So, I loved Darkest Minds so much. When this came out, I jumped at the chance to grab and ecopy and tore through it!

Blurb from Goodreads:
Gabe’s life has been devastated in the wake of the economic crash. The only option left for someone like him to escape his tragic past is to leave his small town behind and to attempt to become a skip tracer. This already almost impossible task is made all the more difficult by his first score, a young girl who won’t speak, but who changes his life in ways he could never imagine.

First, I have to say that I had no idea what this novella was about. I didn't even read the blurb until I was into reading it! I didn't care. I enjoyed Bracken's first book in this series so much, I knew that I would love this one just as much. And I did!

I love the cover. So simple.

And I loved Gabe. I loved watching him grow and change throughout this novella. He starts off not understanding those he's tracing to actually starting to care for them. The best part is he just doesn't understand why or how this is happening. But I figure, hey, he's human, so who can push off their emotions so well they will never feel anything for others. It's innate, in us as humans to care for others, even if we don't know them or what they are truly about. That's what happens to Gabe in this novella. He's trying to survive, trying to get by in the wake of economic devastation but is taken out of his comfort zone while trying to get to what he wants.

It's also the story of Zu, which I just love. I fell head over heals for her in Darkest Minds. It was amazing to me how Bracken could convey so much through a character that does not even take. Facial expressions, body language and small notes tell us about who she is and what she's about. And that's how Gabe learns about her, as well. She's sweet and tough and knows how to get to people for sure, Gabe is no exception.

As with her other book, Bracken completely grabs you immediately with her writing. It's so fluid and easy to jump right into. I didn't want to put the novella down and needed to know where things would end up. And in the end, I really grew to like Gabe and was sad for the story to come to a close.

And the ending, well, I won't give it away, but I really wasn't expected it to end as it did. It left a hole in my heart that I didn't know would even be there!

So, should you read this novella? Of course you should! It's really great. Do you need to read the first book to understand it, I don't necessarily think you do, although the background from the first book certainly made me understand the trying times Gabe is going through. Also, I don't know if you would totally understand the relationships between the skip tracers and psi's if you didn't read The Darkest Minds. But, if you are in the mood for a great novella, perhaps an introduction that might pull you into starting this series, then I say give it a try!

5/5 fist bumps!