Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2) by Alexandra Bracken

Title: Never Fade

Series: The Darkest Minds #2
Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: October 15, 2013

Pages: 512, Hardcover
Source: ARC obtained at BEA

Summary from Goodreads:

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

Review

My thoughts on this book are a bit contradictory. At 500+ pages, I think this book is unnecessarily long. However, I never got bored with the story. In fact, I think I might have liked this book more than the first. But I guess I feel that, although I was entertained, the plot didn't progress as well as it should have, especially for such a high page count. 

This is through and through a road trip book. Ruby and gang do not stay in one place for very long. But unlike the middle of The Darkest Minds, I do think Bracken fills the pages better this time around. Unfortunately it still reads very much like a middle book in terms of plot development. Aside from the very beginning and very end, when we get some answers, the events that take place are probably inconsequential to the overall plot.

However, I do think Never Fade had great character development, which is probably where most of the focus goes to. This is most noticeable in Ruby's character. Ruby's learned a lot about her powers and by the end of the book she can control them very well. But the more she uses her powers, the more conflicted she becomes over the person she's turning into. There is also the return of some old characters but with an entirely new dynamic which leads to some very interesting encounters. I liked where Bracken took things for the most part. And we also meet a few new secondary characters. Most noteworthy is Vida, who requires a certain level of patience on our part not to want to slap, repeatedly. But she could also be a breath of fresh air. 

One thing I must comment on is that I was really happy to see Ruby use her powers, for better or for worse. I really hate when an MC has powers and doesn't use them much, if at all (very common in YA). Where is the fun in that?

Oh, one more thing. I am not sure I agree that the ending was AMAZING. I mean it was good, but yeah.... 

So I think many fans of The Darkest Minds will enjoy Never Fade. If you tend to be more critical of writing, you might take greater offense to how the story progresses. But overall this is an entertaining book that I enjoyed reading. I think the premise is really interesting and I look forward to reading the next book. 

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds

Series: The Darkest Minds #1
Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Release Date: December 18, 2012

Pages: 488, Hardcover

Summary from Goodreads:

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

Review

The Darkest Minds was an interesting read for me. I was immediately drawn into the concept of abilities. I liked how these abilities were explained as an evolutionary process and how some minds could adapt and some couldn’t.

I was intrigued by the fact that these special kids were sent to camps. How the public bought into the image of reform and were so quick to give up their kids. I found it sad but telling that their solution was to execute all of the Yellows, Reds and Oranges for fear of what they could do. Even the rebel groups were violent and controlling. The world was imperfect and dark and set the tone for the rest of the story.

Ruby’s story is a sad one. She is an Orange and one of the few left. Her past haunts her. She lives in fear of what she can do and she doesn’t understand the extent of her own power. She doesn’t want to be a monster. She doesn’t want to be defined by this thing she can do. She is genuinely good and doesn’t want to hurt anyone, unintentionally or not. Her struggle moved me and I was happy to see how far she has come by the end of the story.

But the pace was slow-moving for the first half of the book. It had my attention in the beginning, as the story is introduced and the rest of the book is set up, but I admit that I did struggle to stay engaged when Ruby was on the road. The plot is not action-driven. This is more of Ruby’s story with a few conveniently timed obstacles to mix things up.

The ending broke my heart. For those of you who read it, you know what I mean. Alexandra Bracken better fix that somehow or I am not going to be a happy camper.

Simply put, I found this book to be intriguing even if the story progressed a little slower than I would have liked.