
- In Time
- Never Fade
- Sparks Ris
- In the Afterlight
- Beyond the Night

[Agne]

I haven’t read them. But I’ll be reading it next month.

[Susy]

Agnė wrote: "Spoilers for chapters 5 to 7
[spoilers removed]"

Yes! I love Jude too! :)

The story has definitely picked up.
Am wondering about Cole too. He seems nice enough and helpful, but it's not without reason that the brothers weren't on speaking terms. Although I guess that was because Liam didn't trust the League from the beginning and didn't agree with Cole staying and helping them so much. But I'm starting to believe that Cole really did believe in the League's good cause, and is starting to see it differently now. At least, I hope he is. I sure hope he isn't betraying Ruby and the rest.

[Susy]

Agnė wrote: "I haven’t read them. But I’ll be reading it next month."

Cool.
Shall we discuss them in the In the Afterlight-thread?

[Angela Jr.]

I already read the first short story, my "review" (it's one sentence as far as i remember lol) is somewhere above!

[Angela Jr.]

And I'm about to start the second one, sparks rise. I want to finish it before I start the third book in the series.

[Susy]

Angela Jr. wrote: "I already read the first short story, my "review" (it's one sentence as far as i remember lol) is somewhere above!"

Cool, I'll look it up when I've read it!

[Susy]

Agnė wrote: "Chapter 8
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[So glad Ruby and Chubs found each other. It was quite emotional when it looked like they were going to split up again. But all of that was nothing compared to how they found Liam 😥 (hide spoiler)]