Horde (Razorland #3) by Ann Aguirre

Title: Horde
Series: Razorland #3
Author: Ann Aguirre
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Pages: 432
Source: Audiobook

Summary from Goodreads:
The horde is coming.

Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.

Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.

This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.

Review

I am very very impressed by this series ender. I admit that I did not have high expectations, despite all the strong reviews. I really enjoyed Enclave but felt that Outpost was missing much of what I had originally loved in the story. But my fears were unnecessary because I saw in Horde what I loved in Enclave, even more so really. In fact, it was arguably one of the strongest series endings I have read to date.

I thought Deuce was the strongest she’s ever been. She’s grown up so much since coming to the surface and she behaves admirably. She is much more aware, both of herself and of her surroundings. She knows her strengths and weaknesses. She welcomes advice. She leads by example. She is confident, but not cocky. She was badass and powerful and motivating. She was everything I hoped she'd be. 

I thought the progression of the freaks was so well done. Often times you see side plots like this not fully fleshed out and left open but this became a focal point of the story, was given the appropriate level of detail, and came to a nice finish. I loved the direction Aguirre took with their story. The freaks were a constant source of action, fear, and intrigue. 

I loved the plot development over this last book. I think Deuce's army was such a wonderful touch and I loved the trials she went through and the success that was had. I think it sent an important message. And everything just concluded so nicely, which I can not often say for a series. I was invested in the stories of each and every main character and I think each of their stories ended as well as can be expected. 

Again, I am so impressed by this last installment in the Razorland series and I highly recommend this series to fellow readers looking for a strong dystopian. I was so moved by this story and felt a lot of different emotions while reading, but ultimately finished feeling satisfaction. I loved this story. 

Outpost (Razorland #2) by Ann Aguirre

Title: Outpost (Razorland #2)

Author: Ann Aguirre
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.

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.