Two and a half stars, rounding up to three. I didn't like it quite as much as the first book - it certainly took me longer to get through this one. I've been meandering through it for weeks. It's just, I think, too long, and I held that opinion about its predecessor too. I keep thinking, while reading, "Would you just get on with it!" which strikes me, looking back, as a little unfair as it's pretty much non-stop action, but it all just blurs together into more-of-the-same, and my enthusiasm for it never really fires. I'll read the last book in the trilogy for the sake of completeness, but I can't say that I'm going into it expecting any sort of appealing concision.

I also find Sadie much more interesting than Carter. I expect I'm supposed to find him running off to rescue Zia as laudable in some way, and he's clearly rewarded for his poor decision given what's been left with her, but I can't help but think that, in the final days of saving the world, running off to rescue a potential girlfriend over, you know, saving the world, is grossly self-indulgent and not at all admirable. But then Sadie bunks off for a day to celebrate her birthday, so I suppose she's no better really. I know this is a children's series, and childishness is therefore to be expected, but sympathies are fading fast. Can't help but think Walt and Jaz seem more reliable...