Adrenaline-filled dystopia

filled star filled star filled star filled star filled star
asingrey Avatar

By

The Strikers stand between the Federation and their monstrous Ghosts and the last free nation, Mara.

Talin was never supposed to be a Striker. Talin’s an underdog, a refugee in the nation of Mara. The only reason she’s even allowed to live inside the city gates is Corian, her Striker partner - known as a shield - who saw her fighting ability when they were children.

When Corian is bit by a dreaded ghost, Talin must fulfill her duty as his shield by killing him before he can turn into a ghost himself.

When a mysterious Federation soldier is captured, Talin surprises even herself when she fights to save his life. She gets more than she’s bargaining for when he’s discovered to be a Federation weapon known as a Skyhunter.

The action is non-stop in the second half of this book, with each fighting scene leading to the next. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see what will happen next.

The characters have formed a great bond, and I enjoyed the bit of interaction we got to see them have. I would have loved to see the hints of romance explored a bit more fully, and to have the characters share more than romantic thoughts and an awareness of where the other was on the battlefield. But I’m a hopeless romantic. Perhaps it will happen in book two.

The dystopian world is immersive and interesting, with hints of our world within it. I’ll be excited to see the characters explore it even more fully. Marie Lu has laid a great foundation for the rest of the series.

The ending hit all the right notes, and I fully understood why the characters made the choices they did. Can’t wait to see what will happen in book two!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book.