Title: Outpost (Razorland #2)Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Pages: 320, Hardcover
Rating: 2.5 stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Deuce’s whole world has changed.
Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn't fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.
To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.
Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.
Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn't fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.
To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.
Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.
Outpost was not the sequel I was hoping for. Everything I loved about Enclave was sadly absent in this second book. If Deuce was sure about anything in her life, it was her purpose as a Huntress. She spent her youth training to fight the freaks. She is a survivor. She is strong, courageous, dangerous and spirited. She thrives and shines in a world threatened by freaks.
Well what happens when you take away the threat of freaks? Not a whole lot of anything. And Deuce looses all her awesomeness. Sure there was some danger and battle scenes - the freaks aren't completely absent - but more than anything this book was about Deuce adjusting to life in Salvation and having relationship problems. Any maybe some will find the drama interesting and consider this experience to give her character more relatability. I just fell asleep.
Also I didn't like the emergence of the love triangle. Not one bit. I loved Fade in Enclave as much as I loved Deuce. He was good for her and also bad-ass and mysterious. In Outpost, Fade was a total pansy. I can only assume this was to give reason for Deuce to get closer to Stalker but I was not ok with this. While I did like the transformation we see in Stalker to some extent I think it was too extreme to be believable. A guy who spends his entire upbringing taking things by force and being cold and angry and distant does not instantly become a big softee in the name of "love".
I had sadly made up my mind about this book within the first half of the story and the ending wasn't good enough to change my opinion even though the pace did pick up. I guess it really depends on the final book whether or not I'd recommend readers to continue reading after Enclave. The ending of Outpost suggests that Horde will be closer in pace, action and adventure to Enclave, which gives me hope. Even though I spent this entire review complaining about what I didn't like, I'm not suggesting that Outpost is terrible. It was just largely uneventful and a let down in the wake of my high expectations.
I heard mixed feedback about this one so i'm kinda hesitant to start the series. good review though.
ReplyDeleteYeah I would suggest waiting to see how Horde turns out! Thanks!
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