Synopsis:
Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza—but who knows what they’ll find seven months after the invasion?
Meanwhile, Kady’s cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza’s ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys—an old flame from Asha’s past—reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken.
Review: (CAUTION: Spoilers ahead)
Wow!!! The series is finally finished and BOY what a ride. It is so satisfying to finish a series that you have loved, and even though I didn’t loveeee the ending (more on that later) I felt so happy when I closed the cover and really put a nice bow on my relationship with these characters. This series has been one of my favourites from the start, and a huge reason for that is it’s design. The pages and covers and everything about it is visually stunning, and I don’t think I have ever seen another book quite like it. As someone who’s mind is pretty jumbled, it was so interesting to see that captured on a page, and it really reflected the wildness of the story, the tumultuous relationships and situations of the characters, and the story’s intricate plots. What can I say, if I’m going to have to turn the book around in a circle to read a page, I’m gonna love the book.
In general, I also thought that the plot of this story was really interesting. First of all, to go back to where it all started was a cool come-full-circle narrative tactic, and was a nice contrast with where the characters were at the beginning and how far they’ve come. Also, I love a good resistance story, and connecting everything that happening in space to what was still going on on Kerenza really solidified the feelings of rebellion. I think it really humanized the story, because sure talking about kids who are really gifted is one thing, but telling the stories of forced labourers, and people who give their lives for the rebellion, thats another. That makes it more real. And those stories were really the ones that got me. Another part that killed me was the super hard soldier and his kitten. I think one of the strongest parts of this series has been the author’s ability to humanize their characters, and that is one of the reasons that my connection to and love for this series will always be huge.
I will say that I was expecting the ending to be harder-hitting than it was. I remember reading Kristoff’s answer to how it would end, and he was like it’ll knock you out or something along those lines. And I kept waiting for it, and waiting, and then I thought I had made it! And my hand was over my mouth and everything. And then it resolved?
LAST CHANCE: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Basically, when that little girl got shot, I was so shocked. I was ROCKED! And the scene with the laying down of the arms, the rehumanizing of both sides? Just incredible. So sad, but incredible. And I was kind of like man, this is horrific, but it must be what Kristoff was talking about because no one else has died! They’re all fine. So this little girl’s death must be what stops the atrocities going on here. And then it’s revealed, during the trial, that she lived! Which, don’t get me wrong, thats great. But for everyone to live? All 6 of our main characters, and most side characters that we care about, to live? I’m sorry, but I dont think that’s realistic. And while I loved the final scene with everyone gathered around the table, I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated of my “hard hitting” ending. Because it all felt a little too neat. But oh well, I still loved it.
SPOILERS OVER!
Anyways, overall I loved the book. It still had all the twists and turns that I loved about the previous ones, and felt like a nice wrap up to the story. I’ll be sad to see the end of this series, but I look forward to what Kaufman and Kristoff write in the future!!
Thats it for now ducks, I’ll see you again soon with another review 😀
~ Mon
Words, Pages, Books 