Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken is the second book in The Darkest Minds series and picks up a few months after the events of the first book. A little recap….if you haven’t read The Darkest Minds, there are spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.

Spoiler

The first book ends on a massive cliffhanger. Chubs was shot and left at a hospital. Liam and Ruby are taken in by the Children’s League. Ruby is given a choice to save Liam or allow him to remain in the Children’s League’s custody. She chooses to save him. To do this, she has to erase herself from his memories. Yep, that’s right she erased herself. Y’all not what I was expecting AT ALL. Liam leaves with no memories of her and Ruby leaves with Cate.

Ok you’re all caught up.

It’s been a few months since Ruby was taken by Cate to the Children’s League headquarters in California. In those months, Ruby has honed her skills as an Orange becoming one of the League’s “leaders” and interrogators. She sees herself as a monster, but believes in what the League is doing. They are rescuing Psy kids from the camps, getting intel on the president, and causing all kinds of havoc in general. But there are those inside the League that want her and others like her dead. When Cole Stewart reveals that Liam has a flashdrive the Children’s League wants, Ruby accepts the mission knowing she must leave behind those she’s come to love.

Ruby is a fascinating character. She struggles daily with her Psy abilities. She doesn’t want them. The guilt for leaving Liam the way she did eats at her daily. Because there is nothing she can do for Liam or Chubs or Zu, she fights to protect her team at the League. She’s fiercely protective of them and will do whatever she can to keep them from harm.

While key characters from the first book are noticeably missing *cough* LIAM *cough*, Alexandra Bracken introduces new characters that I instantly fell in love with. Jude is like Zu, a Yellow and young. His childlike enthusiasm and love for Ruby tugged on every single one of my heartstrings. He is a sweet and lovable character that I just wanted to reach out and hug. Vida is a tougher character to like. She is a Blue (I think….if I remember correctly). She gives Ruby heck, but that’s just her. Vida sugarcoats nothing, and doesn’t love easily. But she is loyal to a fault.

The plot of the story is convoluted and fast-paced. As the reader, you find out things as Ruby does which means you are left wondering the truth behind other characters’ actions. Who can you really trust? When Cole asks for Ruby’s help in finding this flashdrive, she’s anxious to do the job. One it will give her a glimpse of Liam and two it will serve as closure. She did the right thing and can move on….at least that’s what she thinks. But things are never that easy.

Amy McFadden is a brilliant narrator. I found myself at the edge of my seat many times as she flipped her tone or change inflection just enough to give insight into the characters. I was completely lost in her telling of the story.

Overall I really enjoyed Never Fade. Ruby, the new characters, and the revelations that shake their world at its core left me breathless and wanting more. If you enjoy dystopias, this is one that is a must-read.