Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

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

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?

Publishes in US: October 15th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion
Genre: YA paranormal
Source: Disney via Netgalley
Series? Yes. 2nd in Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds, #1) my review

Bracken, Alexandra *

Untitled (The Darkest Minds, #3) December 2014 by Disney-Hyperion

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Author stalk away: Site blog, or Tumblr.

    I liked this one, but not as much as the first. I feel like I don't remember enough from the first to be totally gung ho going back into the plot. Reading over my review of the first and then jumping into the second because I have absolutely no time to reread I guess is on me, but I really think that more authors should do like Kate Kaynak and give a few paragraphs or pages telling the highlights of the previous books. 

    All of the characters that I grew so attached to, Liam, Chubs, and Zu weren't in the beginning of this one obviously and I missed their presence very much. Don't get me wrong, I loved being in Ruby's head, she is such a strong and solid main character, but what had built her up and brought out hope, light and life in her in the first was all of the sudden missing. 

    I did like some of the newer characters from the Children's League, but I was always second guessing everyone there, because I don't have a history with them or if I do, it is mostly not good. 

    I feel like the middle of this one was a little draggy, but I loved the last third. Action started exploding, characters really stepped up and things happened to absolutely break my heart. I feel like some of the middle could have been cut out a bit, because it is long at a little over 500 pages, and the story would not have been lacking. 

    One of the things I enjoyed the most was Ruby's internal struggles. She hates her power, but wants to control it, but doesn't push too hard because she is afraid to lose control. She sees the allure of the total power it can give her, but she is afraid to become like the people she's seen who abused that power, and hurt others. 

    The ending is dark, but laced with hope, and I can't wait to see Ruby kick more butts and take more names. 

Bottom Line: Good second book with action, but not as awesome as the first.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
If you had the ability to control others, do you think you would use it?