In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

***The following synopsis and summary contain spoilers for The Darkest Minds and Never Fade.***

In the final instalment of The Darkest Minds trilogy, Ruby and the other members of the Children's League that survived the bombing, travel to the Ranch, one of the League's other locations. The remaining adults of the League are against Psi kids (other than Cate), so Ruby and Liam's brother, Cole, for their own organization. Ruby tries to formulate a plan to get all the other Psi kids out of the so called rehabilitation camps, showing America how they were abused, as well as uncovering the cause of IAAN. But not everybody agrees with the plan that Ruby and Cole have formulated. Others have their own idea of a plan. Will Ruby be able to execute her plan?

Rate: 5 stars

In The Afterlight gave us a satisfying ending to this amazing trilogy. There were no loose ends, unlike some other series that I have read (*cough* Champion by Marie Lu *cough*). Plus the ending was fairly happy unlike other novels (*cough* Allegiant *cough*). It was just as action packed as the last two books and we saw some more amazing character development. If you haven't read In The Afterlight, let alone The Darkest Minds and Never Fade, go pick it up, these books are amazing. And don't come back until you have read them because there are SPOILERS ahead.

Can I just say how happy I was to see Zu turn up! Just what I was hoping for. I liked her relationship with Vida. At first Vida wasn't very nice to Zu, Vida became just like a big sister to Zu. I loved the scene where they were dyeing their hair. I thought that was a nice touch. And when Zu finally spoke for the first time in the series, I was quite happy. I thought she might when Vida talked to her about speaking.

Cole played a huge role in this book. He helped Ruby lead the group of kids at the Ranch. They ended up spending a lot of time together, and I really think that hurt Liam and Ruby's relationship. Cole was always putting Liam down as well. I was kind of annoyed with Cole, so I wasn't that sad when he died. Although I was glad when he finally told Liam that he was a Red, I think that improved their relationship a bit.

I was also glad that Liam and Ruby finally talked about Ruby erasing Liam's memory. I was just waiting for that to happen in Never Fade and then in In The Afterlight. I was happy that they were on the same page again after doing things behind each other's backs and not talking for each other for a while. I can't believe that Liam didn't tell Ruby about bringing Alice in to help with the media side of things. I found that, and Alice, really annoying.

Speaking of new characters, let's talk about Lillian Gray. I thought that I was going to like her, but once Ruby fixed whatever Clancy did to her, she became kind of annoying. We found out the cause of IAAN and learned that the so called "cure" was not really a cure. I thought that the cure would have been something completely different, not some implant in the brain that didn't really solve the problem.

In this book, we think that Ruby actually has Clancy under control for the most part. But that's not the case. We learn that the cause of Ruby's sleepwalking was because of Clancy's influence. And of course he used her to call the PSFs and to tell them to look out for Cole when he and Liam were out on a mission. HUGE plot twist.

After that little episode with Clancy, Ruby leaves for Thurmond so that she can put her plan to set the kids free into action. I loved how she was able to influence the PSFs so that they marked her down as a Green again, she was in complete and utter control. I also loved how she and Sam (a friend from the first book who's memory she erased) made up. I was really happy about that. And after a few days, she finally was able to get to the Control Tower to shut down Thurmond's system.

I absolutely loved the ending. Like I said above, there were no loose ends and it was reasonably happy. Thank you Alexandra Bracken! All the kids were released from the camps and were able to join their families once again. I loved how Ruby was able to get back together with her grandmother and even her parents. I was so glad that everything was resolved, even the issues with the government. Also, I thought that Ruby was wise to erase Clancy's memory. Now he can't mess any more things up. I also really loved that the book ended with Ruby, Liam, Chubs, Vida and Zu driving off in the car. Oh, and Chubs and Vida, who else saw that coming?

Overall, this book wrapped up the series perfectly. I have love this series and I am sad to have finished reading it. Although I'm sure I will reread it. One of my all time favourite, if not my favourite series with some of my absolute favourite characters.

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken

***The following synopsis and summary contain spoilers for The Darkest Minds.***

In the sequel to the Darkest Minds, Ruby is now back with the Children's League, fulfilling her promise to them; if she stays, they will let Liam go. Ruby has undergone training is being sent out on missions for the Children's League. But as Ruby gets more involved with the Children's League, she realizes that the organization is taking a turn for the worse. People like Rob, are trying to change the purpose of the League. They have stopped caring about the Psi kids, and are even beginning to get rid of them, permanently.

One of the agents with the League who isn't against Psi kids, Cole Stewart, Liam's brother, entrusts Ruby with the mission of finding a flash drive that contains valuable information about IAAN, information that could just turn the Children's League around. But the flash drive has fallen into the hands of Liam Stewart. Ruby takes off from the Children's League once again, with other Psi kids from the League, to find Liam and the flash drive.

Rate: 5 stars

This book is a great sequel to The Darkest Minds, although I do prefer the first book, but Never Fade is still excellent. And just as action packed as The Darkest Minds. We get to see the same favourite characters, and a few new ones. We are introduced to the new characters right away, Vida and Jude, who are equally amazing characters compared to those of the first book. Alexandra Bracken has been able to create some of my favourite characters, they are all unique and quirky, and you will fall in love with them as you read the books.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

At first, I wasn't so sure of Vida. She comes across as a headstrong and rude character at first, but as the story goes on, we see her true colours. Yes, she is headstrong, and occasionally rude, but she is also a funny character to read about. She becomes better friends with Ruby throughout the story, and we see that she does care, and that she is not a just tough and uncaring person.

Then there is Jude. Jude comes across as caring and naïve. He was always cared about the other characters, no matter how they treated them. Although, I was really sad when, SPOILER ALERT (if you haven't read Never Fade, don't continue reading!), he died because of the bombing of L.A. I wish Alexandra Bracken would have kept him alive a bit longer.

Although, I was extremely glad that Chubs showed up in Never Fade, I wasn't sure if he was going to recover from the bullet wound. When he first showed up at Liam's house, and called out to Liam, I thought for a minute that Liam was with Chubs. But it turned out that Chubs thought Liam was still with Ruby.

While Chubs was in Never Fade, I was disappointed that Zu did not show up. She was mentioned, but we never actually got to she her. Hopefully we will get to see her in the next book, In The Afterlight.

I was actually quite surprised when Ruby, Chubs, Jude and Vida found Liam at the fake East River, half dead. I'm glad that Ruby found Liam, but their relationship has been quite different since Ruby erased Liam's memories of her. Although I am glad that he did remember some little things, and even more when Ruby restored some of his memory accidentally. Even after Ruby restored part of Liam's memory he was still different.

Oh, and let's talk about Cole being a RED. I did not see that coming. How is that going to play out in the next book? Will there be others like him, people a bit older who have powers?

And of course, Clancy had to show up in Never Fade. He is just as manipulative as ever, though. But I'm glad that he doesn't have as much control or influence on Ruby now that she can completely control her powers. And I can't believe that he survived the bombing! I wish Ruby would have killed him, he is to manipulative and he can cause to much trouble. And why would he want to destroy his mother's research on IAAN? But luckily, Ruby did manage to get her hands on some of the papers that contained that information. Alexandra Bracken once again leaves us hanging at the end of the book when Ruby steps forward with the papers. I'm very excited to get my hands on the next book!

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

In the future, a mysterious and deadly disease, Idiopathic Adolescent Acute Neurodegeneration, also know as IAAN, has wiped out most of America's children. The children that have survived IAAN are left with mysterious powers and the adults in the country fear the surviving children. 

The children that survived are sent to what the government calls rehabilitation camps, but are really concentration camps. The kids that are sent there are marked with colours based on their abilities; Greens are exceptionally intelligent, Blues are telekinetic, Yellows can control electricity, Oranges can control people's minds and Reds can control fire. The main character, Ruby, is sent to one of the rehabilitation camps when she is ten after she accidentally erases her parents memory of her. At the camp, Ruby is marked as a Green, but she is really an Orange.

Six years later, the camp is on the verge of finding out that Ruby is really one of the dangerous ones. So with the help of the Children's League, Ruby is able to escape the camp. But Ruby doesn't trust the people at the Children's League, so she decides to run from them as well. Ruby stumbles across some other kids on the run that have escaped from another camp, Liam, Chubs and Zu. She joins them on their quest to find East River, a safe haven for kids like them, and the Slip Kid, the kid who runs the camp, and is supposedly an Orange. Ruby hopes to find the Slip Kid so that maybe, just maybe, the Slip Kid can help her control her powers so that she doesn't erase herself from Liam's memory, or anyone else she cares about.

Rate: 5 stars 

The Darkest Minds is one of my favourite, if not my favourite, books right now. I loved the characters, the plot, all the action, everything. And it also wasn't a short book, which I was very glad about since I whip through books. It was nice to have something that took me a bit longer to read. If you haven't picked up this book, pick it up NOW. It is definitely worth your time and money. ,

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Like I said above, I loved the characters. I don't have a favourite since they are all so amazing. I thought Ruby was an amazing protagonist and she showed some great character development. In the beginning, she was very shy, and couldn't stand up for herself, but as the book progressed, she became less shy and more brave. Chubs, is at first wary of Ruby, not wanting her to come with them. But as the book continues, he becomes friends with Ruby. And even though he is high-strung and grumpy, we see that Chubs can be a loyal friend. Zu and Liam on the other hand, welcome Ruby and are all for her traveling with them. I thought Zu was really sweet. Even though she didn't talk, you could tell that she really cared about her Liam, Ruby and Chubs. Liam always tried to find the good in people and would do almost anything to protect the people he cares about.

SPOILER ALERT, there are spoilers ahead, so if you haven't read the book, do not read the rest of this article.

However, there was one character I absolutely hated, Clancy. You would think that he would be a nice character and not an absolute jerk since he runs East River and a bunch of kids love him. I found it kind of weird that he was watching Ruby in the beginning, but then he offers to help her control her powers, just like Ruby wanted. But he ends up just manipulating Ruby. Hopefully, we won't see him in Never Fade, the sequel.

Oh, and let me just talk about the ending. I can't believe Chubs got shot! And I really wish Ruby hadn't pressed the panic button the Children's League gave her. It may have all been for nothing, because Chubs might not live. And I also can't believe that Ruby erased Liam's memory of her, purposely, while throughout this whole book she tried not to do that. Such a cliff hanger!

I hope that we get to see Zu in the next book, since she took off with her cousin to find her aunt and uncle. I also really hope that we she Chubs alive and that Ruby restores Liam's memory. I can't wait to read Never Fade!