My experience with CHAINS AND MEMORY is a good example of why you should read sequels ASAP. Brennan constructs a good legal narrative here as her magical characters fight to have their rights recognized in 21st century America—but she relies on work done in the first book, LIES AND PROPHECY, to provide the emotional hook. I enjoyed the story overall, but I know I’d have gotten a lot more out of it if I’d read it right after Book 1 instead of waiting 5 years. ( )

Fantastic! And as usual with all fantastic books I read, I long for more to it. I found myself truly emotionally invested in the characters. Tears were certainly shed. It didn't end quite as I expected, but it was a good ending, despite being a bit heartbreaking.

*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited. ( )

Other reviews give the story line better than I can. This is the 2nd book of a series, but I haven't read the first one. However, I didn't need to read the first to understand what was happening. Enough references were supplied to make this a stand-alone story. Very well written and easy to read and follow the storyline. Certainly a young-adult story, also. I would give this 4 1/2 stars if that option was available. ( )

I received this book as an Early Reviewers copy, and this is an honest review.

I don't want to be too spoilery here, but I will warn right off that this does end in a cliffhanger. I normally don't like cliffhangers, but this one is the sort of cliffhanger where it's a new beginning and it's not really certain what will happen, but the characters are out of danger (at least the immediate danger) so I felt they were okay and wasn't worried about them (too much). I liked the progression of the story a lot. The question of putting a deep shield on Kim, the first person to become a wilder as an adult, is being debated in the legal system. This parallels how things like this happen in real life so closely it's painful--the question of how deeply something effects people on a personal level becomes lost in the cold impersonal bureaucracy of the legal system. I really like the relationships between the wilders--they have "the family you choose" sort of more than "the family you're born into," a very stark contrast between what happens to Kim and her family and the "family" she has grown at Toby's. (Another reason I like this series is that wilders can be substituted for many groups that are marginalized or feared, such as the mutants in The X-Men, etc.). Another area I like is the doubt around the Seelie and the Unseelie and who means the least harm--what do they get from contact with humans. What do they get from releasing the geas? I found the whole aspect of touch very interesting as well, and how much Kim and Julian's relationship changed once that was straightened out; his craving yet pulling away from touch. Kim trying to fit into a world that she didn't belong to until she was an adult. There are so many facets to this book that make it a really fascinating read. Highly recommended. ( )

I enjoyed Chains and Memory. I haven't read the first book though I didn't feel this to be too detrimental, the two 'Alien' sides took a while to get my head around, but has peaked my interest to read it.
Interesting, complex premise.