Though I did not read the first book in the series, I still had no trouble seeing what was going on. This book is well written. I could not put it down. I recommend reading this series. ( )

Sequel to The Catalyst.

FROM AMAZON: Fifteen-year-old Rose Elmsworth is alone. Her father, David, has been imprisoned, and a death sentence is almost certain. She has been rejected by the Department, the amoral law-enforcement agency she was groomed for since birth, and lives in fear of the terrible secret that, if exposed, will destroy her. Around Rose, the world is changing. The laws that have maintained peace between those with magic and those without are breaking down, and two rival militias are preparing to fight a war that seems imminent and promises to be devastating. As darker elements of her father’s past emerge, Rose realizes that the rules of good and evil — rules she’s always believed wholeheartedly — will not protect her anymore. In a world of monsters, how long can trust, loyalty, and justice survive? And how much will Rose herself have to change to stay alive? Teen author Helena Coggan weaves a story of power, family, and magic in the thrilling sequel to her first novel.

Literary Merit: Okay
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Not Recommended
Level: High School

This is the sequel to Coggan's previous book, The Catalyst, and I would highly recommend reading The Catalyst first, as the sequel makes little sense read on its own. Rose's father is a Hybrid, a monster on trial just for being what he is. Rose, who is also a hybrid, is desperate to save her father, whom she believes is innocent. What Rose doesn't realize until it's too late is that her father is actually a monster - and not just because he can burst into flames. Attentive readers will see Rose's father's evil early on, evil that Rose has blinded herself to. The book's main theme seems to be choosing between what's right by society and what's right personally, but this theme feels a little undermined when the solution in both cases is lock up the obvious bad guy.

There are some interesting ideas here, but an over-crowded plot, a confusingly large cast of characters, and frequent flashbacks that tell Rose's father's story in reverse result in a lot of plates spinning in the air without the possibility of a satisfying conclusion to any of them. This seems to have been an attempt to see into the mind of a mad scientist and a ruthless dictator, but this examination of a man who could have been the head of the Gestapo in another life comes across as more frustrating and unsettling than illuminating. ( )

I found this to be a fast read but very interesting - characters were complex in parts but fun to read - great writing with lots of action, emotions and a very surprise ending..... ( )

I didn't read the first book in this series, so I was more than a little lost. It's no biggie, though. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it definitely made me want to go ahead and pick up the first book to finish as well!