Into the Abyss

Falls the Shadow #2

by Stefanie Gaither

Violet has lost her memory, and her sense of self—but can she decide who she wants to be in time to save the world? Find out in this sequel to Falls the Shadow, which Kirkus Reviews called perfect “for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games.”

Violet Benson used to know who she was: a dead girl’s clone, with a dead girl’s memories. But after Huxley’s attempt to take over the government left her memories and personality wiped, all she has left is a mission: help the CCA fight back against the rest of Huxley’s deadly clones that are still at large.

But when a group of clones infiltrate CCA headquarters, Violet is blamed. Already unsure of where her loyalties should lie, Violet finds herself running away with an unlikely ally: Seth, Jaxon’s unpredictable foster brother. With Seth at her side, Violet begins to learn about a whole new side of her city’s history—and her own.

But when she learns the shocking truth about cloning, Violet will have to make a choice—and it may be one that takes her away from everyone she ever loved.

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2016

About the author

If you'd like to contact me, email is your best bet (stefanie.gaither@gmail.com). Thanks!

Reviews

[rachel, x · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that I previously said I would pitch this book to fans of Reboot but I think Gaither showed why this series deserves so much more hype with this sequel. Into the Abyss took a completely different direction to the first book. Not only do we follow a different set of characters - Violet and Seth, this time - but we take the focus away from the ethicality of cloning & genetic engineering and instead focus on the clones themselves. Added with the tension of a rising rebellion, this book just packed so much punch. I found it both entertaining and addictive as well as strangely insightful and thought-provoking. I fell in love with the characters and may have accidently spent my entire evening consuming it. I just couldn’t put it down!

One of the problems I had most with Reboot was how Wren, the protagonist, did not act like the ‘ruthless killing machine’ she was meant to be. Violet, on the other hand, was the most realistic clone (or similar sci-fi type character) I had ever read about. She was so cleverly developed across the story. It honestly made me heart swell just looking back and seeing how subtly but carefully Gaither laid down the path for Violet. She isn’t human. She isn’t a machine. She’s this mix of both, some sort of hybrid, and it was fascinating to see her struggle between these two extremes while remaining true to herself. For some reason, the way she could only interpret what she was seeing as specific colours and literal definitions - without overplaying the ‘doesn’t understand sarcasm’ trope - made her character really solidify in my brain. We got to know and understand her on this intimate level and I came to truly care for her. I cannot imagine how hard it would be thrown back in this book’s world, let alone have the pressure of this past identity hanging over your head. Every aspect of her character just had this ring of truth about it and… I don’t know how else to stress how completely realistic (well, as much as a clone can be) and oddly lovable she was.

Seth was also a fantastic character. I adored him in Falls the Shadow and his sense of humour and bright personality continued to add an extra layer to this series in the sequel. His relationship with Violet made me smile and I love that no romance was attempted between them. They just had this gorgeous hate-to-acceptance friendship. For some reason, though, I found Catelyn and Jaxon completely intolerable. I wasn’t the biggest fan of either of them previously but they really got on my nerves in this book.

I still haven't said what was the best thing about this story, though. Do you know what it was? The plotline! Gaither is a genius. This is how you write a realistic rebellion, people. Just like this. I was shaking my head in admiration throughout the entire book because she just manages to make the storyline jump off the page. The rebellion takes months in this book to plan. They run surveillance for weeks on end. The good guys get injured, seriously, at times. The action was well-written and realistic but was balanced cleverly with characterisation and dialogue. It was honestly everything a dystopian story should be. All of the elements were there and they were nailed.

Also, the ending was just… it was perfect. God, I love authors who aren’t afraid to do what needs to be done and this ending was my everything. I’m a mess - and my heart is split into a billion pieces on the floor around me - but it’s so worth it. It was so realistic and clever and ingenious. I could not be more thrilled with it if I tried. Sorry, I'm gushing now... but honestly, it was just everything I needed.

Overall?

Into the Abyss was so much more than its predecessor led me to believe it could be. I adored Violet as a character and how her nature as a clone was explored and developed throughout the story. Her friendship with Seth lead to some great banter and provided a fantastic layer of comic relief. The plotline was everything a dystopian novel should be. The rebellion and action aspects were done so realistically that it made me want to applaud. The ending was just icing on the cake - even it broke my heart.

Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.

[Tharayn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though I really liked the first book, though, this was a failure, though. The first was quite entertaining and enjoyable, though, that I really wanted to read the sequel, though. What a disappointment, though.

And hell, didn't have the book an editeur? Sometimes there are three "thoughs" on one page - for several pages! I'm sure the whole book has as many "thoughs" as pages and it was really going on my nerves, especially Violet not only say them and think them the whole time, no, Seth likes them too. Which shows that the two are really interchangable.
Cate wasn't the best protagonist, but she wasn't the worst. I got somewhat invested in her life, so it must have been pretty descent. But her sister Violet? She has no personality whatsoever. A whole book from the perspective of a character with no personality is like torture. Sadly, the story is also barely there and boring as hell. I read the book riding the train, I was always nearly falling asleep. Sometime I read two other books - I wasn' even near falling asleep. Reading on "Into the Abyss" and I had the problem again, so it was the book, not the overall trainriding. It's a very good sleeping aid.

The book didn't add anything to the overall story, the first can be a standalone, or if the author wants to write another book you can pick it up leaving this out. You can't miss anything what couldn't be said in one-two sentences, you just skipping the whole boring reading.
The people and most CCA Members don't like clones, they revolt, a sacrifice is made, they thinking again about living with clones. the end. (Honestly, that was the whole story! Okay and Violet trying to be more "normal" as if you didn't saw that coming or read it a few thousand times already.)

[Just a person · Rating 2 out of 5]

Source: earc via Edelweiss from Simon teen
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free.
Karen at For What It's Worth and Mary at The Book Swarm occasionally post twitter-style reviews. Karen calls hers Short and Tweet, and I am going to borrow that review style here.

My short and tweet review:
Couldn't remember 1st book plot--was confused. Slower start, but then picked up.

[Diane Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the first book of the series because I didn't realize this was the second. I think it would have helped. The characters in this one seem very shallow as does the story. Telling the story from the point of view of the teen clone who has no memory before 8 months ago is going to have that effect.

[Crowinator · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

[Candace Wondrak · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is going by Goodreads's rating of 'it was ok.'

It...was ok. Nowhere near the fun, amazingness of the first. I can understand why this one wasn't so popular, why it hasn't been as well-received. Because this book wasn't as good. The storyline wasn't as good. I didn't like following the sister's (technically the sister's clone's) thoughts. I didn't like reading from the viewpoint of an outcast.

And of course, I realize that was the point of this whole book, but still. Don't read on if you don't want spoilers, because they're not tagged. You've been warned.

There was no romance. There was backstabbing upon backstabbing. This book, my friends, had an ending similar to Allegiant. Which I hated. I hated the ending to Allegiant very much, as I felt the ending was forced and made no sense. I can say the same to this one.

I understand that characters die. I love Game of Thrones, and that show offs people like every single episode (haven't read the books...yet). However, in books, when we're talking about the MC, it's a different story. I want, even if the MC is unlikable, even if the MC is an antihero, them to be happy. To live. To find a resolution to their problems that doesn't involve sacrifice just because they're the least-liked person/clone around.

I don't want books that are bleak. Give me death and destruction, but give me at least a somewhat happy ending with it, will you?

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me this book wasn’t better than book one.
In book two Violet and or Catelyn’s sister is reborn again as a clone.
So obviously she has some memories but what she has done or hasn’t done
She isn’t sure she has or hasn’t because again she isn’t that old again.
I felt that when they brought Violet back this time she was more human than the last.
There are some dry spots or pieces I felt were drugged out that could have been more to the point or on point of the story or what some might say fill ins.
This book was told from Violets point where in the first book it was Catelyns, I don’t feel it was interesting from her point or maybe because she came back different and I felt I didn’t get any answers I had. It wasn’t horrible just not as good for me as I had hoped and in the books defense it is out of my normal genre so this is a good rating for me.

[Jess N · Rating 5 out of 5]

In many ways I can honestly say that this was an improvement over its companion. I connected so much more with Violet's voice than I did with Catelyn's, but maybe that just says something about me that I like to hear the thoughts of a clones over those of a human. But in so many ways Violet seemed so much more real, for lack of a better way to put it. She grew in so many ways. Her connections and interactions/conflicts with the other characters were genuinely felt by the reader. Nothing felt forced.

Was I satisfied with the ending? Yes and no. I won't spoil anything here, but will leave it for others to discover as to what happens.

Overall this was a more satifying read than its predecessor and I recommend it.

[Flyingzebras · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of books with this same name. I guess because you can't copyright a title.

This starts out as a pretty standard dystopian cloning/cyborg tale. I woke up. Who am I? They say I am this. Am I really a monster or not? Basic identity disequilibrium. And then follows an also pretty standard "who are the good guys and who are the bad guys and how can we really tell" script. With a bit of "whatever the answer is we're fighting for our side" on the side. There are a couple of interesting twists. I didn't realize this was book number two in a series. I'll be interested to see if there is another book. I started out prepared to be bored and fight through the blah blah blah, but it kept my attention well enough for me to finish the book.

[Eryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Into the Abyss' comes full circle for Violet's character. I'm glad she got 'closure', and found her sense of self. Though I'm glad the author expanded more on Seth, it wasn't the direction I anticipated. The story was quite heavy, the characters (and the reader) can't catch a break throughout. It was filled with action right till the end. A good ending to the series.

[Allisa Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some awesome parts in it but soo much nonsense filler. However, the last two chapters were actually really good and the main character dies on the last page?! Went from 2 to 3 stars bc of the ending

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I still enjoyed this novel, I much preferred the first book of this duology.

[Emily DePlata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like the book and the concept and it was well written of course, but it wasn’t my typical style of reading, solid read though

[Maya Hirota · Rating 2 out of 5]

I own the first book of this (series?), but I was sadly disappointed with this sequel. The perspective shifted from Caitlyn in the first book to her sister, and clone, Violet. It was confusing at first, because you have no idea what’s going on in Violet’s head, and then it just slips ahead a couple months. I really found no context of what was going on, other than there was a war between Huxley’s clones and basically everyone else.

[Layla Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into the Abyss by Stefanie Gaither and narrated by Angela Dawe is the sequel to her Falls the Shadow.

Violet Benson used to know who she was: a dead girl’s clone, with a dead girl’s memories. But after Huxley’s attempt to take over the government left her memories and personality wiped, all she has left is a mission: help the CCA fight back against the rest of Huxley’s deadly clones that are still at large.

But when a group of clones infiltrate CCA headquarters, Violet is blamed. Already unsure of where her loyalties should lie, Violet finds herself running away with an unlikely ally: Seth, Jaxon’s unpredictable foster brother. With Seth at her side, Violet begins to learn about a whole new side of her city’s history—and her own.

But when she learns the shocking truth about cloning, Violet will have to make a choice—and it may be one that takes her away from everyone she ever loved.

The Breakdown:
1. I really enjoyed the first book, Falls the Shadow, and was excited to see that Gaither' wrote a follow up it. In this book, she switched from Cate's perspective to Violet's. The narrator, Dawe, is not what I would have pictured as the sound for a teen-aged girl, but it really works with Violet's character. It is a little more of a gritty sounding and works wonderfully with the story.

2. Violet is struggling to find her place in the CCA after President Cross brings her back. She does not remember her life before and most of the CCA hates her and what she represents. She tries so hard not to care about others, like Cate and Seth, but she finds that she is more than an emotionless clone.

3. I really liked Seth in this book. He is more than what he seems, and has a great wit about it. He has some great secrets that come out in this book.

4. The ending was not what I expected but it really works with the story. The only thing is that I wonder if Gaither was going to continue with the series.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even in book one, I liked Violet a lot more than Catelyn.
So to find out she was the protagonist in the second book made me pick up the book really fast.
(I didn't even know there would be a 2nd book until I came across it on goodreads!)

I love that you're actually about to see how Violet thinks, something you couldn't do in the first one.
And I really appreciate that the romance-focussed plot I remember from the first book is absent in this one.
Save for some banter and fun dialogue, of course.

[fff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally didn't expect much from this book, but I must say that I'm genuinely amazed at the character development, the storyline, as well as the writing style.

I wished Violet didn't have to die, but the change in viewpoint, from Violet to her sisters', is a pretty unique way to end the story.

I honestly hope that there will be a third series to this too. Plus, it definitely should deserve more than a 3.71 rating on Goodreads. :) (at least it was 3.71 on the day I read it).

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gaither, Stefanie Into The Abyss (Falls the Shadow #2), 341 pgs. Simon and Schuster, 2016. Language: PG (11 swears, 3 deity, 0 'f')) Mature Content: PG Violence: PG-13

It's been 6 months since Violet woke up and she doesn't remember any of the incidents leading up to the Huxley Corporation activating all the clones. While the CCA (Clone Control Advocacy) claim to want her help stopping the renegade clones, too many there don't trust her and will do what is necessary to get rid of her. Even the human recruits she is training to fight the clones don't trust her. And then there is Seth. He is always trying to get her to leave with him, but he's hiding something so she does her best to avoid him. After being ambushed one night by her allies, she decides it’s time to take her chances out on her own.

This was a pretty slow start. I liked that it was from a different character's perspective from the previous book, I liked some of the ethical questions about cloning, and I liked Seth, but I tired of Violet ruminating on everything. I suppose there is reason to ponder when you're a clone and don't know where you fit in but I could have done without most of it. There were a couple of twists and turns that kept me going but I wasn't ever truly invested in the story. There are still a few issues to resolve so I’m pretty certain another book will be coming, hopefully not from Violet’s perspective.

MS, HS - OPTIONAL Reviewer: RB
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Kelsey]

DNF.

Sometimes I start a series and should finish it right then. But I don't, and then when I try to get back into it I can't. I can't bring myself to care for the storyline, or characters, or anything, despite how much I liked the first book(s). So that's where this is for me.