Review: Sparks Rise by Alexandra Bracken

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on February 20, 2015 | 3 Comments


Review: Sparks Rise by Alexandra BrackenSparks Rise by Alexandra Bracken
Series: The Darkest Minds #2.5
Published by Disney Hyperion (9.2.2014)
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: eBook, 110 pages
Source: I own it


4.5 Stars

Sam didn’t think things could get worse at Thurmond rehabilitation camp. Then the Reds arrive. Everyone assumed the kids with firepower had been killed years ago. Instead they were taken away, brainwashed, and returned as terrifyingly effective guards. To her horror, Sam recognizes one of them: Lucas, the one spark of light in Sam’s dark childhood. Lucas has a deadly secret–he beat the brutal training that turned his fellow Reds into mindless drones. When Sam defends herself against an attack by a vile PSF guard and faces a harrowing punishment, Lucas must risk his everything to save her.

My thoughts

Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

Broken. My heart is broken.

After the last novella ended, I should have braced myself. Alexandra bracken doesn’t know the meaning of rainbows and sunshine. No Happy Ever Afters. (I’m terrified to read In the Afterlight!)

I never cared much for Sam in The Darkest Minds, only because she didn’t have much of a role. Ruby’s feelings of guilt over what happened between them overshadowed anything else. I was actually kind of thrilled to see how Sam viewed Ruby – that she kind of obsessed over her, because she knew something was off. After Liam’s situation, I have hope!

They’ve done such a good job of making this place hell that I wouldn’t be surprised if the real one turned out to be a much nicer place.

I had forgotten how horrific the camps were. After not seeing one since the beginning of the first book, it had faded away. This story reminded me of that all over again. How terrible the kids were treated, like they were nothing more than animals. I was infuriated and disgusted at the adults for it!

loved Sam and Lucas! Their bond was beautiful. I love seeing the Red side of things, too. Except for a certain character in Never Fade, we haven’t seen much of the Reds other than mindless drones. If there are two, hopefully there are more!

View Spoiler »

Overall Assessment

Plot: 4.5/5
Writing style: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Pace: 5/5
Feels: 4/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5

Jessi (Geo)

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