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A review by savage_book_review
The Resistance by Gemma Malley
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book made me react in ways I've never done before while reading. I hesitate to use the word 'triggered', as I can't say there's anything in books that would send me into a complete nervous breakdown or have me clutching my pearls, but equally I've never picked up and put down a book so many times! I could only ever digest a couple of chapters at a time, before a feeling of overwhelming anxiety? Annoyance? Nervousness? overtook me and I had to step away for a few minutes before my next attempt. And for a young adult book to have that sort of impact, I have to give kudos to the author!
The upside is that, as I hit about 3/4 of the way through, the book seemed to find its rhythm, action started happening and there was more to keep me invested. I still had to stop a couple of times, but I managed to read a larger chunk to finish it off in one hit. And I am still intending on reading book three in the series! The premise is really good, and the development of the themes throughout really hammers home the terrifying nature of eternal life and what people will do to attain it.
As with 'The Declaration', the story itself is quite simplistic, but it's definitely darker in tone and there is more depth in places. In particular, where the story focuses on Peter, we get to learn more about his character and he begins to become fleshed out. Likewise, it is again fairly predictable, but this in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the story. The only issue I found with this added layering is that it feels like all the worldbuilding that was missing from book one has been 'infodumped' in book two. For example, we finally get to understand what 'The Declaration' is as the full text of it is included. IMO, this is something that should have been set out much earlier.
I will admit to struggling a bit with the difference in dynamic between Anna and Peter in this one. The book seemingly only takes place a few months after the end of book one, and yet they both feel like they have aged a good few years in that time - it's very much an 'old married couple' vibe. Similarly, a big part of this book is the choice they face between signing the Declaration and Opting Out, and propagating the next generation. Indeed, almost at the very start of the book it is mentioned in passing Peter recalling the first time he and Anna made love. Now, I get that this is a world where there are basically no children, and so I'd expect that the concept of someone being under age is probably non-existent. Similarly, the idea of childhood being something 'separate' is only seen through the lens of them being surplus to requirements. But when you bear in mind how immature and, yes, indoctrinated Anna was in book one, and the fact that she had barely turned fifteen then... There was just something about the whole idea of these young, vulnerable people living life as if they are much older that just felt a bit disconcerting to me.
The writing has aged up a little too. I'm certain that this book isn't suitable for that middle grade audience this time around! There are still elements of the storytelling that could be improved upon, but it does read better than 'The Declaration' in terms of maturity. Strangely, I think the presentation of the book is perhaps the issue here - the font type and size gives it the feel of a 'Scholastic' book, which I associate with slightly younger readers, so some part of my brain struggles to comprehend the darker scenes that appear as being appropriate.
A very different reading experience for me. Not one that I particularly want to repeat, but I come back to the fact that the book must have something going for it to get that kind of reaction!
The upside is that, as I hit about 3/4 of the way through, the book seemed to find its rhythm, action started happening and there was more to keep me invested. I still had to stop a couple of times, but I managed to read a larger chunk to finish it off in one hit. And I am still intending on reading book three in the series! The premise is really good, and the development of the themes throughout really hammers home the terrifying nature of eternal life and what people will do to attain it.
As with 'The Declaration', the story itself is quite simplistic, but it's definitely darker in tone and there is more depth in places. In particular, where the story focuses on Peter, we get to learn more about his character and he begins to become fleshed out. Likewise, it is again fairly predictable, but this in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the story. The only issue I found with this added layering is that it feels like all the worldbuilding that was missing from book one has been 'infodumped' in book two. For example, we finally get to understand what 'The Declaration' is as the full text of it is included. IMO, this is something that should have been set out much earlier.
I will admit to struggling a bit with the difference in dynamic between Anna and Peter in this one. The book seemingly only takes place a few months after the end of book one, and yet they both feel like they have aged a good few years in that time - it's very much an 'old married couple' vibe. Similarly, a big part of this book is the choice they face between signing the Declaration and Opting Out, and propagating the next generation. Indeed, almost at the very start of the book it is mentioned in passing Peter recalling the first time he and Anna made love. Now, I get that this is a world where there are basically no children, and so I'd expect that the concept of someone being under age is probably non-existent. Similarly, the idea of childhood being something 'separate' is only seen through the lens of them being surplus to requirements. But when you bear in mind how immature and, yes, indoctrinated Anna was in book one, and the fact that she had barely turned fifteen then... There was just something about the whole idea of these young, vulnerable people living life as if they are much older that just felt a bit disconcerting to me.
The writing has aged up a little too. I'm certain that this book isn't suitable for that middle grade audience this time around! There are still elements of the storytelling that could be improved upon, but it does read better than 'The Declaration' in terms of maturity. Strangely, I think the presentation of the book is perhaps the issue here - the font type and size gives it the feel of a 'Scholastic' book, which I associate with slightly younger readers, so some part of my brain struggles to comprehend the darker scenes that appear as being appropriate.
A very different reading experience for me. Not one that I particularly want to repeat, but I come back to the fact that the book must have something going for it to get that kind of reaction!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Infertility, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Child death, Sexual content, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol