Review originally posted at between-the-shelves.com!

Thanks to Macmillan and Net Galley for sending me an advanced copy of this to review! I love Marie Lu and not only does this have a gorgeous cover, but the story sounded right up my alley. Fast paced and set in a unique world, this one is sure to meet all your dystopian fiction desires.

One of the things I love about Marie Lu is the way she writes action sequences. They’re on full display here, pulling you right in at the beginning and adding on as we learn more about this world. Mara is plagued by Ghosts, which are zombie-like creatures that spread by bites. They’re the Federation’s best weapon against Mara, and the sequences fighting them are really well written.

Lu also incorporates sign language throughout this book, adding another element I thoroughly enjoyed. Talin cannot speak, and the Strikers are required to keep silent when hunting Ghosts, so most of the population knows sign language. Not many action books incorporate sign language like this. Honestly, I thought it was so well done. It also added another element to the world building and made it all the more immersive.

Now, we haven’t even gotten to the characters! Talin and Red are definitely my favorites, and their connection was apparent from the beginning. They have a lot of great chemistry, and the side characters were developed as well. You really come to care about the whole cast of characters, making the book all the more engaging.

Overall, if you’re looking for a new world filled with great characters fighting to save their country, this one is for you!

Stay tuned for a full review tomorrow!