Quicksilver

Ultraviolet #2

by R.J. Anderson

Back home Tori was the girl who had everything a sixteen-year-old could want—popularity, money, beauty. Everything. Including a secret. That secret made her very valuable.

Now she's left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the only person who truly understood her. She can't lose the secret. But if she wants to have anything resembling a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unique…talents.

Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears in Tori's life and delivers bad news: she hasn't escaped. In fact, she's attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-detective now in the employ of a genetics lab.

She has only one shot at ditching her past for good and living like the normal human she wishes she could be. Tori must use every ounce of her considerable hacking and engineering skills—and even then, she might need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free.

The riveting companion to R.J. Anderson's acclaimed Ultraviolet, which is now available in paperback.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal, Aliens, Fiction, Romance

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

R.J. (Rebecca) Anderson was born in Uganda, raised in Ontario, and has spent much of her life dreaming of other worlds entirely. She is the author of ten traditionally published fantasy/SF books for children and teens, including the UK-bestselling faery romance KNIFE. Her latest published book is TORCH (Book 3 of the Flight and Flame trilogy, which began with SWIFT and NOMAD).

* * * REVIEW POLICY * * *
I review books that I enjoyed reading and think other readers may enjoy as well, but that doesn't mean I agree with or endorse those books in every respect. If you're concerned about content, please check out other reviewers or sites that provide detailed warnings.

I'm no longer giving star ratings as I don't find them nuanced enough, but for books I've already rated, see below:

5 stars: I loved this book so much that I expect to read it again and again -- I reserve this rating for beloved classics and books that knocked my socks off.

4 stars: I really enjoyed the book and/or thought it was excellently done -- there is a good possibility that I'll re-read it.

3 stars: I enjoyed the book and thought it was well done. Should not be taken as belittling the book or its author -- it really does mean "I liked it".

2 stars: I didn't connect to this book as I'd hoped. This category includes books by authors whose other works I truly love, so it's not a dealbreaker. Just found this particular book wasn't for me.

1 star/DNF: Definitely not for me. But I won't be reviewing it because I choose to focus on books I enjoy.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

it saddens me that i don't hyper-love this series as much as everyone else seems to.

because i like the series; it's good, i enjoy reading it, but whenever i read these wonderfully enthusiastic reviews for these books, i just feel a little left out. wait up for me, guys!

there's a lot to like - it has an original plot, with characters who stand out from the frequently cookie-cutter girls and boys who populate the YA fantasy/adventure books, and it seems to be going somewhere, not just treading water, seeing how many books it can stretch itself to before the audience loses interest. all of these things are good things, and i note them as such with my brain. but my heart is looking elsewhere.

this second part picks up shortly after the action in the first one, and shifts the POV from alison to tori. now, i don't want to ruin the big "oh no she didn't" from Ultraviolet, so i will just say that these characters are very different girls.

but - man, i gotta tell you. there comes a point in this book where the opportunity is given to COMPLETELY change everything and pull the rug out from under the reader, and i started getting really excited, "oh my god, is she really going to do this?? this could be the coolest thing in YA history" because, honestly, the whole "alien" thing never really interested me, and that might be why i can't full-heart this series. i'm just not, ultimately, a sci-fi fan. i started with this series because i am a synesthesia fan, but aliens and outer space?? nahhh, just not in my fun-zone. but when she suggested that all of the alien stuff was just a hallucination of alison's, and gave perfectly reasonable explanations for an alternative to alison's psychologically unstable-at-the-time perspective i started getting so into that, because it would have been such a bold thing to do to all the readers who fell in love with the outer space-y parts, and it would have certainly made me more impressed with the series but alas. people don't write books specifically for me anymore...

but, still, that moment of uncertainty was a good one, and i thank her for giving it to me, however briefly.

another big plus is the lack of coddling, the lack of gentleness. alison is not in this story much, but when she is, she is pretty clearly affected by what happened to her in the first book. and i like that, as a reader. you can read any number of these books where the heroine is seemingly indestructible, both emotionally and physically, but after a while, the lack of realism is wearying. alison has been through some damage, and it shows. but she wears it well, and having her just be a peripheral character in this installment is a good move.

so i am only saying good things about the book(s)! and three stars is not a bad rating, not when i'm giving them out, but i wish whatever ineffable reader roadblock on my part that wasn't letting me yield to my fellow readers' rapture would be removed.i want to love.

come to my blog!

[R.J.]

I'll admit it: I was scared to write this book. Not because I didn't believe in the characters or the story, but because I knew it was going to challenge me in all kinds of new ways, and take me to places as an author and as a researcher that I'd never been before. I wanted it to be a satisfying follow-up to ULTRAVIOLET, yet at the same time a quite different sort of story, and one that could be read and appreciated even by people who hadn't read the earlier novel. And at times, the pressure to live up to my own expectations of what this book ought to be -- let alone worrying about everybody else's expectations -- drove me almost to despair.

But it was worth it. Because the revisions are all done now, and with the help of my editors and critique group and faithful research consultants, the story has become everything I wanted and more. Maybe one day I'll get a notion to write a third book, but I don't think right now there's any need for one, and I can't even really imagine what it would be about or who would narrate it if I did. I think ULTRAVIOLET and QUICKSILVER stand up as two distinct and complete stories, which also form a complimentary whole.

I love QUICKSILVER with all my heart. I hope you will too.

[Emily May · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2
You know all those young adult books that feature the stereotypical blonde, popular and bitchy high-schooler? And the movies with the same? Usually there's a girl-next-door kind of heroine who is supposed to look so much better beside Ms Blonde & Popular? I know you all know what I'm talking about. Well, this is the book that kicks apart and destroys all those old stereotypes and brings to you the story of that popular girl everyone thinks they know but no one really does. There are a whole bunch of secrets hiding behind that pretty face and Anderson expertly uses them to tell a story interwoven with the exploration of sexism, racism, sexuality and mental illness.

I was unsure about my feelings on the first book - Ultraviolet - and my enjoyment was occasionally threatened by the purple prose which was a product of Alison's synesthesia and unusual abilities. However, this book is an entirely different breed of novel. With Tori Beaugrand, no time is wasted waxing poetic about letters and numbers, we get straight into a fast-paced, well-structured action story that never slows for a second. Anderson pulls out twists that this time actually came as a huge surprise and she introduces new sides to her old characters that make them so much more well-rounded.

Tori is so many things all at once and the author even does something entirely new (to me, anyway) with her character here and explores an area I have never seen touched upon in any novel. Tori is the perfect balance of strong and flawed, she manages to be brave but struggles with normal human fears that make her someone the reader can relate to but also cheer on. The author even pauses to look at what it's like to be female in one of the most male-dominated professions of all - engineering. It's amazing how many social issues Anderson incorporates into this novel without making the novel about them or taking anything away from the main plot.

One of the other things I really appreciate in Anderson's novels is that she doesn't concern herself with writing the story the reader wants to happen; she isn't fuelled by a need to find a happy ending or to resolve every character's problems. And I like this. It means that her stories will always be unpredictable because anything could happen, bad stuff happens to the good people and not every relationship will end with hand-holding as they walk off into the sunset. This is an element that can make even the most unrealistic paranormal novel seem somewhat real.

I am deliberately avoiding saying anything about the plot itself because it's very easy to spoil the first book. But I would highly recommend these novels so much to everyone, I'm even willing to say now that it's worth making it through the first book even if you aren't keen just so you can read Quicksilver. My only hope is that this isn't the last we hear from Tori, Alison and Sebastian, the questions opened by these two books are just too delicious to go unanswered.

[Wendy Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY CRAP. What a mindfuck of a book. And what a crazily original heroine!

I can't even gather coherent thoughts at this point. Review to come.

[Steph Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Okay, WOW. I commission everyone to go out and read this series. Because... because... because of reasons. Awesome reasons.

Why is it that every time I finish a novel by R.J. Anderson, I can't find the right words to review it? How can I possibly give someone a run down of a book with so many twists and turns and plain old fashion AWESOME?  I can do better than that. Let me try this again.

Quicksilver had me flipping pages as fast as humanly possible from beginning to end. If you are a sci-fi fan and you haven't read Quicksliver's predecessor, Ultraviolet, then my question to you would be: DUDE, what the hell are you waiting for?!



Even though I thought Ultraviolet was slightly predictable, I enjoyed every minute of it. Immediately after finishing the last page, I knew I needed a sequel. So I waited and waited. And when I saw Quicksilver appear on NetGalley, I quickly requested it. I hadn't even read the synopsis because I had made up my mind a year ago that I'd read it no matter what it was about. You know that feeling when you've read a book that you've been highly anticipating and it exceeds your expectations? Yeah... THAT. And since it's really hard to review this book without giving away spoilers, I'm just going to tell you three things I LOVED about Quicksilver.

Plot:

So when I said I didn't even read the description before starting Quicksilver, I really meant it. I went in expecting the story to pick up from Alison's point of view and was surprised to learn that it was Tori Beaugrand instead, proving once again that reading is indeed fundamental. And I was initially hesitant to this change because Tori wasn't a character that I exactly liked in Ultraviolet. But after reading the first chapter and hearing her 'voice', I was a fan.

The novel starts with Tori, her mother and father moving to a different city to avoid police curiosity and more questioning. She leaves behind her old life, friends and even Alison, to start over, renaming herself Niki. She hopes that the events that occurred at the end of Ultraviolet are far behind her, but she later finds out she is still in danger of returning to Mathis, the scientist who had originally sent her to earth as an experiment. With the help of the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday and a new character, Milo, Tori races against time to do whatever it takes to remain on Earth.

There really wasn't any slow moments or down time in Quicksilver. Tori has a very short window to destroy the relay's ability to beam her back to Mathis and the clock is ticking throughout the entire novel. Quite literally too if you consider the binary countdown clock at the beginning of each new chapter. I thought that was a really nice touch and added an extra level of suspense. I really wish I could say more about the plot without spoiling anything, but I can't. The plot twists, however, were very well-placed and unexpected.

Dynamic Characters:

Anderson really takes her novels to another level with her characters. First it was Alison with her synesthesia and then there is Tori. I can't really say what it is about her that makes her such an interesting character because it's a spoiler, but I have never seen that done in a YA novel. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen it done at all in any book I've read. It's like Anderson picks these different aspects to really make her characters stand out and feel REAL.

These characters have real issue that don't just get solved with fairy dust by the end of the novel. And in Quicksilver, Tori is put in the worst possible situations to the point where I was genuinely horrified during one scene. I kept thinking that Anderson would save her from such a fate, but that's what I love about her books. Her characters don't always get what they want and you can just feel their pain and desire for it. But you also feel their resolve of the inevitable. Just as in Ultraviolet where I was rooting so hard for Sebastian and Alison to somehow get together by the end of the novel and... it didn't happen. I was flabbergasted that Anderson would leave Alison so broken after everything she had been through and not give her one piece of happiness.



So I was hoping, with all the power that a reader could posses, that they would work things out. BUT UGH, it's so dang complicated! I was angry, yet I was I happy. Strangely, I sorta love it when an author GOES THERE and doesn't give her characters and readers what they expect and want. It makes for a more powerful story.

The Last 25%: 

W-H-O-A. That was INTENSE. During that scene my heart was racing sooooo hard! If you ever get a chance to read this book, then you'll understand what I mean.  And I really appreciate how things were resolved, but at the same time a small bit of conflict still remains, because there are consequences for our actions, even in the fictional world.

So if you are on the market, looking for a suspenseful sci-fi novel with and engaging plot and fresh characters, look no further. I highly recommend Quicksilver. 

ARC was acquired via NetGalley. Thank you!

More reviews and other fantastical things at Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this book since the day I finished my first read of Ultraviolet - aka 2011.

So I was like:


I finally bought it, and the day it arrived I was like this:



With a dash of this:



And then I met Milo and felt like this:



Anytime anyone/anything needed/wanted my attention I felt like this:



And then, close to the end, I was like this:



And I had to keep telling myself this:



And Tori was badass like this:



And I responded by going like this:




and this:



And I thought that Anderson did this with her duology:



And in the end, I felt like this, about the whole thing:

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori Beaugrand and her family have fled the town where they have lived all Tori's life and are living with assumed names. After her disappearance for three months, a sample of her blood found its way to people who very much want access to more of it and a ruthless and implacable detective who desperately wants answers is happy to help them. But in her new town and with her new life, everything comes crashing down when Sebastian Faraday reappears in her life with the news that Mathis still wants her back.

Tori (Nikki) is an interesting character. Like Alison she has her own unusual elements, and an exploration of her story is necessarily an exploration of her identity issues. She's also a technical genius and it's great to see positive representation of young females excelling in STEM fields.

[Veronique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This companion book to Ultraviolet is rather different in tone and to a certain degree content, diving completely into science-fiction. And yet, the ‘human’ element - how people connect and react - is firmly at the forefront and what connects these two novels so well.

The narrative follows Tori/Niki who is running for her life. Her voice is in complete contrast to Alison’s and reflects her character, someone who is down to earth, extremely focused and a whizz at engineering and mathematics. After the events of the first novel, Tori and her family decide to ‘disappear’ and start a new life in order to hide her from a ruthless group of people wanting to find out who and what she is. Once more, appearances are deceiving, and instead we have a girl excelling in technology and a boy going against cultural expectations.

Anderson again isn’t afraid of going where many wouldn’t. In Ultraviolet, we had mental illnesses and psychiatric institutions, here we have alienism and asexuality, both revolving around questions of identity and ‘self-worth’:
“I know,” he said. “You’re gay, right?”
“No,” I said. “I’m not sexually attracted to anyone. At all. Ever.”
Not only does the author introduces these but succeeds in portraying characters that feel strongly and make us look at relationships, and indeed romantic ones, in an unusual light, but totally valid and believable. I just wanted more! Furthermore, Anderson does the same with the plot, daring to go into the unexpected and often dark side of things. I personally loved it, all of it, and cannot wait to read more from this author.

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Quicksilver was first announced, it was said to be a companion novel to Ultraviolet, R.J. Anderson’s unforgettably original novel about a girl with synesthesia. Knowing that, I didn’t expect the two to be so closely connected, but imagine my joy when I realized how wrong I was. Quicksilver is more of a sequel – a continuation of the same story told from a different perspective. I struggled a bit at first because Anderson doesn’t waste precious time on recaps, but I caught up fairly quickly and my emotional attachments were soon reestablished.

Tori’s voice is radically different from Alison’s. For one, she doesn’t have synesthesia so her narration is less colorful and far more composed. She is a very down-to-earth kind of person, which is perhaps an odd thing to say about an alien. Tori is a very competent mechanic and her personality reflects this – she is calm, collected and precise in every situation she gets thrown into.

Now that the chip has been removed from her arm and she can leave town without getting seazures, Tori and her parents are on the run: from detective Deckard, from GeneSystem Laboratories and from the crazy alien scientist Mathis. Desperate to keep Tori safe, they change their names and move to a small Canadian town. But Tori’s past isn’t far behind, and when Sebastian Faraday comes to her with an unlikely solution, she knows she has no choice but to help him.

Despite her loving parents and several other people who care deeply about her, Tori’s loneliness is overwhelming. Hers is a self-imposed isolation, born out of fear of rejections and a strong sense of not belonging, and it was almost unbearable at times. Walls after walls after walls appear, and in many ways, Tori’s existence is even sadder and more solitary than Alison’s.

There is a boy, of course – a loyal, intelligent Korean boy – a friend, pretend boyfriend and quite a few things in between. He is impossible not to like, so Tori decides to do something she’s never done before – be (partially) honest and not give him false hope. She tells him she’s never been attracted to another person in her life, that she’s basically asexual. I loved Anderson’s approach to this. Loved! She never wrote about Tori’s condition as something that needed to be cured or changed, but simply as a fact of life that may or may not be bypassed in the future. Not altered, just worked around. For the millionth time, Anderson did something that’s never been done before, and I applaud her for it.

Alison’s role in Quicksilver is minor, but vital. I’d like to say I missed her the entire time, but the truth is that Tori, Milo and Faraday occupied my every thought and I barely even noticed her absence. When she did join the group, she brought with her the open emotionality Tori sorely lacks, and it was then I realized how different these two books really are.

Enough loose threads were left to make a third book possible, but even if it doesn’t come, I’m happy with where we left things. Once again, Anderson wrote a book that defies all expectations and if we’re lucky, she’ll choose to write another one. If not, we’ll always have Ultraviolet and Quicksilver to remind us that originality isn’t gone, it just hides very well from most authors.

[Julie]

The world better not end before the book comes out.

[TheBookSmugglers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers

**WARNING: This review contains slight, but unavoidable, spoilers for Ultraviolet. You do not have to have read Ultraviolet to read Quicksilver, but if you want to be unspoiled for the first book, you should probably start there.**

Review:

Three months ago, perfect, popular seventeen year-old Tori Beaugrand disappeared into thin air. And then, just as inexplicably, Tori returns home, bloodied and beaten, but alive and whole.

Tori's disappearance is a mystery to the police and her friends, and she claims that she cannot remember anything of her abduction, or the weeks she was gone. More than anything, Tori wants everyone to forget, and to move on with her life as though nothing has happened.

Of course, the truth isn't so simple. Tori's disappearance is one that spans time and space, her secret one that no one - save for friend Alison and scientist Sebastian Faraday - can ever know. You see, Tori isn't like anyone else on Earth. And now she's being hunted by scientists who want to study her unique DNA, by a rogue cop that can't give up without knowing Tori's story, and by one of her own kind who will stop at nothing to continue his grand experiment.

Tori and her parents uproot themselves, changing their names and their appearances, in the hopes that they can stay safe. Now, Tori is Nikki - a brunette with a pixie cut and dark gray-blue eyes, who is homeschooled and works a part-time job at the local supermarket, trying to keep under the radar. All that goes to hell when Sebastian Faraday shows up in Tori/Nikki's life again, enlisting her help to build a device that could end their trouble once and for all. But to be successful, it will take every ounce of Nikki's unique skills - but more importantly, it means she will have to place her trust in others.

The companion book to 2011's Ultraviolet, Quicksilver is a fantastic science fiction novel from R.J. Anderson. Featuring yet another awesome heroine and a surprisingly high-stakes, unflinching plot, Quicksilver, to put it plainly, rocks. In other words: I loved this book.

As I've noted before, you don't necessarily have had to read Ultraviolet to dive into this book, but I strongly suggest you read that novel first in order to have a fuller understanding of the events and key players in Quicksilver. While Ultraviolet was synesthesiac Alison's book, about her false confession of murder and her institutionalization, Quicksilver tells the story of the girl who Alison supposedly killed - the perfect, beautiful girl who has it all, Tori. Except, Tori doesn't really have it all; in fact, her life is a carefully constructed façade. Adopted as a small child by her loving parents, Tori has always been a bit different - she's got unparalleled skill when it comes to assembling, visualizing and modifying technology, and a knack for memorizing numbers and easily solving complex mathematical problems. But more than her mechanical skills, Tori guards a much deeper secret - she's from a place far, far away, sent to Earth as a baby as a kind of twisted experiment.

Yep, that's right. Just like Ultraviolet before it, Quicksilver is a psychological thriller but it's also firmly a science fiction novel, complete with transporter devices, wormholes, and, yes, that eponymous element of quicksilver. And I'm happy to say that both the science fictional elements and technology elements are executed beautifully. Similarly, from a plotting perspective, Quicksilver rocks. Equal parts fugitive thriller and scifi blockbuster, you could say that this novel is kind of a page-turner. That's not to say that depth is sacrificed for action - quite the contrary. There are betrayals and hidden motives and resonant emotional connections. And the stakes are HIGH, people! The book kicks into high gear and the last quarter of Quicksilver is crazy intense. (In particular, Tori makes a gutsy, terrifying choice in the late chapters of the book and my goodness is it dramatic.)

And then there are the characters. I loved, loved, loved heroine Tori. And now, this COULD be considered a mild spoiler, but I'm divulging anyway because I think it is a vitally important part of (and draw to) the book. That is: main character Tori is an asexual protagonist.

“Milo,” I said, “I’m going to tell you something I’ve only ever told one other person. And when I do, I . . . I hope you’ll understand.” Passionately hoped, in fact. Because if he said any of the things Lara had said to me when I told her, it would be hard to forgive him for it.

“I know,” he said. “You’re gay, right?”

“No,” I said. “I’m not sexually attracted to anyone. At all. Ever.”

Tori's not celibate (which is a choice); she's asexual (a type of sexual orientation).[1. If you want to read more about asexuality, check out www.asexuality.org.] It's rare to come across an asexual protagonist in fiction - especially in YA fiction! - but Anderson does a phenomenal job of carefully portraying Tori's asexuality, without making this Tori's Sole Defining Characteristic, or worse, portraying her asexuality in a superficial or offhand way. I love the careful distinction that shows Tori is a young woman who feels love, and rage, and loneliness - she's not sexually attracted to anyone, but she feels and yearns for emotional connection (I should also note that Tori is asexual but not - to my reading - aromantic). And finally, I love that Tori's asexuality is NOT misunderstood or treated as a part of her unique DNA, or as the result of some childhood trauma, or some other such humbug. I love that author R.J. Anderson directly addresses and refutes this in the book. That is awesome.[2. On that note, R.J. Anderson wrote a great post about Tori's asexuality HERE. I highly recommend reading it in its entirety!]

And you know what else is awesome? Tori's new friend, Milo, is a Korean Canadian, and the book skillfully deals with questions of interracial relationships and pressures, once again without feeling false or superficial. The relationship that unfolds between Tori and Milo is complicated, to say the least, but its one of my favorite YA relationships in a very, very long time. Heck, I'll just come out and say it - Tori and Milo are one of my favorite pairs of characters...ever.

With its skillful genre-busting, plotting and standout characters, Quicksilver is every bit as wonderful as Ultraviolet. Heck, I think I may even love it more than that first book. Absolutely recommended, and in the running for one of my favorite books of 2013.

[Jasprit · Rating 4 out of 5]

With quite a few sequels set for release this year, Quicksilver was definitely one of my highly anticipated releases. I absolutely adored Ultraviolet with its twists and turns, so couldn’t wait to get back to a fantastic set of characters.

I loved getting the story from Alison in Ultraviolet, so was surprised to learn that we would be getting Tori’s pov instead in Quicksilver. Alison was a sure favourite, so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel being inside Tori’s head, especially the way things had ended. But Tori’s character did surprise me with her honesty, depth and rawness. I thought Alison had it all to deal with, but Tori’s family also had to make a lot of sacrifices along the way. With the scientists at GeneSystem after Tori and Constable Deckard also joining the pursuit. Tori and her family had no other option but to leave everything behind and make a new life for themselves in Canada. Tori also has the relay, so she didn’t know when Mathis could beam her back. Her life was even more on the edge now with everything being able to be taken away in the blink of an eye.

Whereas before I didn’t want to read this story from Tori, as the story progressed I really began to appreciate her character. She was resilient, even though everything was against her and she was the only one who could make Faraday stop to think things through. I always had secret hopes that two of my favourite characters from Ultraviolet would make an appearance, so I was ecstatic of Faraday’s appearance so early on. He was so haggard, run down and of course being elusive as ever about what went down with Mathis. Then when I was finally getting warmed up to his character he would disappear. Faraday the poor guy was so full of self doubt and guilt, that I wanted to shake him at times. But once again his incredible talent and skills won me over in the end. I would love to have a friend as Faraday who could hack e-mails and cause diversions whenever necessary.

Quicksilver in my eyes is a solid follow up to Ultraviolet. There is a lot to get your head around with building of transmitters and talk of shutting down wormholes. But when you’re invested into the story and characters as much as I was you can get through this technical jargon quite easily. I hope that one day Anderson decides to revisit these wonderful characters, as Anderson has created such a magical world that I know I will have a hard time leaving. (I can already see several re-reads of this fabulous series in the near future).

[Rusty's Ghost Engine (also known as.......... Jinky Spring) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. That's all there really is to say about this sequel.

I'm actually quite frustrated with this one as I really liked Ultraviolet and thought it was truly epic. This one however was a total letdown as hardly anything happened and the plot was really slow paced. Let me say for the record that Alison is a WAY better narrator than Tori/Nikki. Her story was way more exciting and full of twists and turns whereas Nikki's tale just felt drab.

For a long while absolutely nothing happened except for Nikki and Sebastian speculating about the danger they are in and there was all this technical shit that I totally didn't get. The ending was really confusing in fact now I don't really understand what happened I think they cut off Nikki's arm with the quicksilver (quicksilver is apparently programmable matter) chip that Sebastian put there to protect himself and Alison from Mathis. Then they throw an EMP bomb (along with Nikki's severed arm) through the wormhole that is triggered by the severing of Nikki's arm then the bomb fries all the transmission equipment on the other side rendering the relay device powerless at least that's what I think happens! And what about GeneSystem? They were just dismissed, I'd have liked to hear more about them! And while I'm on it I would have liked more involvement from Mathis, I mean seriously he didn't even try to get his "precious" experiment back!

I can't really explain why I didn't connect with Tori other than like I said her story just didn't seem to have the same intrigue of Alison's. I mean the way the mystery was unraveled in Ultraviolet and the keen descriptions of Alison's "condition" was really awe inspiring for me. I mean her experiences were so unusual and philosophical and there was none of that supernatural awe in this book just everyday life mostly.

So in conclusion I'd say this book had some great ideas and even greater potential but it was executed very poorly. Before reading this I was hoping for more books in this series now I'm not so sure.. So disappointed.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ultraviolet was an incredibly original sci-fi novel that I enjoyed immensely last year. I was thrilled to find out that Quicksilver was coming out as a companion novel and was so pleased that it was quite possibly better than its predecessor.

Tori knows that its only a matter of time before her past catches up with her and everyone in her life is going to be put at risk because of what she is. Sebastian Faraday shows back up and confirms that she does have more to fear but that he has a plan to hopefully save them all from Mathis. But it's going to take strength and perseverance in order for this to pay off, and even then the likelihood of success is slim.

Quicksilver's story line was an intense thrill ride that never let up. The writing was amazing and all the tiny intricate mechanical details and outer space facts made each word come alive. My main issue with sci-fi tends to be that it's so completely unbelievable, but R.J. Anderson makes this science fiction word so completely real. As much as I loved Allison's story and her incredible gift in Ultraviolet, I loved the story being told from the point of view of Tori. Tori was nothing like the blond, blue eyed, popular girl she showed the world. She was a tough, machine-building chick that had the strength to do whatever it took to keep herself and the ones she loved safe from harm.

Quicksilver was extremely well done and I love how well wrapped-up each book manages to be. Ultraviolet's ending was an explosion of text with revelations that blew your mind, but I had no idea that I could expect more of the story. The ending of Quicksilver didn't have a cliffhanger, but definitely left the possibility for a future story. And boy do I hope that happens. Highly recommended for sci-fi lovers looking for highly original characters with an elaborate story line.

[Sherwood Smith]

Quicksilver follows on from Ultraviolet, though I think one could start with the second one (but why would you want to? Ultraviolet was one of my favorite books of 2011) This one follows Tori, who didn't really come into Ultraviolet until near the end--she was the cause of Alison's being thrown into a mental hospital.

Tori and her parents have abruptly left their home, changed their names. Dad got a far less well-paying job, and Mom is coping in her own ways, as the parents are determined to protect their daughter, who is . . . strange. But the parents don't know how strange Tori (now Nikki) is. She's keeping some of her discoveries to herself. Though she loves and trusts her parents, she sees their weaknesses clearly, and so she reinvents herself not only at school and at her job, but for them.

Around the time she meets her first real friend, a boy named Milo, the sinister Deckard, a police detective, catches up with the family. He left the force, and is now a hireling of a really sinister-sounding biotech company who wants Nikki for testing. But far more threatening, the force behind Alison's and Nikki's previous adventures are also after her, and her only ally is Sebastien Faraday, with whom Alison bonded, but Nikki knows his weaknesses, too.

The tension rises resolutely as they slowly feel closed in by these inimical forces, and then have to go on the run, as clues begin to fall together. Nikki's nature is handled with clear-eyed sensitivity, the characters are vivid and complex, the storyline full of interesting twists, intensified toward the climax with glimpses of the numinous. We even get to see Alison again. Another winner from Anderson.

[AH · Rating 5 out of 5]

First impressions...
OMG! *does the fangirl Snoopy dance* Simply amazing. This book messed with my head but in a good way.
Quicksilver is a companion novel to Ultraviolet and it fills in the gaps and gives the reader a different character's perspective. Highly recommended that one reads Ultraviolet first. So looking forward to the next book! (I hope there is one.)

Actual review...
It’s not often that I read a companion novel and experience the same level of enjoyment for both books. Quicksilver is being marketed as a companion novel to Ultraviolet however, in a way, the story does move forward only from a different perspective, so it can be seen as a sequel. Quicksilver also fills in the gaps of the previous book and since the story is told from Tori’s point of view, it kind of reads as a behind the scenes look at Ultraviolet.

Quicksilver will mess with your mind – but in a good way. Told from Tori’s point of view, Quicksilver begins as Tori and her family relocate from Sudbury, Ontario to the relative anonymity of Toronto. In Toronto, Tori works at a large supermarket, a job she is clearly overqualified for. Tori struggles to live a “normal” life as possible. She fears being detected by the people who want to study her.

Tori’s dull existence doesn’t last too long, especially when Sebastian Faraday materializes in her bedroom in front of Tori’s co-worker and friend, Milo Hwang. Faraday is convinced that Tori is in grave danger. They must work together to destroy a relay that led Faraday to Tori before the others can use it.

Now here’s the kicker: If you’ve read Ultraviolet, you know that there will be some twists and turns and things happening that may or may not be real. In Quicksilver, you’re never quite sure if the danger is real or imagined. The author writes in such a way that you are never really sure what to believe.

I think that one of the things that makes this series so fantastic to read is the character development. These characters are not one dimensional – they function on so many levels. I adored Tori’s character in this book. I never really liked her in the first book but perhaps that was because I saw her through Alison’s eyes, so I never really got a full perspective of her character. In Quicksilver, Tori has to be one of the most resourceful, smart, and interesting characters I have read yet. Her engineering skills are off the charts fantastic, and her dedication to her friends and family is incredible.

The men in this book made me swoon. First of all, there’s the mysterious Sebastian Faraday, who is there to help Tori. Unfortunately, Faraday seems to disappear for parts of the story so my only criticism was that there wasn’t enough of him. Then there’s Milo Hwang, one of the best, best friends ever. I loved how Milo was portrayed as a young Korean boy who was expected to go to medical school and become a doctor. Of course, Milo’s dreams lay elsewhere.

And wow! There is a part of this book that made me speechless. You’ll know when you get to that part. What a way to write a novel.

If you haven’t had a chance to read this series yet, pick up a copy of Ultraviolet. Then go out and buy yourself a copy of Quicksilver. This is a series like no other and these books are best read with a fresh mind. Avoid all spoilers and enjoy the ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carolrhoda Lab for a review copy of this book.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.

[Elevetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading:







After reading:


MEGA-QUOTE

There's no such thing as just a friend, Milo. Friendship is one of the most important things there is....I hate it when people talk like friendship is less than other kinds of-as though it's some sort of runner-up prize for people who can't have sex. I had a boyfriend once, but I never liked being with him the way I like being with you." I held his gaze, refusing to falter or look away." You're one of the best friends I've ever had, Milo. And that is everything to me."
Milo was quiet for a moment. Then he said, "You mean that, don't you. You're not just trying to make me feel better."
"I'm not," I said. "I'm, really, really not."
His eyes lowered, and his expression turned pensive. Then he looked up again and said, "Okay."
"Okay?"
"I mean, that's good by me." He gave a slight, tentative smile. "I'm not going anywhere."
I let my breath out in relief. Finding out Milo legitimately cared about me and wanted to be around me, even if there was no chance of us hooking up, was enormous. I wanted to show him how glad I was for his friendship, how warm and bubbly it made me feel to have him by my side. I wanted to take his hand, lean my head on his shoulder, maybe even hug him."

And this is one of the reasons why I love this book. Let's all just take a moment to appreciate that Anderson, unlike apparently many authors, actually knows what-and how important and life-changing- friendship is. *ALL THE AWARDS* So that was why, even though I didn't mind and was secretly even pleased, the kiss at the end surprised me a little. I mean, yeah you could tell the whole way through that Milo was her best friend and ready and willing to be "just" that but that he also wanted something more. And Niki/Tori is asexual, which can be "a pretty big three" or hindrance, as the case may be. So I'm not entirely sure what to think of the ending. However, it doesn't bother me. They're too cute, however they end up.

BUT NOW I want need a book with a strong friendship like this, and no romance, where both people are heterosexual. Please?????

QUOTE

"I don't know how to be anything but pretend," I replied, and it ached in me how true that really was. "But if I could be real, I'd be real for you."

QUOTE

He leaped the curb, dropped the bike onto the lawn, and started towards me, and I leaped up and ran to him, and if he'd been Brendan, he would have tried to kiss me and ruined everything, but he wasn't, and he didn't. He just stood there and held me until I stopped shaking and could breathe again.

So....can I have a Milo??

In conclusion, yet another excellent book by R.J. Anderson. It had many of my favorite things; fantastic writing, compelling plot, great characters, and beautiful wonderful friendships. While I miss the more psychological aspect from Ultraviolet, I think I liked this one more.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I found this quite interesting but it gradually becomes more and more predictable. Also, that cover is awful!

[Ceilidh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a sadly rare occurrence these days for a YA book to not only surpass my expectations but entirely blow them away. At least this means that when it does happen, I appreciate it all the more, particularly when said book is the sequel to a book I had found to be underwhelming. “Quicksilver”, the sequel to last year’s “Ultraviolet”, is a truly special YA experience – a well-crafted and socially novel that continually surprises, takes risks and keeps the reader gripped.

For me, the real strength of “Ultraviolet” lay in the prose, and R.J. Anderson continues to demonstrate her skilful approach to writing, with a degree of confidence I felt was missing from the first book. “Ultraviolet” felt jumbled and unsure of what it wanted to be (although I understand that I am in the minority in thinking this), whereas here, “Quicksilver” knows exactly what it wants to achieve as a piece of fiction. This book is more tightly plotted, a pleasant surprise given that the plot is also quicker paced, and full of moments of genuine tension.

I particularly admire Anderson’s approach to telling this story – it’s so unlike anything in YA right now, it crosses the genre boundaries repeatedly and is populated by fully fleshed characters rather than puppets or tropes. Anderson doesn’t let up on the fast moving plot, but she never sacrifices moments of genuine, natural human interaction in favour of such things (or romance, which was a huge relief). Tori/Nikki, the protagonist, is such a skilfully crafted character, one who is trying so hard to understand herself. The supporting cast is equally well crafted, with the heroine’s friend and confidante Milo Hwang standing out as particularly interesting. The pair’s interactions feel so fresh in comparison to so much stuff in YA right now. Their relationship is not one built on insta-love attraction or how pretty they find each-other. It’s one of mutual respect, curiosity and the simple joy of finding someone to trust.

I also give major props to Anderson for creating a diverse YA that draws attention to important social issues. Racism, sexism (particularly in fields considered mainly male) and sexuality are all touched upon in a way that never feels preachy. This is a novel that is aware of its socio-cultural context, and it’s a breath of fresh air to see a YA novel doing what the industry so often preaches but never practices. The inclusion of an asexual protagonist was just the cherry on top of the cake. While I cannot speak for all LGBTQIA people on this matter, I felt that Tori/Nikki’s asexuality was dealt with maturely and handled pretty well. She’s a fully fleshed character who happens to be asexual, and it was wonderful to read. Overall, Anderson handles diversity issues very strongly, and I would recommend “Quicksilver” as an excellent example on how to do it right in YA.

My review is deliberately vague because I really don’t want to spoil this for potential new readers. This is not a series with low expectations and it’s certainly not one that automatically awards its characters a happy ending, regardless of how much they deserve it. “Quicksilver” is not a novel that a new reader can jump straight into, one of the very few negatives I can think of, so I would recommend reading “Ultraviolet” first. Anderson has built on the foundations she lay down in the first novel and created something suspenseful, tense, well-crafted, and cliché busting. YA novels like this don’t come along very often, and in an industry currently churning out overhyped assembly line style stories of join-the-dots levels of predictability, we owe it to ourselves and the industry to go off the beaten track.

4.5/5.

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I did not receive payment or compensation for this review.

[Samantha Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First ace main character I've ever read I was so excited and loved it!! 😍😍

[Tori (InToriLex) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find this and other Reviews at InToriLex

"Regenerative Feedback: The increase in signal strength that occurs when part of the output energy returns to the input signal and reinforces it." 

I enjoyed this, even though it left me feeling mixed emotions. This was alot different than the first one, and dealt with Tori (yay a mc with my name) who was unsure of herself, but was determined to find a way to survive. While Ms. Anderson is a great story teller, the writing itself didn't grip, as I would have liked. For example I like to find interesting quotes or dialogue which I connected with, but I just couldn't pull any from this story. The quote above is from the beginning of a chapter. Even though on paper it' what I like  YA, involves aliens, has decent writing and is sci-fi I somehow just didn't get it.

Don't get me wrong this wasn't all bad it had great scifi elements, intrigue  and action. To me the book just didn't flow well, things that happened seemed to happen in a jumble and became less anti-climatic than they should have been. I probably won't be reading the next in series if there is one on the horizon. What redeeming quality this novel did have was Tori, she was a main character who broke stereotypes and was not overly obsessed with falling in love. This book was about her survival when faced with constantly changing circumstances. She was rightly not focused on getting lost in someones eyes, but she also never really faced a obstacle where another character wasn't conveniently able to offer her help.

Other reviews liked the change of perspective which didn't involve Allison reflecting on the colors and tastes of letters and numbers, but I thought that was an engaging part of the first book Ultraviolet. Overall I just wanted this book to do a better job developing a emotional connection with readers, there was scenes where I know I was supposed to feel something but instead felt like I should hurry up and finish the book. 

[Amashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much. Nikki is very brave. For a teenage girl she deserves full credits for her guts and intelligence.
Her parents are protective and supportive.They gave up everything to protect Nikki.I like Milo's character. He strived his best to help Nikki, even though she didn't treat him in a proper way. He's my favorite character.
I don't understand Sebestian at all, he's weird and extremely complicated. Wish Sebestian communicated more hence I could grasp his character well. Also he was being selfish, he chose Alison over Nikki when he could have found another way to protect both of them.

Hope to read more science fiction novels :)

[Ravencrantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll write a proper review soon, but right now I just want to say that this book not only has an asexual character, but the word "asexual" is used. There is no beating around the bush, no "well if you squint hard maybe it's true." There is a true and canon asexual character and I'm so happy I could cry.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, a sequel? YES! I can't wait! I was hoping there would be a sequel! What will it be about? Alison finding Faraday? Dammit, I want it now!

6/11/13: Oh my God. That book was SO fucking good.

[Hallie]

Well, if you haven't read Ultraviolet, you shouldn't read anything past the first paragraph here. Unless reading someone else's review has already spoiled Ultraviolet and you don't care any more. That book won the (invented just for it) award for book I liked that I was happiest NOT to be reviewing, as I simply couldn't figure out how you'd do any kind of decent job reviewing it. Even the name of the magazine for which I would have written the review is a spoiler, let alone trying to talk about what happens after the first section. Quicksilver isn't quite so bad, although I'd also think it would be hard to review in any kind of 'official' capacity - i.e., any place other than here where things can be put behind spoilers. I admired the many difficult things Anderson did with the first book, and this one, while less twisty of plot, is at least as difficult, and probably a lot more so.

The first difficult thing that I think Anderson did well here was have a lot of the main characters be seriously flawed, and their flaws be seen in an unusually realistic light. Sure, tons of YAs have crappy parents of one variety or other, and more have rotten ex- or current boyfriends, or protagonists wounded by past traumas. But the protagonist here, Niki (as she's renamed - still worrying about people who haven't read UV!) isn't like your typical YA protag, damaged though she undoubtedly is, and outsider too, despite past appearances. At first I didn't quite get her wondering if her new self would be more *her* than her old self had been, but it comes clearer as you read on. She's someone who has HAD to base her responses to people on an almost scientific type of observation and calculation, and it's not totally dissimilar to someone with Asperger's-like characteristics, but it's also totally different. Her incredible intelligence and engineering abilities are also close to one's ideal science geek-girl protag (and is equally awesome), but there's a very bleak truth lurking under that awesomeness, and it has unexpected consequences.

Not only is Niki on the detached side, and therefore likely to keep the reader at something of a distance, she also says she's asexual, which is likely to keep the whole genre at a distance, or at least, off-kilter! I was deeply impressed with Anderson for this choice, as the only protagonist I could think of who was asexual (at a YA age, at least, though it's not a YA *book*) is Emras in Sherwood Smith's wonderful Banner of the Damned. I did end up quite conflicted about Nkki's sexual nature though, and that is proper spoiler. It was fantastic that Tori/Niki had found out what her orientation was, and that she got to choose that she'd have a relationship IF she found someone who was cool with its being a relationship that would work for her. This was set up from the first time she talked about it, and told Milo how things were. But, I found it a little disturbing that the book ends, as do your typical YAs-with-romances, with her and Milo kissing, as if that were the natural resolution of her relationship issues. She chooses to *try* kissing him, which is -- maybe? -- okay, because she's been honest with Milo all along. But its possible okayness seemed undercut by her final line. When Milo, looking as if he's been "dazzled", asks her whether the kiss was "real" or "pretending", she answers: "Let's call it an experiment in progress." That, I find very problematic, for obvious reasons. 17 is very young to have decided categorically that you're asexual, rather than developing more slowly than the majority of teens, and I think it would have probably been better if that had been floated at some stage as a possibility.

Another very interesting choice Anderson made was to have Sebastian in this book play up to every aspect of his character that made people uneasy or downright angry about the relationship between him and Alison in Ultraviolet. I didn't have major problems with that myself, though I felt that my reasons for not having problems possibly didn't bear much examination. I did finish Quicksilver feeling even sorrier for Alison though. Sebastian, an essentially "good" person, was put in a situation where he could only choose between hurting two people, one of whom he loves, and the other he believes won't be hurt nearly as badly in any case, and it was an impossible situation. But, as he was already messed up by the knowledge that he'd behaved badly towards Alison, and already failing to understand that he doesn't GET to make up for it by deciding for her what'll be best for her, I think the two of them have far slimmer chances than one would like for an emotionally healthy relationship. She simply isn't going to be able to fix things for him, no matter how much she cares about him, and I got a strong feeling from Alison's sections towards the end that that's exactly what she'll try to do.

Oddly, I've just realised that I've ended up writing mostly about the two romantic relationships portrayed in the book, and why I feel uneasy about them, and yet primarily this isn't a romance. The rest of the book is difficult, and in parts extremely difficult, but it's pretty brilliant. I don't think the (problems I have with the) romances detract enough to ruin that brilliance, and at the end of the day, maybe these two fragile and possibly not viable romances are a lot more interesting than the usual fare, even if not at all comfortable reading.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: Violence, romanticised relationship between a teenage girl and a grown ass man (side characters).

So a ton of people have RAVED about this duology over recent years and when I heard it had an asexual protagonist, I was intrigued enough to pick it up. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I mean...it was fine? But it was nothing special outside of the representation, to the point where it's been like 4 days since I finished reading this and I already remember almost nothing about it.

That probably says more about me than the book, but here we are.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this was so much better than book one. Very fast paced and I enjoyed Tori as a character more than Allison. I enjoyed this duology a lot. It’s a very fun, unique sci-fi adventure.

[Brandy Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

R.J. Anderson is a favorite of mine. I love everything she writes, whether it is fantasy about butt-kicking faeries or mind blowing science-fiction. And boy oh boy is her latest novel, Quicksilver, mind blowing. It will mess with your head in a way only the best books can.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Back in her hometown, Tori Beaugrand had everything a teenaged girl could want—popularity, money, beauty. But she also had a secret. A secret that could change her life in an instant, or destroy it.
Now she’s left everything from her old life behind, including her real name and Alison, the one friend who truly understood her. She can’t escape who and what she is. But if she wants to have anything like a normal life, she has to blend in and hide her unusual... talents.
Plans change when the enigmatic Sebastian Faraday reappears and gives Tori some bad news: she hasn’t escaped her past. In fact, she’s attracted new interest in the form of an obsessed ex-cop turned investigator for a genetics lab.
She has one last shot at getting her enemies off her trail and winning the security and independence she’s always longed for. But saving herself will take every ounce of Tori’s incredible electronics and engineering skills—and even then, she may need to sacrifice more than she could possibly imagine if she wants to be free.

Tori aka. Niki is...just...there is really no one word that can fully embody her awesomeness. (Awesome is so overused. I can think of one acronym that would do her justice, but as I try to avoid using the words the acronym stands for I'll leave that to your own amazing brains to figure out my savvy readers.) She is an engineer with a brilliant scientific and mathematical mind. And the snark that goes with her frustration at not being taken seriously because she is a girl interested in the field makes the reader feel her frustration and want to demand justice for it. (And all the girls like her.) She is steadfast, loyal, and courageous. (I can not stress that last one enough.) Despite Tori's uniqueness and special talents she is still a character that any teenager, or anyone who has ever been a teenager, can identify with. Unlike the de rigueur in most sci-fi/fantasy YA Tori has amazing parents who are present and love her. She loves them back, but often finds herself appalled by them and somewhat mocking of them, at least in her own head. Which is extremely realistic. Take for example these exchanges:

"Who's that boy, honey?" she asked.

"Milo," I said. "You know, from work. He lives around here, so we got off the bus together."

"He's not bad looking," she mused. "For an Asian."

Oh, wow. And she was a pretty nice mom, for a racist.

And

"...So who's the lucky boy?"

Hello, Dad Cliche 32. Nice to know this conversation was still on a predictable course. "Milo Hwang," I said.

There was a fractional silence. Then Dad said, a little too heartily, "Well, good for you. That's...um, great. Hope it works out."

And there it was. Liberal on the outside, redneck conservative deep down. He wouldn't forbid me to see Milo because that would be narrow-minded, but that didn't mean he was ready to invite him over for hockey and popcorn.

Who hasn't experienced moments like this with their parents over SOME topic?

And this brings us to Milo who is also amazing and totally crush worthy. I challenge you to read this book and not find him to be prime crush material, even if Tori's feelings for him are not quite the expected romantic norm. This difference is a real strength to the story and characterization. I really liked what Anderson did with their relationship, challenging the modern concept that it's all about sex. (It isn't.) Milo is just as fully realized a character as Tori and I can't really say more without spoiling things.

I'm not saying anything about the plot that the synopsis doesn't already tell you, because it is one of those books you have to experience. It is a companion to Ultraviolet (my thoughts), but you can read it without having read Ultraviolet. In fact, Anderson's brilliant-mind-messing writing will have you questioning things that you think you know even if you have read it. I will say I liked Quicksilver more, mostly because of how much I love both Tori and Milo. I also liked the alternative perspective on Sebastian that Tori gives us.

Anyone who loves a good story told by an amazing writer this book is for you. I can not wait until my official copy arrives so I can read it again.

I read a copy made available via NetGalley. Quicksilver's official release date is March 1, but you can currently order it through your local bookstore or Amazon.

[Amanda Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: Spoilers below for Ultraviolet.

Tori Beaugrand's life is a composite of secrets. From her intellect to her emotions to her origin, nothing is safe to reveal. To anybody. Not her friends, new or old. Not her parents. Certainly not her enemies. And for a seventeen-year-old, Tori's attracted some interesting enemies. There's the obsessed ex-cop who wants to know what really happened when she disappeared months ago. There's the curious genetics lab who got a peek at her unearthly DNA. And of course there's Mathis, to whom she is an experiment, not a person.

Tori is alone. But by now, she's used to it.

She doesn't let things faze her, not even running for her life (maybe literally), restarting in a new town, choosing a new name. Then Sebastian Faraday materializes (quite literally) in her world again with a message: Tori's in danger. Again.

This book never stops moving. Not until I browsed other reviews did I realize that, like Ultraviolet, the physical action takes awhile to pick up. Tension propels this book even when Tori is working at Value Foods or pushing her parents for permission to explore her engineering skills at the local "makerspace." The plot takes several unexpected turns but is always driven by credible character choices, and I love Tori for her inner insecurities and her desire to be seen for who she is even as she weaves constant lies to protect herself.

As a well-rounded secondary character, I also love Milo. That Ms. Anderson wrote him and Tori as friends, not a teen romance, and that the characters themselves acknowledge to each other the difference--I don't know that I've read a young adult novel that deals as well with the complexities of teenage sexuality and peer pressure. Tori's disdain for the phrase "just a friend" is refreshing and perfectly fits who she is as a young woman forced to pretend her way through life, desiring friendship more than she'll admit even to herself.

Then there's the return of Alison and Faraday. Wow. I love them, too, this time around (yes, even Faraday). So much is hinted at in Faraday's reactions, and I salute the author for not spelling it all out.

As for the Crazy Ending Twist ... the She's Not Really Going To--OMGOSH moment ... well, like Ultraviolet, this book is brilliant. Is it extreme? A little out there? Nudging a toe against the suspension-of-disbelief line? Absolutely. But with a tamer (dare I say more plausible?) climax, this book wouldn't measure up to its prequel.

Speaking of the prequel, these two books must be read together (I recommend in order) for full appreciation. Not only do they tie off threads left loose by the other, but their themes also blend beautifully. Both Alison and Tori reach a point of helplessness with nothing left to do or give, and in that emptiness, from that emptiness, they are saved. Redemption (though never named as such) glimmers in both books, more brightly when they are considered side by side.

As for the ending, knowing Ms. Anderson doesn't intend to continue with these characters ... sigh. There's a lot still unexplored, a lot of fallout, including that of Faraday's unforgivable choice, which happens too late in the book. Way too late, because then the story is over. And again (see my review of Ultraviolet), I was not ready. Apparently, this author believes in limited closure.

Can I choose to be satisfied with that? Can I recommend these books anyway, especially to readers in search of young adult fiction that will bend genres and push boundaries and shatter formulas?

Sure thing.

[☆ Mira ✷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. What is this series, you ask? Oh, just the best YA sci-fi ever. Actually, no, straight up the best thing ever dubbed "science fiction."

2 years ago, I read Ultraviolet and LOVED it. I've been wanting to read this sequel for a while, but the possibility of rereading a 2016 fave and being majorly disappointed was unappealing. Since this is a several-months-later companion novel narrated by the secondary lead character, I luckily didn't need to. And WOW, I really liked it.

To start, the problem with science fiction as a whole is that it's either written by scientists, who generally lack a background in creative writing, or authors, who generally lack a background in science. So the quality of the storytelling and the calibre of the scientific aspects are inversely proportional. And especially in YA, it's almost always in the direction of science fantasy and probably has a gratuitous romance. So I'm skeptical of the genre.

But THIS DUOLOGY? Okay, every sci-fi author in the galaxy needs to take notice of R. J. Anderson. Ultraviolet was all about wormholes and synesthesia and I found it really interesting, while Quicksilver added on a whole lot of seriously cool technology. Both books feature fascinating scientific angles that don't feel dumbed down and made me want to learn more, plus excellent plotting and character development.

So, what is Quicksilver about? I'm not sure how to describe that without spoiling book 1, so let me just vague about the characters instead [like I always do anyway].

💫 Tori is the nerdiest protagonist I've ever met and I mean that in the best way possible. She loves math, science, and making things. I loved her 3-dimensional passion for engineering, which shone right out of the page. Of course, being a girl, the world is not particularly inclined to take her seriously as an engineer. She experiences certain sexist things that made me want to punch the guy!

But she gets the recognition she deserves in an incredibly satisfying way. She shows everyone how badass she is and becomes the hero of her own story, responding to the major conflict by scheming around and inventing her own technology. The men around her just, like, admire her circuit boards and do what she says.

She's also asexual, which I thought was done very well. Her identity was relevant to her character arc without being the focus of major angst or overshadowing the rest of her character.

💫 Milo is Tori's BFF. He is Korean. He is is a cinnamon roll who wants to be an elementary school gym teacher. They had a great dynamic of something like friends to enemies to friends, becoming a great brotp based on mutual trust and support. Their friendship was just so good and pure, like, I want a friend who will leave his sleeping family with nothing but a vague note to come on a road trip to the middle of nowhere for a science experiment he doesn't even understand.

[For the record and my righteousness, I would like to point out that this 2013 book is more diverse than 99% of the "diverse"/"LGBT" books that are popular now, aka gay white boys everywhere, character of color somewhere, and queer female leads nowhere.]

💫 The plot was wildly stressful in the best way. I can't really say anything without spoiling book 1 other than that there are mad scientists, sinister police officers, wormholes, and the aforementioned really cool technology, all wrapped up in suspenseful excitement.

Bottom line: I had a lot of fun with this one :) Even though the opinions of my young flower child self cannot be trusted, I want to recommend Ultraviolet, if only so that you can read Quicksilver!