REVIEW: NEVER FADE by Alexandra Bracken

REVIEW: NEVER FADE

Summary:
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?

Title: NEVER FADE

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: The Darkest Minds #2

Source: Purchased from Kobo

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: October 15, 2013

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

I thought this was a case of sloppy execution. I felt like it was too much a repeat of the first novel and not enough of it's OWN novel. I thought maybe I would learn to love Liam and Ruby because I had heard such great things about how amazing he was, but I was left feeling kinda blah about it and them. It would have been better if the whole mind erasure thing from the first book hadn't happened because I wasn't a fan of it as a plot device, tbh.

I thought Ruby's changing in personality, going from never standing up for herself to being completely self-sacrificing, came out of left field. Probably because it wasn't gradual but just a complete change overnight. There was no real explanation for it and I wasn't here for it. I think Ruby as a leader is a bit far fetched. I would have thought that more people would have been willing to stand behind Liam or Liam's brother (whose name is escaping me at the moment). Also, the whole "I'm orange and orange are only monsters" thing is getting repetitive and tiring, to the point that I could probably write Ruby's next speech about it and her speech where she becomes okay with the fact that she is orange as well. She has really only seen (or at least let us see) three other oranges. With the exception of Martin, who was probably effed up from the camp, they are and were just doing what they needed to do to survive, just like everyone else.

The power thing is again flaky; we aren't really seeing them develop, they just ARE and there is no way Ruby could overpower Clancy at this point. At least not from what we have seen. He has spent years honing his skills and she spent years ignoring them. And again, until the powers are mentioned or used, I keep forgetting they exist -- unless Ruby is rambling about how horrible it is to be an orange.

The "cure" thing is very X-Men vibe-y to me. I'm not sure I like it because I hate when protagonists have to "make a choice" whether or not to have powers. Especially when powers are usually alluding to something else in real life, like being gay or having AIDs. It makes me feel weird to think that someone could "choose" not to be one of these things so I don't like when that choice becomes present. I just like it better when they have to deal with their powers as is, much like everything else in life.

The introduction of the new characters was weak at best. They were just token characters meant to replace those we lost -- and eventually met up with again. Speaking of, there was too much coincidence for my liking. IT seemed that the characters only had to minimally work and get their desired outcome.

I actually agree with Clancy about the research and what I assume he will subsequently say about the USB, it should just be destroyed. The government will jsut force the kids to get cured and sweep it under the rug. Although since this is a book, I'm sure the leader will have to take accountability for his actions and Clancy will die trying to save Ruby because REDEMPTION ARC.

Honestly, I wish I hadn't spent the money on these because they are not worth it in my opinion. And the last ebook is $15 so not happening. At this point, I don't even want to search it out at the library.