badattentionreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hey_bookworms's review
3.0
Wildly slow
I loved the first book of this series. Like read it in a day loved it. However, this book followed the fate of most second books in a series, or most middle books in general. It was a lot of recap, a lot of slow progress toward the finale. In a 280 page book, recap and slow progress takes up the bulk of that allotment.
Somehow the seventeen year old kids managed to survive on a couple protein bars while walking from Missouri to Utah? Nah. Little too out there for me.
On top of it all, you have a thirteen year old leading the resistance to the war effort? Also nah. I see that the author was trying to find a way to have that character come back, but a better way would have been to work her into the resistance....not make her commander in chief.
Speaking of which, I think the author used real world events, names, and titles a little too much. Also, to say all of this starts in 2028......I’m thinking that’s a little too close to present day to say that dystopia has hit. In addition......the migration of Canadians???
I think I’ll have to take a break before tackling book three because the last bit of this book was painful to get through.
I loved the first book of this series. Like read it in a day loved it. However, this book followed the fate of most second books in a series, or most middle books in general. It was a lot of recap, a lot of slow progress toward the finale. In a 280 page book, recap and slow progress takes up the bulk of that allotment.
Somehow the seventeen year old kids managed to survive on a couple protein bars while walking from Missouri to Utah? Nah. Little too out there for me.
On top of it all, you have a thirteen year old leading the resistance to the war effort? Also nah. I see that the author was trying to find a way to have that character come back, but a better way would have been to work her into the resistance....not make her commander in chief.
Speaking of which, I think the author used real world events, names, and titles a little too much. Also, to say all of this starts in 2028......I’m thinking that’s a little too close to present day to say that dystopia has hit. In addition......the migration of Canadians???
I think I’ll have to take a break before tackling book three because the last bit of this book was painful to get through.
booksandsushicat's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
5.0
djackson's review
4.0
Character development is pretty good. Smooth introduction to new characters that are useful and not a drawn out exit of said characters. Another fast read.
dramalitandtech's review
4.0
The Dystopia and Adventure Continues
I will be honest, second books in trilogies are not my favorites. I didn’t like Render as much as Recruitment, either. But I kept in mind that it’s a second. Authors are forced to recap and set up for the showdown simultaneously. But Riley does give us meat, and the last 25% of the book lives up to the excellence of Recruitment. I loved that readers get to see and learn more about Kress’s connection with Render. Manthy is reluctantly heroic, as she uses her gift, and I believe Brohn’s gift is a little more than hinted at. Secrets are revealed. And the past comes back to help lead to the future.
I will be honest, second books in trilogies are not my favorites. I didn’t like Render as much as Recruitment, either. But I kept in mind that it’s a second. Authors are forced to recap and set up for the showdown simultaneously. But Riley does give us meat, and the last 25% of the book lives up to the excellence of Recruitment. I loved that readers get to see and learn more about Kress’s connection with Render. Manthy is reluctantly heroic, as she uses her gift, and I believe Brohn’s gift is a little more than hinted at. Secrets are revealed. And the past comes back to help lead to the future.
bibliovino's review
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
In a world fractured by lies and misinformation, a young woman and her “conspiracy” may be the only hope. YA Dystopian by K.A. Riley
Kress and her friends have survived a lot in their 17 years. But their battle is far from over. With hearts of gold, rock-solid relationships and even some confusing but cool af abilities surfacing, they will take on their greatest enemy.
Looking forward to book 3!
In a world fractured by lies and misinformation, a young woman and her “conspiracy” may be the only hope. YA Dystopian by K.A. Riley
Kress and her friends have survived a lot in their 17 years. But their battle is far from over. With hearts of gold, rock-solid relationships and even some confusing but cool af abilities surfacing, they will take on their greatest enemy.
Looking forward to book 3!
scoobysfavouritesnack's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
josiejumps's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ktbgoodwin's review
3.0
Hated the Wisp plot twist. Between the questionable timeline and a young girl showing up and somehow being accepted as a leader of the resistance and is in charge of everything, it was a mess. Especially when Granden showed up too. (Why isn’t he the leader? If there was an explanation I missed it.) The plot twist about his father made me roll my eyes, and not because it was a bad plot twist — I actually liked it a lot — but because we got so much new information/plot twists in the last 10% of the book I was so tired of it. I feel like it should have been the start of the next book instead.
That aside, the rest of the book was fine I guess.
That aside, the rest of the book was fine I guess.
redaroundtheworld's review
2.0
Two big issues with this book.
1. The author makes it seem like the entire Southwest US is all red except for in the mountains. It’s not. At all. They leave the west gate of Salt Lake City and it’s just red as far as they can see? No. Not for hundred of miles south. Reno? No. It’s brown along with most of the desert. And it’s only 20 years in the future, there’s no way all of the desert became red.
2. NO WAY is a 13 year old running some rebellion takeover. She sounds like she’s 40. I get that situations like this could age you faster than normal but that’s just too much for me.
Ok three things. Canadians are flooding the northern border because of climate change in the southern provinces. Really? The southern ones? Not the ones in the north that are actually being affected? And why are the southern provinces affected but not the northern states they’re flooding in to?
I take back that 2.5. It’s just 2 for me.
1. The author makes it seem like the entire Southwest US is all red except for in the mountains. It’s not. At all. They leave the west gate of Salt Lake City and it’s just red as far as they can see? No. Not for hundred of miles south. Reno? No. It’s brown along with most of the desert. And it’s only 20 years in the future, there’s no way all of the desert became red.
2. NO WAY is a 13 year old running some rebellion takeover. She sounds like she’s 40. I get that situations like this could age you faster than normal but that’s just too much for me.
Ok three things. Canadians are flooding the northern border because of climate change in the southern provinces. Really? The southern ones? Not the ones in the north that are actually being affected? And why are the southern provinces affected but not the northern states they’re flooding in to?
I take back that 2.5. It’s just 2 for me.