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Nil #2
Les Secrets de l'île
Sur l'île de Nil, les règles sont définies. Vous avez exactement 365 jours pour vous échapper ou vous mourrez. Rives est maintenant le leader incontesté de Nil City, mais garder la ville unie est plus difficile que jamais.
Les fournitures sont en baisse, et les habitants non-humains ont pris un virage mortel. Les nouveaux arrivants provoquent des divisions au sein de la ville et mettent le système de recherche en péril. Et qui va payer le prix ?
Les fournitures sont en baisse, et les habitants non-humains ont pris un virage mortel. Les nouveaux arrivants provoquent des divisions au sein de la ville et mettent le système de recherche en péril. Et qui va payer le prix ?
504 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2015
107 people are currently reading
3197 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Matson
8 books411 followersI love books--both reading and writing them. When I'm not reading or writing, you can find me hanging out with my husband and four sons. At any given time, at least one of the 6 of us is up to no good.:)
My books: NIL, NIL UNLOCKED and NIL ON FIRE are out now; NIL REMEMBERED is a recently released free ebook prequel. Join the #NILtribe...we have cool snacks.:)
My books: NIL, NIL UNLOCKED and NIL ON FIRE are out now; NIL REMEMBERED is a recently released free ebook prequel. Join the #NILtribe...we have cool snacks.:)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
June 15, 2016
Loved this sequel!!!
I missed Charley and Thad but seeing things from Skye and Rives point of view was super interesting.
Also, getting more answers from this mystery island has been really good as well. I love this series and the mix of science and magic/belief.
I can't wait to see what happens in book three, I hope it follows a certain someone........
CANT WAIT!
I missed Charley and Thad but seeing things from Skye and Rives point of view was super interesting.
Also, getting more answers from this mystery island has been really good as well. I love this series and the mix of science and magic/belief.
I can't wait to see what happens in book three, I hope it follows a certain someone........
CANT WAIT!
April 14, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Nil Unlocked by Lynne Matson
Book Two of the Nil series
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: May 12, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
On the island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die. Rives is now the undisputed Leader of Nil City, but keeping the City united is tougher than ever.
Raiders have grown bolder, supplies are dwindling, and non-human inhabitants have taken a turn toward the deadly. New arrivals cause rifts within the City, putting the Search system at risk, and calling everything Rives knows into question. Desperate for answers, he teams up with the only other person searching for them: Skye, a new arrival with a mysterious past of her own. Soon the duo find themselves locked in a desperate race to save all the residents of Nil—and possibly destroy the island forever. But at what cost? And who will pay the price?
What I Liked:
I thought Nil was pretty great... this book was either as good, or better! It's a tie in my head, and that's totally okay because both books were really, really good! Both are very solid, very well-written science fiction/thriller/Lord-of-the-Flies-esque novels. This book is on the longer side, but the story had me by its claws. I couldn't stop reading!
Rives has a few months left before he disappears from Nil, lost to known. Charley and Thad caught gates and are (hopefully) made it home (remember, Rives has no way of knowing this, though we as readers now, after the ending of Nil). Meanwhile, we have Skye and her odd father, who are both out searching for Nil. Skye's uncle (her father's brother) was on Nil years ago as a teenager, and returned, haunted by his experience there. Skye's father is convinced that Nil existed. Skye isn't as convinced... until she finds a way into the mysterious island. Now Skye has her own Nil countdown, but she's also armed with knowledge of Nil. Skye, Rives, and the rest of the teenagers on the island don't have long before something immense happens, and it's too late to save themselves.
I remember finishing Nil and thinking, that's it? No more? What about all the questions I have? There were soooo many unanswered questions at the end of Nil, and there was no mention of a sequel or a companion, at that point. This book, Nil Unlocked, functions well as a standalone, by the way. The protagonists are not the same protagonists as in Nil, though the protagonists in Nil do appear in this book. So you can read this one without having read Nil. In any case, I read Nil, and I read this one, and a lot of questions I had from Nil were answered in this book. Obviously I'm not going to enumerate what was revealed in this book (that would be involving lots of spoilers), but I will say that I was satisfied with the amount of answers I got from this book. Finally!
Rives is one of two protagonists in this book. We get his first-person perspective, and Skye's. I actually didn't have a preference as to who I liked better - I liked them both, and enjoyed reading from both of their perspectives. Usually I'll like one more than the other, but that wasn't the case with this book. Which is great!
Getting into Rives' head was an experience. He's weighed down by the role of Leader. He genuinely cares about all of the teenagers in the City, and wants to protect them all. It burdens him more than anyone else when someone is hurt, or dies, or runs out of time. Rives comes across as calculating and quiet, but he is not the unfeeling creature he appears to be. Actually, he doesn't really appear to be unfeeling. Maybe... shut down. Everyone knows he cares so much about everyone, but everyone can also see that he is lonely, and burdened. I like Rives a lot. I can't remember my impression of him in Nil, but I thought he was pretty great in this book. He's very careful, very observant, very protective, very selfless.
Skye is flame to his ice. She is impulsive - she goes with her strange, half-crazy astrophysicist father to find some mysterious island that doesn't exist. Or does it? When they arrive at an island in the ocean, she does some investigating of her own... and follows a boy through a gate, to Nil. She and the boy are now on Nil, with their own Nil countdowns. But the boy knows much more than he's telling her, and that includes a wealth information about Nil, and how to leave.
I liked Skye! She is calm and rational (most of the time), but also impulsive and fierce. Her father always thought Nil was real (because of his brother), and he had Skye train and prepare and learn random survival because of his fear of Nil. As it would turn out, those skills came in handy. Skye is a fighter, and she is very smart.
We get to know a lot more about Nil's history, and why it is exists. We find out how it came about, its purpose, and much more about the "rules" of Nil. There is a sciencey aspect to some of the explanations, which is cool. There are other more strange aspects too. I can't say much without giving anything away, so I'll leave it at that. I'm so glad I read this novel, because it gave me the answers I needed! And it was a really good book.
The story never ceased to be interesting, and the pages started to fly by as I kept reading. There was a serious creepy factor to this book - there were times when the story seemed chilling and a bit scary. Of course, I'm terrified of even the slightest "scary" thing - I hate scary movies and horror fiction and all that jazz. There were some points in this book when I was slightly terrified. But this is a good thing! Notice I'm not putting this comment in the "dislikes" section below.
There IS romance! And it is a semi important part of this book, though not the whole plot of the story. Rives and Skye fall for each other slowly and subtly, and it takes about seventy-five percent of the book for either of them to really recognize their feelings. Or maybe a little less than that. Either way, the romance in this book is really sweet. Rives needed someone like Skye, and I'm really glad he could have someone with him on Nil, until the end.
The end... what an end. I'm thinking there has to be a third book to this series? I think I remember the author telling me that she was working on one. I think it was Lynne. The ending of this book is satisfying in most ways, but there is definitely room for a third novel. Like, the ending silently screams for one! Not necessarily a cliffhanger, because this book ends well, but I would be highly interested in seeing a third book in this series!
What I Did Not Like:
I can't thinking of anything at the moment... Lynne Matson is AMAZING. Her writing, storytelling, world building, etc. is excellent!
Would I Recommend It:
YES! I recommend this book - or series in general. Remember what I said, this book can be read as a standalone! The series seems to be a companion series of a sort. Different protagonists in each book. Which makes me curious as to who the third book will feature... I have an idea of the male. Anyway. I like this series! Science fiction, thriller, survival story, whatever you want to call it, I like it!
Rating:
4 stars. Nil and this book actually aren't my typical reads - I'm not a fan of survival stories - but I'm glad I gave the series a shot last year, when I won a giveaway for an ARC of Nil. I love how that worked out! Now, book three!
Nil Unlocked by Lynne Matson
Book Two of the Nil series
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: May 12, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
On the island of Nil, the rules are set. You have exactly 365 days to escape—or you die. Rives is now the undisputed Leader of Nil City, but keeping the City united is tougher than ever.
Raiders have grown bolder, supplies are dwindling, and non-human inhabitants have taken a turn toward the deadly. New arrivals cause rifts within the City, putting the Search system at risk, and calling everything Rives knows into question. Desperate for answers, he teams up with the only other person searching for them: Skye, a new arrival with a mysterious past of her own. Soon the duo find themselves locked in a desperate race to save all the residents of Nil—and possibly destroy the island forever. But at what cost? And who will pay the price?
What I Liked:
I thought Nil was pretty great... this book was either as good, or better! It's a tie in my head, and that's totally okay because both books were really, really good! Both are very solid, very well-written science fiction/thriller/Lord-of-the-Flies-esque novels. This book is on the longer side, but the story had me by its claws. I couldn't stop reading!
Rives has a few months left before he disappears from Nil, lost to known. Charley and Thad caught gates and are (hopefully) made it home (remember, Rives has no way of knowing this, though we as readers now, after the ending of Nil). Meanwhile, we have Skye and her odd father, who are both out searching for Nil. Skye's uncle (her father's brother) was on Nil years ago as a teenager, and returned, haunted by his experience there. Skye's father is convinced that Nil existed. Skye isn't as convinced... until she finds a way into the mysterious island. Now Skye has her own Nil countdown, but she's also armed with knowledge of Nil. Skye, Rives, and the rest of the teenagers on the island don't have long before something immense happens, and it's too late to save themselves.
I remember finishing Nil and thinking, that's it? No more? What about all the questions I have? There were soooo many unanswered questions at the end of Nil, and there was no mention of a sequel or a companion, at that point. This book, Nil Unlocked, functions well as a standalone, by the way. The protagonists are not the same protagonists as in Nil, though the protagonists in Nil do appear in this book. So you can read this one without having read Nil. In any case, I read Nil, and I read this one, and a lot of questions I had from Nil were answered in this book. Obviously I'm not going to enumerate what was revealed in this book (that would be involving lots of spoilers), but I will say that I was satisfied with the amount of answers I got from this book. Finally!
Rives is one of two protagonists in this book. We get his first-person perspective, and Skye's. I actually didn't have a preference as to who I liked better - I liked them both, and enjoyed reading from both of their perspectives. Usually I'll like one more than the other, but that wasn't the case with this book. Which is great!
Getting into Rives' head was an experience. He's weighed down by the role of Leader. He genuinely cares about all of the teenagers in the City, and wants to protect them all. It burdens him more than anyone else when someone is hurt, or dies, or runs out of time. Rives comes across as calculating and quiet, but he is not the unfeeling creature he appears to be. Actually, he doesn't really appear to be unfeeling. Maybe... shut down. Everyone knows he cares so much about everyone, but everyone can also see that he is lonely, and burdened. I like Rives a lot. I can't remember my impression of him in Nil, but I thought he was pretty great in this book. He's very careful, very observant, very protective, very selfless.
Skye is flame to his ice. She is impulsive - she goes with her strange, half-crazy astrophysicist father to find some mysterious island that doesn't exist. Or does it? When they arrive at an island in the ocean, she does some investigating of her own... and follows a boy through a gate, to Nil. She and the boy are now on Nil, with their own Nil countdowns. But the boy knows much more than he's telling her, and that includes a wealth information about Nil, and how to leave.
I liked Skye! She is calm and rational (most of the time), but also impulsive and fierce. Her father always thought Nil was real (because of his brother), and he had Skye train and prepare and learn random survival because of his fear of Nil. As it would turn out, those skills came in handy. Skye is a fighter, and she is very smart.
We get to know a lot more about Nil's history, and why it is exists. We find out how it came about, its purpose, and much more about the "rules" of Nil. There is a sciencey aspect to some of the explanations, which is cool. There are other more strange aspects too. I can't say much without giving anything away, so I'll leave it at that. I'm so glad I read this novel, because it gave me the answers I needed! And it was a really good book.
The story never ceased to be interesting, and the pages started to fly by as I kept reading. There was a serious creepy factor to this book - there were times when the story seemed chilling and a bit scary. Of course, I'm terrified of even the slightest "scary" thing - I hate scary movies and horror fiction and all that jazz. There were some points in this book when I was slightly terrified. But this is a good thing! Notice I'm not putting this comment in the "dislikes" section below.
There IS romance! And it is a semi important part of this book, though not the whole plot of the story. Rives and Skye fall for each other slowly and subtly, and it takes about seventy-five percent of the book for either of them to really recognize their feelings. Or maybe a little less than that. Either way, the romance in this book is really sweet. Rives needed someone like Skye, and I'm really glad he could have someone with him on Nil, until the end.
The end... what an end. I'm thinking there has to be a third book to this series? I think I remember the author telling me that she was working on one. I think it was Lynne. The ending of this book is satisfying in most ways, but there is definitely room for a third novel. Like, the ending silently screams for one! Not necessarily a cliffhanger, because this book ends well, but I would be highly interested in seeing a third book in this series!
What I Did Not Like:
I can't thinking of anything at the moment... Lynne Matson is AMAZING. Her writing, storytelling, world building, etc. is excellent!
Would I Recommend It:
YES! I recommend this book - or series in general. Remember what I said, this book can be read as a standalone! The series seems to be a companion series of a sort. Different protagonists in each book. Which makes me curious as to who the third book will feature... I have an idea of the male. Anyway. I like this series! Science fiction, thriller, survival story, whatever you want to call it, I like it!
Rating:
4 stars. Nil and this book actually aren't my typical reads - I'm not a fan of survival stories - but I'm glad I gave the series a shot last year, when I won a giveaway for an ARC of Nil. I love how that worked out! Now, book three!
October 31, 2014
I am so excited to be able to write a GLOWING review for Nil Unlocked.
I've been stoked to read it ever since I finished NIL, and was lucky enough to do a signing with Lynne Matson, who is probably one of the nicest human beings on earth. She sent me this followup novel early (through a book exchange system the YA Valentines authors have) and I devoured it.
I loved book one, NIL. I was a huge fan of LOST growing up, and I was super excited when a book about a mysterious island came out. NIL was awesome...but I had tons of questions about the island itself. I wanted to know MORE!
Nil Unlocked promises answers about the island..and, dudes. It totally delivers. It's told through the perspective of Rives, who was last saw on Nil in book one, and a new badA female heroine, Skye, whose father has been obsessed with finding this mysterious "Nil island" for basically his entire adult life.
This book has lots of spoileriffic parts, so I can't really talk much about the overall plot and characters...but what I can say, is that NIL UNLOCKED totally OWNS NIL. And I really loved book one. I just think THIS book, is the darker counterpart---and it's very, very mysterious, and full of adventure. I loved getting to know the island more, the story behind the island...and some actual real islanders...not just the kids that landed on Nil.
That's all I can say.
Basically, I'm totally satisfied by this follow-up, and all my questions I had about the island were answered. Plus, RIVES. I mean...he's yummy. I loved Thad, in book one, but Rives is my kind of guy. Tough, rugged, but with a sweet side when it really matters. And Skye is a great heroine---tough as nails, and I think lots of girls will be able to relate to her.
Now that I'm done....I'm going to go and beg Macmillan and Lynne Matson to allow a THIRD book...because I just want more :)
Can't wait to get my hardcover copy in May!!
I've been stoked to read it ever since I finished NIL, and was lucky enough to do a signing with Lynne Matson, who is probably one of the nicest human beings on earth. She sent me this followup novel early (through a book exchange system the YA Valentines authors have) and I devoured it.
I loved book one, NIL. I was a huge fan of LOST growing up, and I was super excited when a book about a mysterious island came out. NIL was awesome...but I had tons of questions about the island itself. I wanted to know MORE!
Nil Unlocked promises answers about the island..and, dudes. It totally delivers. It's told through the perspective of Rives, who was last saw on Nil in book one, and a new badA female heroine, Skye, whose father has been obsessed with finding this mysterious "Nil island" for basically his entire adult life.
This book has lots of spoileriffic parts, so I can't really talk much about the overall plot and characters...but what I can say, is that NIL UNLOCKED totally OWNS NIL. And I really loved book one. I just think THIS book, is the darker counterpart---and it's very, very mysterious, and full of adventure. I loved getting to know the island more, the story behind the island...and some actual real islanders...not just the kids that landed on Nil.
That's all I can say.
Basically, I'm totally satisfied by this follow-up, and all my questions I had about the island were answered. Plus, RIVES. I mean...he's yummy. I loved Thad, in book one, but Rives is my kind of guy. Tough, rugged, but with a sweet side when it really matters. And Skye is a great heroine---tough as nails, and I think lots of girls will be able to relate to her.
Now that I'm done....I'm going to go and beg Macmillan and Lynne Matson to allow a THIRD book...because I just want more :)
Can't wait to get my hardcover copy in May!!
March 28, 2015
I'M SO BIASED BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK. :) I can't wait for you to read it! #Rives #Skye #feels #answers #NILUNLOCKED
September 23, 2016
This is one of those instances where the second book far surpasses the first…
Book Title: Nil Unlocked
Author: Lynne Matson
Series: Nil #2
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Action & Adventure
Source: Kindle E-Book (Library)
♫Give Me A Sign by Breaking Benjamin --Definitely Rives Song…♫
Ratings Breakdown
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
The Feels: 4.5/5
Addictiveness: 5/5
Theme: 5/5
Flow: 4.5/5
Backdrop (World Building): 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 5+/5
Ending: 5/5. Cliffhanger: This one feels like it has more closure at the end than book 1 did…such a good ending.
Will I continue this series? Yes, so looking forward to working it into my hectic reading schedule.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 4.8/5 STARS ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
My Thoughts
I'm trying to figure out what it is about this book that makes it so much better than the first…I think it's just that Nil (book #1) introduces us to the island of Nil and all it's mystery, but doesn't really delve into the mystery of it like Nil Unlocked does, it's very aptly titled, btw. There's also the characters of Rives and Skye, I loved them, connected with them so much more than I did Charlie and Thad. Thirdly, the pacing is much improved. I was so bored with reading book #1.
You kind of just keep waiting for the smoke monster to show up, though...
Overall, this second book has moved this series up on my reading schedule. If you were feeling mediocre about continuing this series, and didn't know if the second book seemed worth it, I think you should take a chance…and just do it. Plus, how can you resist that cover?
Sex Factor: No actual sex, it has a pretty clean rating.
Book Title: Nil Unlocked
Author: Lynne Matson
Series: Nil #2
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Action & Adventure
Source: Kindle E-Book (Library)
♫Give Me A Sign by Breaking Benjamin --Definitely Rives Song…♫
Ratings Breakdown
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
The Feels: 4.5/5
Addictiveness: 5/5
Theme: 5/5
Flow: 4.5/5
Backdrop (World Building): 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 5+/5
Ending: 5/5. Cliffhanger: This one feels like it has more closure at the end than book 1 did…such a good ending.
Will I continue this series? Yes, so looking forward to working it into my hectic reading schedule.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 4.8/5 STARS ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
My Thoughts
I'm trying to figure out what it is about this book that makes it so much better than the first…I think it's just that Nil (book #1) introduces us to the island of Nil and all it's mystery, but doesn't really delve into the mystery of it like Nil Unlocked does, it's very aptly titled, btw. There's also the characters of Rives and Skye, I loved them, connected with them so much more than I did Charlie and Thad. Thirdly, the pacing is much improved. I was so bored with reading book #1.
You kind of just keep waiting for the smoke monster to show up, though...Overall, this second book has moved this series up on my reading schedule. If you were feeling mediocre about continuing this series, and didn't know if the second book seemed worth it, I think you should take a chance…and just do it. Plus, how can you resist that cover?Sex Factor: No actual sex, it has a pretty clean rating.
June 12, 2016
ŞUAN BEYNİM AĞLIYOR ARKADAŞLAR BU NE BİÇİM BİR İŞTİ????
SKYE EN SEVDİĞİM KARAKTERDİ KİTAPTA İLK KİTAPTA DA CHARLEY OLMUŞTU.ADA ERKEKLERİ GENELDE SALAK OLUYO YA SKXJDKSKKS
BİR DE PAULO'YU ÇOK SEVDİM BU İKİSİ DIŞINDA AŞIRI AŞIRI SEVDİĞİM KARAKTERLER OLMADI
RIVES VE SKYE İLİŞKİSİ ÇOK CHARLEY VE THAD'A BENZETİLMEYE ÇALIŞMIŞTI BENCE BU YÖNÜNÜ SEVEMEDİM TEK
SKYE'IN YAPTIKLARI CHARLEY'İN YAPTIKLARININ YANINDA SOLDA SIFIR KALIYOR YANİ SON DERECE EFSANE PLANLARDI
NIL'E KAZILAN KUYULARI İÇİMİN YAĞLARI ERİYE ERİYE OKUDUM
YA 3. KİTABI İSTİYORUM
ZATEN İSMİNİ HATIRLADIKÇA BİR HEYECAM BASIYOR....
NIL ON FIRE COMING SOON.......
SKYE EN SEVDİĞİM KARAKTERDİ KİTAPTA İLK KİTAPTA DA CHARLEY OLMUŞTU.ADA ERKEKLERİ GENELDE SALAK OLUYO YA SKXJDKSKKS
BİR DE PAULO'YU ÇOK SEVDİM BU İKİSİ DIŞINDA AŞIRI AŞIRI SEVDİĞİM KARAKTERLER OLMADI
RIVES VE SKYE İLİŞKİSİ ÇOK CHARLEY VE THAD'A BENZETİLMEYE ÇALIŞMIŞTI BENCE BU YÖNÜNÜ SEVEMEDİM TEK
SKYE'IN YAPTIKLARI CHARLEY'İN YAPTIKLARININ YANINDA SOLDA SIFIR KALIYOR YANİ SON DERECE EFSANE PLANLARDI
NIL'E KAZILAN KUYULARI İÇİMİN YAĞLARI ERİYE ERİYE OKUDUM
YA 3. KİTABI İSTİYORUM
ZATEN İSMİNİ HATIRLADIKÇA BİR HEYECAM BASIYOR....
NIL ON FIRE COMING SOON.......
December 18, 2019
Başta pek ısınmadım ama sonradan güzel gitti kitap kendini okuttu
March 22, 2020
J'aime toujours beaucoup l'univers de Nil et c'est un plaisir de me replonger dedans en compagnie des personnages. Cependant j'ai trouvé que ce tome 2 manquait cruellement d'action. J'avais du mal à reprendre ma lecture malgré mon amour de l'intrigue "générale". Je lirais quand même le tome 3 avec plaisir.
July 15, 2019
Kesinlikle ilk kitaptan daha iyiydi, soluksuz okudum. Ada'nın sırları güzel açıklanmıştı, insanı ikna eden açıklamalar vardı ve ayrıca içindeki aşk da güzel, apayrı bir tat verdi.
February 4, 2015
4.5 stars
This was quite a roller coaster. I loved the entire way the story unfolded. The dual POVs were fantastic and the epilogue was phenomenal.
All in all, an excellent ending.
Edit: I just learned that there will be another book, which is very exciting. There are a couple of things I still wanted to know, but I thought it was a duology.
**Huge thanks to Macmillan for sending me the arc**
This was quite a roller coaster. I loved the entire way the story unfolded. The dual POVs were fantastic and the epilogue was phenomenal.
All in all, an excellent ending.
Edit: I just learned that there will be another book, which is very exciting. There are a couple of things I still wanted to know, but I thought it was a duology.
**Huge thanks to Macmillan for sending me the arc**
April 6, 2016
4.5
Şuan ne diyeceğim konusunda kafam çok karışık gerçekten. Allah'ını seven üstüme 3. Kitabı atsın
Şuan ne diyeceğim konusunda kafam çok karışık gerçekten. Allah'ını seven üstüme 3. Kitabı atsın
Read
February 6, 2015I'm so glad Lynne Matson decided to revisit Nil. A sequel with lots of twists and turns and heartache. Loved all aspects of this sequel: Skye, Rives, the mystery, the brutality/unfairness of some parts.... What an emotional roller coaster. I had a blast reading this. Thank you for writing a fantastic sequel, Lynne!
January 22, 2015
D: D: D: D: D:
is the extent of my review thus far.
Lynne Matson has outdone herself.
is the extent of my review thus far.
Lynne Matson has outdone herself.
April 24, 2015
In case you don't remember, I kind of loved Nil, but when I heard that there was going to be a sequel, my reaction was a mix of:
HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS MORE MORE MORE NIL MOARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
and
Omg Sequel Syndrome though.
Ah, I shouldn't have doubted Lynne Matson.
There were a lot of things I loved about Nil, but there were so many different things about Nil Unlocked that I loved. The story delivers on the promise the title makes, and we discover most (though probably not all--because no one discovers all) of Nil's secrets. From legends to urban myths to scientific research, Nil is a mixed up, insane, and maybe even a bit sentient, island. It holds so many mysteries that I'm still craving to learn more, even after all that we learned in this (seriously fantastic) sequel.
And if I haven't made it clear--we learned so much. If Nil was an action packed high stakes kind of story with nuances of sci-fi, then Nil Unlocked was a vice versa of that--a sci-fi with an action packed plot. There were so many things that just came together--coincidences and realizations and things that made you jump up in the middle of reading going holy shit.
And it helped that one of the characters--Skye--had a father who was obsessed with the island. Who knew about the island, though nothing besides it's name and the fact that it only takes teenagers. I kind of got chills when he first said the word "Nil" to Skye.
Skye was...intense. There were so many things that reminded me so much of Charley, but so many things that didn't. Skye was a bit fiercer where Charley was more of a quick-thinker. Maybe it's because Skye was trained for this (I mean, if I had a kid and knew what her dad did, I'd make sure she/he was well trained too), but she was fast on her feet and knew how to navigate Nil, something few people who land there know how to do.
As for Rives? We met (and probably loved) him in Nil and I absolutely adored reading from his POV. He was...now that I think about it, he was a bit more like Charley than Skye was maybe, but with all the weight and responsibilities that Thad had suffered under as Leader of the City.
ALSO OUR NEW CHARACTERS. Who I will not say much of except that I loved how their stories and cultures were weaved into the book. Seriously, my gosh. I'm blown away by it all.
I can't say much about the plot--everything's so entwined I honestly can't give anything away without spoiling something else, so I'm leaving y'all with this--holy plot twists and FEELS.
SPEAKING OF FEELS. The romance. Compared to Nil, the romance seriously took a back seat in this one and didn't really show up (besides the initial attraction and possible infatuation) until maybe the last third of the book and it was so cuteeeeeeeeee. Rives and Skye FTW. (Also the fact that Skye's name had such significance...wow.)
Seriously, if you loved Nil, you have to read Nil Unlocked. Even if you ignore the fact that it's a sequel to a seriously fantastic book, the way that Lynne writes about balance and 10 and the not-really-a-coincidences and the way that Rives and Skye slowly dig out the secrets of Nil (who may or may not be tired itself) is just breathtaking and definitely read-it-now worthy.
P.S. Hippos scare me and it's all your fault Lynne.
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August 8, 2025
I enjoyed Nil Unlocked quite a bit. As it's a sequel, I don't want to say too much, but I will say that I liked Rives and Skye even more than Charley and Thad. I felt more of an emotional connection to them, and was very invested in what happened to them. As before, you never know what Nil is going to do, or who will fall victim. Lynne Matson doesn't sugar coat, or leave the suffering to the minor characters, which I really admire. The only slight downside was that since it is very similar to Nil, there were parts that felt like repeats, because in a way, they were. But, the extra layer of trying to unravel the mystery of the island in general was fabulous! I cannot wait for Nil on Fire!!!You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
September 30, 2016
3.9/5
Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
May 27, 2024
Sonu çok heyecanlıydı.
September 10, 2016
3. KİTAP HEMEN BURAYA GELMELİ!!
HEMEN BENİM OLMALI!
YOKSA ÇILDIRACAĞIM!!!!!!!!!!
HEMEN BENİM OLMALI!
YOKSA ÇILDIRACAĞIM!!!!!!!!!!
May 26, 2015
Initial Impressions 4/28/15: 4.25 - 4.5 stars | Another great NIL story! These books are just so much fun. Definitely reminded me of LOST (I just couldn't help it! And I'm sorry for saying it so many times) and a bunch of survival reality shows. I just really enjoyed getting lost in the book! I was glad to see the continuation of the first book and yet how this book was its own take on the island complete with new characters and new revelations. This was everything I could have asked for in a NIL sequel! Once again loved the science fiction aspects and details to bring this story to life.
Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide: When I first read NIL last year, I was so pleasantly surprised! I went into the book not knowing what to expect and I ended up really, really enjoying it. It was an interesting kind of science-fiction, focusing more on what sort of phenomena may occur in nature and take the world by surprise instead of a man-made or manipulated experiment. The island of Nil really comes alive in book two (no, really. It’s kind of alive) and it added yet another enjoyable layer to this series!
NIL UNLOCKED is told from alternating point-of-views: Rives, a “Nil survivor” who the readers met in book one, and Skye, a girl whose uncle had survived Nil and whose father is obsessed with finding the island. I did find myself missing the two main characters from the previous book, Charley and Thad, at the very beginning but the book quickly swept me away and I was anxious to see what other mysteries Nil had in store. I think my only regret is that I wasn’t able to read these two closer together because I had a hard time remember a lot about Rives and the other kids on the island because I was SO focused on Charley and Thad in the first book.
That being said, I really did appreciate getting to know Rives as a main character in this book. I really enjoyed his personal ties to the island (they seemed much more personal than Charley’s and Thad’s) as well as watching him grow into his new leadership position. Then we get to know Skye who is the other half of the story and she was quite the fireball and a great balance for Rives. Their interactions really kept the story moving and they kept each other alert and hungry for answers. But my favorite new character may be the island of Nil itself. NIL introduced us to the mysteries that may dwell beneath the surface but NIL UNLOCKED really allowed the characters and the readers to explore the deeper secrets. The island of Nil started to really come alive and it was so fun to see the way it shaped the book. When done well, I really enjoy when a setting sort of takes on the role of a character and NIL UNLOCKED really nailed it!
I actually didn’t know that there was a third book going into my read of NIL UNLOCKED… and I actually didn’t realize when I finished it either. I’m not quite sure if I’d categorize this as a series since the plot does continue from book one to book two or companions since the main characters are different but any which way you slice it, the two books out so far really do stand well on their own (though I still advise to read them in order). It’s refreshing to have the feeling that the story can continue and yet the reader isn’t left with gaping holes or giant cliffhangers. There’s always more to explore when it comes to Nil but so far these two books wrap up nicely!
If you’re a sci-fi fan (and I won’t tire of saying it… especially if you’re a fan of LOST), you need to check out these books! It was really refreshing to read this corner of science-fiction with more of nature-focus than futuristic and gadgety. There’s so much happening in this book that the feel ranges from sci-fi to thriller to mystery and there’s even a bit of romance. I really enjoy this series so far and I hope others will keep on picking it up!
Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide: When I first read NIL last year, I was so pleasantly surprised! I went into the book not knowing what to expect and I ended up really, really enjoying it. It was an interesting kind of science-fiction, focusing more on what sort of phenomena may occur in nature and take the world by surprise instead of a man-made or manipulated experiment. The island of Nil really comes alive in book two (no, really. It’s kind of alive) and it added yet another enjoyable layer to this series!
NIL UNLOCKED is told from alternating point-of-views: Rives, a “Nil survivor” who the readers met in book one, and Skye, a girl whose uncle had survived Nil and whose father is obsessed with finding the island. I did find myself missing the two main characters from the previous book, Charley and Thad, at the very beginning but the book quickly swept me away and I was anxious to see what other mysteries Nil had in store. I think my only regret is that I wasn’t able to read these two closer together because I had a hard time remember a lot about Rives and the other kids on the island because I was SO focused on Charley and Thad in the first book.
That being said, I really did appreciate getting to know Rives as a main character in this book. I really enjoyed his personal ties to the island (they seemed much more personal than Charley’s and Thad’s) as well as watching him grow into his new leadership position. Then we get to know Skye who is the other half of the story and she was quite the fireball and a great balance for Rives. Their interactions really kept the story moving and they kept each other alert and hungry for answers. But my favorite new character may be the island of Nil itself. NIL introduced us to the mysteries that may dwell beneath the surface but NIL UNLOCKED really allowed the characters and the readers to explore the deeper secrets. The island of Nil started to really come alive and it was so fun to see the way it shaped the book. When done well, I really enjoy when a setting sort of takes on the role of a character and NIL UNLOCKED really nailed it!
I actually didn’t know that there was a third book going into my read of NIL UNLOCKED… and I actually didn’t realize when I finished it either. I’m not quite sure if I’d categorize this as a series since the plot does continue from book one to book two or companions since the main characters are different but any which way you slice it, the two books out so far really do stand well on their own (though I still advise to read them in order). It’s refreshing to have the feeling that the story can continue and yet the reader isn’t left with gaping holes or giant cliffhangers. There’s always more to explore when it comes to Nil but so far these two books wrap up nicely!
If you’re a sci-fi fan (and I won’t tire of saying it… especially if you’re a fan of LOST), you need to check out these books! It was really refreshing to read this corner of science-fiction with more of nature-focus than futuristic and gadgety. There’s so much happening in this book that the feel ranges from sci-fi to thriller to mystery and there’s even a bit of romance. I really enjoy this series so far and I hope others will keep on picking it up!
February 2, 2022
Je n’étais pas spécialement attirée par la suite de Nil, le premier tome m’avait suffi et j’avais aimé l’histoire et la fin. Par curiosité j’ai lu le tome 2, et je suis mitigée. Contente de retrouver l’univers que j’avais beaucoup aimé découvrir, on en apprend plus sur Nil et ses secrets, on rencontre de nouveaux personnages et on en retrouve aussi, de nouveaux endroits, mais le schéma reste le même niveau romance, beaucoup moins d’actions que dans le premier tome, et trop de longueurs.
September 9, 2014
You guys. It's cruel of me to post this so far in advance of Nil's sequel. CRUEL. I'd dare say EVIL as well.
All those answers that Nil left you hungering for? They're here, my friends! Along with a hunky green-eyed dude named Rives and an utterly kick-ass girl named Skye.
Off to tie orphans to the train tracks now. Because that's what we cruel and evil people do for fun....
All those answers that Nil left you hungering for? They're here, my friends! Along with a hunky green-eyed dude named Rives and an utterly kick-ass girl named Skye.
Off to tie orphans to the train tracks now. Because that's what we cruel and evil people do for fun....
February 20, 2015
HOLY CRAP. HOLY. CRAP. SO MUCH LOVE FOR NIL <3 <3 <3 <3
April 28, 2022
c’est un peu partit en couille à la fin mais on va rien dire
September 18, 2017
Hayla daha cevaplanmamış bir kürek dolusu soru var! #waitingforthirdbook
June 13, 2017
3.5 stars
July 21, 2017
Aslında tam 4 yıldız değil ama ilkinden daha iyi olduğu için mecbur 4 veriyorum. Rives'i ilk kitaptaki karakterlerden daha çok sevdim. Așk ilişkisi birinci kitaba göre daha mantıklı olsa da yine de çok beğenmedim. Üçüncü kitabı da hemen arkasından okumazsam bu seriyi bir daha elime almam büyük ihtimalle. Kötü değil, hoş vakit geçirdim okurken.
October 20, 2019
« Pour la première fois, j’ai songé que la seule chose que je ne m’attendais pas à voir briser par Nil, c’était mon cœur. »
July 22, 2021
2,5 ⭐️ j’ai pas vraiment saisi l’intérêt de cette suite !? C’était assez plat et longuet. Cerise sur le gâteau : j’ai pas du tout accroché avec Skye, l’héroïne, ugh…!
February 28, 2019
Okumaya ilk basladigimda e ne farki var ana karakterlerin isimleri disinda derken,tam da dedigi sirlar cozulmeye basladikca kendimi durduramadim.
Ilk kitap “Ada” Thad ve Charlie’nin onderliginde ki karakterlerle bana teenage bir Romeo&Juliettr hikayesi gibi gelse de “Sirlar Cozuluyor” da ki Skye ve Rives’i daha cok sevdim sanki.Lynne Matson konuyu Romoe&Juliette ‘den cikarmis,ekledigi karakterlerle daha macera dolu bir ikinci kitap ortaya cikartmis.
Klasik bir devam uclemesi degil,ucleme oldugunu bilmeden ikinci kitabi alsaniz yine keyif alabilirsiniz.Ama benim icin yeterliligi hala tartisilir.Biraz daha Ada’ya dair bilgi ve gerilim isterdim ben.Daha genc arkadaslara,ya da citir cerez olsun diyen yasitlarima onerebilirim.
Ilk kitap “Ada” Thad ve Charlie’nin onderliginde ki karakterlerle bana teenage bir Romeo&Juliettr hikayesi gibi gelse de “Sirlar Cozuluyor” da ki Skye ve Rives’i daha cok sevdim sanki.Lynne Matson konuyu Romoe&Juliette ‘den cikarmis,ekledigi karakterlerle daha macera dolu bir ikinci kitap ortaya cikartmis.
Klasik bir devam uclemesi degil,ucleme oldugunu bilmeden ikinci kitabi alsaniz yine keyif alabilirsiniz.Ama benim icin yeterliligi hala tartisilir.Biraz daha Ada’ya dair bilgi ve gerilim isterdim ben.Daha genc arkadaslara,ya da citir cerez olsun diyen yasitlarima onerebilirim.
June 13, 2015
Ahhh ever since I have finished Nil I have been dying to read Nil Unlocked! Nil had action, twists, turns, and we were just getting to know Nil. Ohhh but Nil Unlocked really did unlock Nil. I learned so much about Nil and this book was great. I have to say I enjoyed Nil a lot better because that one had more action and twists and turns but Nil Unlocked was a great book in it's own way though. Nil Unlocked brought information, mystery, and just so many questions to the island. I mentioned in my Nil review how the island itself was a character and the island become more of a character in Nil Unlocked. Lynne definitely did a great job with this sequel.
The characters in this book are very interesting. We have Rives, who we saw in Nil, and Skye. Skye is kind of like a Nil expert, except she hasn't had the first hand experience. I loved Skye, she was so prepared and ready to take action if necessary. In this book we also get to know a lot more about Rives. More about his past and personality. I really enjoyed reading from both Rives and Skye's point of view because it gave me a taste of two different personalities. Rives: the leader and Nil explorer and Skye: the person who knew all the Nil facts. It was also so cool to see Skye recognize things from her uncle's journals to things on Nil. Other characters, like Jason, Jillian, and Sy, were so great to read about again and it just brought back so much nostalgia! ;) The new characters were also a great addition.
I loved this plot. I loved how the more I read, the more I was learning about Nil. I love how there is more to Nil that meets the eye and learning that information kept me reading. I just loved everything about this plot; the way it was set up to discover facts about Nil was so great to read about! There was a lot less action than Nil but it was all good because of how much we were learning about Nil and the history behind it. Then the ending, oh the ending was just glorious! So much action and suspense then everyone was happy and it just set up a great base for book three, which I am dying to read!
I gave this book 5 stars because I just loved everything about it.
Full review: http://next-page-please.blogspot.com/...
The characters in this book are very interesting. We have Rives, who we saw in Nil, and Skye. Skye is kind of like a Nil expert, except she hasn't had the first hand experience. I loved Skye, she was so prepared and ready to take action if necessary. In this book we also get to know a lot more about Rives. More about his past and personality. I really enjoyed reading from both Rives and Skye's point of view because it gave me a taste of two different personalities. Rives: the leader and Nil explorer and Skye: the person who knew all the Nil facts. It was also so cool to see Skye recognize things from her uncle's journals to things on Nil. Other characters, like Jason, Jillian, and Sy, were so great to read about again and it just brought back so much nostalgia! ;) The new characters were also a great addition.
I loved this plot. I loved how the more I read, the more I was learning about Nil. I love how there is more to Nil that meets the eye and learning that information kept me reading. I just loved everything about this plot; the way it was set up to discover facts about Nil was so great to read about! There was a lot less action than Nil but it was all good because of how much we were learning about Nil and the history behind it. Then the ending, oh the ending was just glorious! So much action and suspense then everyone was happy and it just set up a great base for book three, which I am dying to read!
I gave this book 5 stars because I just loved everything about it.
Full review: http://next-page-please.blogspot.com/...
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