Review Detail

A tale of action, intrigue, and the undying spark of human nature to fight for survival.

The sequel continues in Freedom, where the world is still broken and being free still translates to submissive behavior and doing what the government orders. Two new characters are introduced, Raine and Gunner--acquaintances at best. Neither are fond of following the paths their lives are on and seek to change their current existence by affiliating with underground rebels.

Initially, we have the typical boy-knows-girl for years and has a hidden crush on her. But soon the story presents the reader with twists and turns, forging Raine and Gunner's paths together both emotionally and for their freedom. As their individual lives crumble, they find solace in each other and a reason to find true freedom. The dangers to discover what lies beyond the walls of their bound world slowly shrink.

The characters are individuals, yet weave in a way to effectively move the story forward and deepen the dystopian edge. Raine's father is a perfect character for young adult fiction, giving a great parallel to how teens can sometimes view their parents. He's overbearing and controlling, everything a teen wants to avoid. And Raine wants what most teens want: to be who she is. This subliminal message definitely added to my interest in Raine and her world. But I won't fool you; he's not just her dad but Freedom's ruler. Frankly, I didn't like him at all.

Raine has a tough exterior, but is really soft inside, desiring nothing more than to make her own life choices. A life match has been chosen for her, as is what happens with everyone. And although her match is a friend, she knows they will never be anything more than just friends.

As much as I enjoyed Raine's voice and point-of-view of her world, I absolutely loved Gunner and the view of Freedom through his eyes. Everything about him, from his open attitude to his intellect to his warm heart and desire to do what's right says what teen girls want. For that matter, it says what most people want out of a significant other. His cautious yet flirtatious beginnings with Raine pulls off well and slowly builds as the reader gains momentum towards the climax of the story. I especially enjoyed Johnson's clever way of having Raine and Gunner, as well as other characters, say what they didn't mean and then using their inner thoughts to help them sort out their wants and feelings. This kept me on my toes.

Decisions must be made and risks must be taken to change their world. Johnson does a wonderful job of aligning scenes and events to increase tension and mystery. I love a story where I can melt into the world building, believing in its reality. And this story has a natural feel from the world to its characters. I'm excited to see where Johnson takes the story next.