Review: This Series Just Gets Better and Selah Brown Is Amazing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 29, 2013
Dude! How dare you leave me holding on to the edge of my chair? Yes, October is only a few days away, but you've got me feeling like someone on Blood Dust--I need my fix!There are a lot of aspects to this series which distinguishes it from the typical (nee boring) popular vampire or dystopian novel. The most obvious is the multicultural aspect. Neither the PoC characters or women are treated as window dressing. Be they heroes or villains or anti-heroes, these characters are given a level of depth that is seldom seen. However, what also made this series, this book in particular, is its subtle critique of our celebrity-obsessed culture. Selah Brown has gone from a humble high school student to potential savior of the world, and it's a role she's totally not ready for. Even though Selah has proven herself strong, resilient and willing to do what's right, she's also human and makes mistakes. And unlike most heroes/heroines, she has to deal with the emotional and physical consequences of her actions. The saying "with great power comes great responsibility" rings very true here. Selah struggles with the aftermath of her near vampiric powers, all the while discovering that she is still a pawn in a larger game.I also appreciate the messiness that is romance. Unlike most YA books with female protagonists, Selah's relationship with Cloud or her feelings for Theo are not the raison d'etre. Selah has bigger fish to fry, to use her blood to create a vaccine. She's not swooning over the hero. In fact, she's torn over her feelings for him.I think one of this author's cleverest inventions (which I highly suggest he trademark) is the social network system The Garden. There's something wonderfully organic about it, that while it's technology, there's a human element involved as well.Waiting impatiently for the last book. Okay, patience gone! Want it NOW!!!