Helpful Score: 1
Outpost is the second book in the Razorland series and the follow-up to 2011's Enclave. I enjoyed Enclave tremendously and immediately predicted it'll be one of my best reads of 2013. Fortunately the sequelwhile quite differentwas just as riveting. I'd give it a 9.5 if I couldif only because I liked Enclave just a wee bit better, mostly because of it's slightly faster pace throughoutbut definitely not enough to deduct a whole point for it. :)
The story begins two months after Deuce and Fade emerged Topside from the dank, dark underground tunnels of the Enclave, into a part of the city now ruled by rival gangs who fight to the death for their lives and territory. Along with unlikely allies Stalker and Tegan, whom they picked up in the city, the four teens arrive at the walled, protected community of Salvationbuilt on the now trice settled site of an old war fort near what was once the Canadian borderand attempt to carve out a life Topside.
But adjusting to life in Salvation is anything but easy, especially for Deuce who doesn't particularly care for this new, simpler way of life where physical strength, aptitude, and training count for nothing if you're a woman. Instead, Deuce is expected to learn to do womanly work in the home, cook, wear dresses and look pretty. Things that are definitely not in a Huntress's repertoire. Several of the more god-fearing, bible-thumping citizens of Salvation shun Deuce, claiming she's an abomination whose presence will displease the gods and bring the plague back down upon them! But who needs plague when the Freaksnow called Muties by the citizens of Salvationhave been getting smarter and are now able to think and planeven if they still smell of rotting flesh. Little do they realize that for Salvation to survive, they are going to need a girl like Deuce to save their ass!
Though this story takes place in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world like its predecessor, Outpost takes place completely topside, so there's a whole new world to be discovered, both by the reader as well as by Deuce and her friends, and Aguirre does a spectacular job creating this scary new world. Character development is amazing as Deuce and Fade continue to learn, grow, and adapt, and as a reader, you come to understand many of the complexities that make up their personalitiesthese are no one-dimensional characters! The plot is quick and snappy and I hated when I had to put this book down to actually get other things done! LOL But what I hated even more was when I finished and realized that the final book in the trilogy, tentatively named Horde, is not due out until the end of October. :o So now I have 9 more months to wait before finding out how this amazing story ends!
If you're a fan of dystopian fiction, you must read this series. Though classified as young adult, it is definitely a book for all ages (okay maybe not pre-teens LOL), but everyone else for sure!
The story begins two months after Deuce and Fade emerged Topside from the dank, dark underground tunnels of the Enclave, into a part of the city now ruled by rival gangs who fight to the death for their lives and territory. Along with unlikely allies Stalker and Tegan, whom they picked up in the city, the four teens arrive at the walled, protected community of Salvationbuilt on the now trice settled site of an old war fort near what was once the Canadian borderand attempt to carve out a life Topside.
But adjusting to life in Salvation is anything but easy, especially for Deuce who doesn't particularly care for this new, simpler way of life where physical strength, aptitude, and training count for nothing if you're a woman. Instead, Deuce is expected to learn to do womanly work in the home, cook, wear dresses and look pretty. Things that are definitely not in a Huntress's repertoire. Several of the more god-fearing, bible-thumping citizens of Salvation shun Deuce, claiming she's an abomination whose presence will displease the gods and bring the plague back down upon them! But who needs plague when the Freaksnow called Muties by the citizens of Salvationhave been getting smarter and are now able to think and planeven if they still smell of rotting flesh. Little do they realize that for Salvation to survive, they are going to need a girl like Deuce to save their ass!
Though this story takes place in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world like its predecessor, Outpost takes place completely topside, so there's a whole new world to be discovered, both by the reader as well as by Deuce and her friends, and Aguirre does a spectacular job creating this scary new world. Character development is amazing as Deuce and Fade continue to learn, grow, and adapt, and as a reader, you come to understand many of the complexities that make up their personalitiesthese are no one-dimensional characters! The plot is quick and snappy and I hated when I had to put this book down to actually get other things done! LOL But what I hated even more was when I finished and realized that the final book in the trilogy, tentatively named Horde, is not due out until the end of October. :o So now I have 9 more months to wait before finding out how this amazing story ends!
If you're a fan of dystopian fiction, you must read this series. Though classified as young adult, it is definitely a book for all ages (okay maybe not pre-teens LOL), but everyone else for sure!
Yes! If you read Enclave, you must read the sequel. If only to keep up with Deuce, Fade, Stalker, and Tegan.
All are making their own way in the post-apocalyptic town of Salvation now. I like how they each take a different path to becoming their own person.
This is a more introspective book than the action-packed Enclave. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of action. But I really like how we get a first-hand look at how Deuce struggles with real issues of loyalty, community, friendship, and love in Outpost.
I liked this book as much as the first.
All are making their own way in the post-apocalyptic town of Salvation now. I like how they each take a different path to becoming their own person.
This is a more introspective book than the action-packed Enclave. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of action. But I really like how we get a first-hand look at how Deuce struggles with real issues of loyalty, community, friendship, and love in Outpost.
I liked this book as much as the first.
This book suffered from what most second novels in a trilogy suffer from: Idling. Obviously written to set the stage for the final showdown in the trilogy, Aguirre dedicated a lot of time to teen angst and love triangle drama. Had the characters stayed busy in the first part of the book they might not have come across as moody and sullen and boring. I lived my teenage years; over and done with, don't care to relive them through literature. This makes me think that teens wouldn't focus so much on themselves and the oh-so-horrible lives they lead where no one understands them if they had to fight blood-thirsty mutants. <--My best excuse yet for a zombie apocalypse.
I grew to dislike Deuce and Fade and Tegan but gained more respect for Stalker. That's a lost cause, though. The love plot is pretty transparent as to who will end up with whom.
There's a hint of Murakami's sadistic ideas in here, too. That was both gross and fascinating.
I am very much looking forward to the last book, though - this will be an exciting bloodbath.
I grew to dislike Deuce and Fade and Tegan but gained more respect for Stalker. That's a lost cause, though. The love plot is pretty transparent as to who will end up with whom.
There's a hint of Murakami's sadistic ideas in here, too. That was both gross and fascinating.
I am very much looking forward to the last book, though - this will be an exciting bloodbath.
The first book earned a 5 star from me. This book had to go down to a 4 star. I did enjoy it but compared to the first book which seemed to be non-stop action, this one started out a little slow. Also, I didn't like the paragraphs from the first book being entered again on the 2nd. This only happens a few times but it was enough. I know this is a way for those who read the first book when it came out to help them remember by the time the 2nd book arrives but for me this usually irritates me. For one, I usually wait until the series comes out so I can read them back to back. Even when I don't do this, I usually remember enough that I don't need the flashbacks. If it wasn't the paragraphs then it was something else reminding me how "down below" worked or Deuce and Fade's relationship or how Stalker and Tegan used to be. I already knew this. No need to backtrack. Other than that, I really enjoyed the book. It picks up where the first one left off and shows the town of Salvation. It seems like everywhere Deuce goes, there's new sets of rules. Ones that mean to keep the community safe but not always right. She also learns to love and what it could mean to lose someone you love. This book also shows the group of four maturing more mentally than physically. We also see the Freaks changing and become more scarier than you thought possible. An enjoyable book. I really feel attached to most of the characters and that just totally immerses me into the story.
Deuce returns as the battle-hardened huntress. I was surprised at the beginning of the book. It never occurred to me that Salvation might be set up the way that it is.
I thought that everything progressed in a very reasonable fashion. There weren't any crazy leaps that stood out as out of character or such.
The freaks are, of course, disturbing, but there was one part that I found chilling that involved the townspeople.
I kind of liked the first book better, but it was really interesting to explore the upper world with Deuce as opposed to seeing the world that she was more familiar with.
I thought that everything progressed in a very reasonable fashion. There weren't any crazy leaps that stood out as out of character or such.
The freaks are, of course, disturbing, but there was one part that I found chilling that involved the townspeople.
I kind of liked the first book better, but it was really interesting to explore the upper world with Deuce as opposed to seeing the world that she was more familiar with.
Picks up where Enclave left off. Deuce and the gang now live in Salvation. Salvation is a completely different place from where she grew up. I thought Salvation was also a dark, depressing place. I could argue its even worse since they have traditional gender roles and anyone who is outside that proscribed roll is treated badly.
I did like how Deuce was willing to try to learn and fit in. She was loved and accepted, just as she was, by her foster family. By the end, she did find her place, but events happened and this ended in a cliffhanger. I have to decide if I want to read book 3. It's been dark and depressing and I'm not sure I will be in the right mood for it.
I did like how Deuce was willing to try to learn and fit in. She was loved and accepted, just as she was, by her foster family. By the end, she did find her place, but events happened and this ended in a cliffhanger. I have to decide if I want to read book 3. It's been dark and depressing and I'm not sure I will be in the right mood for it.
