Book Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Ghosts don’t haunt people–their memories do

I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to read any other book by Alexandra Bracken after finishing The Darkest Minds. I felt let down and did not like it that much. But again I read another book by this author. Never Fade is a bit better, which made me want to read Passenger again, but it still did not make me have to finish the series.

Book Review: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

Rating:


Title & Author: Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
Genre: Dystopia, Fantasy
Release Date: October 15 2013
Series: The Darkest Minds
Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Synopsis

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?

I give Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken three out of five hearts, for multiple reasons. Mostly the same as I had with The Darkest Minds.

Most of the events were very predictable, which took all the excitement I could see Alexandra trying to put into it, out of it again. The amount of plot twists she throws at the reader gave me a whiplash. Even the end was like ‘wtf?’, it was just over before I knew what was going on and people call it a cliffhanger? I thought it was more of a where are the words?

Ruby spends a couple of months at the Children’s League, but hasn’t changed a bit. Except maybe for being a bit more aware of her flaws, but does nothing with it. She rubbed me the wrong way and she feels so sorry for herself and all the other children in this world. She doesn’t learn to deal with it.

I thought the events at the end of The Darkest Minds play out very dumb. As if she could not have thought about that beforehand. It get’s all undone just because of Liam’s feelings for her? How is it her parents never recovered from what she had done?

The story itself was okay, but there were so many hooks and holes, it felt like a Gouda cheese. The characters are mostly the same as in the first novel and those that join during this novel do not feel very thought out.

So maybe my rating is actually more like a 2,5 hearts instead of three. I now have to read In the Afterlight, but it will not go easily. Which sucks, such a future.

Let me know what you thought of this book!
If you have any requests for which book I should talk about next, please let me know in the comments down below.

For now, let books enrich your life!

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