What do you think?
Rate this book
The Surrendered #2
The Underground
With the System on the verge of complete annihilation and new factions of freethinkers emerging, Vee knows she must find a way to end the Commander’s rule quickly—and by any means necessary.
When the Union arrives in New England, it’s to discover their rebellion has already reached this part of the country. Food stores are low, medical supplies are nonexistent, and without the coal from nearby Mines, the residents are on the verge of freezing to death.
Guilt-ridden because of the role she played in the region’s downfall, and refusing to be the cause of anymore suffering, Vee is coerced into working with a group of brilliant scientists who hope to form an independent government below the ruins of New York City. But when she’s asked to assassinate an opposing leader, Vee has no choice but to reevaluate her own morality and examine just how far she’ll really go to see victory in the war against The Tax.
When the Union arrives in New England, it’s to discover their rebellion has already reached this part of the country. Food stores are low, medical supplies are nonexistent, and without the coal from nearby Mines, the residents are on the verge of freezing to death.
Guilt-ridden because of the role she played in the region’s downfall, and refusing to be the cause of anymore suffering, Vee is coerced into working with a group of brilliant scientists who hope to form an independent government below the ruins of New York City. But when she’s asked to assassinate an opposing leader, Vee has no choice but to reevaluate her own morality and examine just how far she’ll really go to see victory in the war against The Tax.
- GenresYoung Adult
265 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2017
1 person is currently reading
709 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 26, 2017
The Underground 5/5⭐️s
1. This book was just awesome!🙌🏽
2. Even better than the first one, everything was just 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
3. Againnfast paced and action packed.
4. Thank God we still don't have a love triangle!!
5. And again, Asa is soooo annoying😂
6. What does the Tax have to do with Vee and a baby? Like, haven't they destroyed many systems already? And aren't they free too? And hello Oliver, it's not as if Cason's gonna leave any time soon.
7. Wait, what? So the Master Xiang accepted the founding of the Underground? But how and why?
8. Flawed and real characters, with back stories believable for the world they come and live in, so I'm just like: 🙌🏽🙌🏽
9. Final Rating: 5/5⭐️
1. This book was just awesome!🙌🏽
2. Even better than the first one, everything was just 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
3. Againnfast paced and action packed.
4. Thank God we still don't have a love triangle!!
5. And again, Asa is soooo annoying😂
6. What does the Tax have to do with Vee and a baby? Like, haven't they destroyed many systems already? And aren't they free too? And hello Oliver, it's not as if Cason's gonna leave any time soon.
7. Wait, what? So the Master Xiang accepted the founding of the Underground? But how and why?
8. Flawed and real characters, with back stories believable for the world they come and live in, so I'm just like: 🙌🏽🙌🏽
9. Final Rating: 5/5⭐️
October 13, 2017
This dystopian series follows characters who have been surrendered by their parents to slave away their childhood due to a new child tax the Commander has written after the economy collapsed. The huge gap of time that was skipped between the ending of the first book and this book made remembering the events of of the first book a bit harder. I couldn't remember who Ramsey was for the longest time but most of the information eventually came back to me the more I thought about it. A character list and small recap would have been a nice addition.
Vee was an alright main character. I liked how the main characters all had backstories. I dont like overprotective males. Its one of my biggest pet peeves and we get 2 of them in this book; Vees boyfriend Cason and her brother Oliver. Thats probably why I liked Xiang even though he was Vees captor. He wasnt as bossy as the other 2 male characters, but I did feel like he forgave Vee too easily which made things very convenient. I wasnt totally invested in the romance, but I didnt hate it either. Cason did end up supporting her decision in the end.
The Underground was an amazing place. It kind of gave me some steampunk vibes. I loved hearing about how they sustained themselves, but I didnt like the way they went about getting the main characters help. I didn't really trust Percy and her plan. The plot was still entertaining even though I felt like it was a little predictable in some places. I dont read as much dystopians anymore but I really liked the concept of the tax on children as a terrifyingly possible future. It was a quick read with action throughout that managed to keep my attention. I think I liked this book more than the first.
*received for review consideration*
Vee was an alright main character. I liked how the main characters all had backstories. I dont like overprotective males. Its one of my biggest pet peeves and we get 2 of them in this book; Vees boyfriend Cason and her brother Oliver. Thats probably why I liked Xiang even though he was Vees captor. He wasnt as bossy as the other 2 male characters, but I did feel like he forgave Vee too easily which made things very convenient. I wasnt totally invested in the romance, but I didnt hate it either. Cason did end up supporting her decision in the end.
The Underground was an amazing place. It kind of gave me some steampunk vibes. I loved hearing about how they sustained themselves, but I didnt like the way they went about getting the main characters help. I didn't really trust Percy and her plan. The plot was still entertaining even though I felt like it was a little predictable in some places. I dont read as much dystopians anymore but I really liked the concept of the tax on children as a terrifyingly possible future. It was a quick read with action throughout that managed to keep my attention. I think I liked this book more than the first.
*received for review consideration*
August 14, 2017
I enjoyed the author's world building and writing once again in this book, as I did in the first book in this series The Surrendered. Vee is still a very strong and likeable main character and felt that she was more grown up in this book. Just like the first book in the series, the story moves along at a steady pace and has action throughout which holds the reader's attention. I still find Asa to be fairly annoying as a character, but otherwise enjoyed all of the characters in this book. 3.5 stars. As I said with the first book, I am a big fan of dystopian and I read a lot of books in the genre. The concept of the books in this series, with the taxing of children and when parents are unable to pay, they are forced to do hard labor to pay off the debt is interesting. However, after reading so many dystopian series, I start to see how a lot of books end up with the same kind of plot and character behaviors. I did enjoy this as a follow up to The Surrendered and look forward to reading more from the author in the future. Thank you to the publisher, Blaze Publishing, for sending me an ARC of this book.
September 24, 2017
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 15+ (sex, violence)
I received a free copy of this book from Blaze Publishing in exchange for promotion and for my honest review. This did not sway my opinion in any manner.
With the System on the verge of complete annihilation and new factions of freethinkers emerging, Vee knows she must find a way to end the Commander’s rule quickly―and by any means necessary.
When the Union arrives in New England, it’s to discover their rebellion has already reached this part of the country. Food stores are low, medical supplies are nonexistent, and without the coal from nearby Mines, the residents are on the verge of freezing to death.
Guilt-ridden because of the role she played in the region’s downfall, and refusing to be the cause of anymore suffering, Vee is coerced into working with a group of brilliant scientists who hope to form an independent government below the ruins of New York City. But when she’s asked to assassinate an opposing leader, Vee has no choice but to reevaluate her own morality and examine just how far she’ll really go to see victory in the war against The Tax. – Amazon.com
Can you be so moved by a book that you physically crave more? That you’ve become so enthralled by it that you’d sell your firstborn child for more? Well, maybe not my firstborn child, but my soul? Yes. The book I’m talking about: The Underground, book 2 in The Surrendered series. While in my opinion the subsequent sequels in a book series don’t usually live up to be as great as the first book in a series, this book surpassed its predecessor and lapped it several times over! The character development in this book was amazing. The past characters grew and we got to see more of their personalities in this book, especially Vee, Oliver, and Cason. We were also introduced to new characters who were amazingly well developed. The plot contained so many twists and turns that the reader couldn’t accurately predict the outcome! I can usually predict what will happen in a novel, but this one had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Every time I thought I had the plot figured out something unexpected happened! I love that the author had all of these twists and turns in the book because it made for an exciting new story. I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy when authors reuse plots from classic or other stories such as Beauty and the Beast, but it does get tiresome to see the same plot over and over again (these past two years I feel I’ve seen much more retellings of classic tales or other famous works or literature). Pacing was also done so well. I thought that because this was a short novel (when did 300+ pages become short to me?) that the pacing would be fast, but it wasn’t. The book took it’s time with the story. The writing was so well done and this is an easy to read novel.
My only concern for other readers is that there is a huge cast of characters in this novel, which can be confusing for some readers. The three big factions in this book have a lot of characters in them, but I felt that once I started the novel and got into it that I had a really good grasp on who was who and who did what. I only got confused on one character, but it was midnight when I was reading this book so that was more than likely because of my tiredness rather than the author’s writing.
Verdict: This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster that will leave you wanting more. Honestly, I’m itching to read the third book in this series! I love the universe Case Maynard has written and I can’t wait to read more from her, whether it be this series or another. She’s an author you need to watch out for. Definitely a must read if you’re a dystopian lover!
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 15+ (sex, violence)
I received a free copy of this book from Blaze Publishing in exchange for promotion and for my honest review. This did not sway my opinion in any manner.
With the System on the verge of complete annihilation and new factions of freethinkers emerging, Vee knows she must find a way to end the Commander’s rule quickly―and by any means necessary.
When the Union arrives in New England, it’s to discover their rebellion has already reached this part of the country. Food stores are low, medical supplies are nonexistent, and without the coal from nearby Mines, the residents are on the verge of freezing to death.
Guilt-ridden because of the role she played in the region’s downfall, and refusing to be the cause of anymore suffering, Vee is coerced into working with a group of brilliant scientists who hope to form an independent government below the ruins of New York City. But when she’s asked to assassinate an opposing leader, Vee has no choice but to reevaluate her own morality and examine just how far she’ll really go to see victory in the war against The Tax. – Amazon.com
Can you be so moved by a book that you physically crave more? That you’ve become so enthralled by it that you’d sell your firstborn child for more? Well, maybe not my firstborn child, but my soul? Yes. The book I’m talking about: The Underground, book 2 in The Surrendered series. While in my opinion the subsequent sequels in a book series don’t usually live up to be as great as the first book in a series, this book surpassed its predecessor and lapped it several times over! The character development in this book was amazing. The past characters grew and we got to see more of their personalities in this book, especially Vee, Oliver, and Cason. We were also introduced to new characters who were amazingly well developed. The plot contained so many twists and turns that the reader couldn’t accurately predict the outcome! I can usually predict what will happen in a novel, but this one had me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Every time I thought I had the plot figured out something unexpected happened! I love that the author had all of these twists and turns in the book because it made for an exciting new story. I’m not saying that I don’t enjoy when authors reuse plots from classic or other stories such as Beauty and the Beast, but it does get tiresome to see the same plot over and over again (these past two years I feel I’ve seen much more retellings of classic tales or other famous works or literature). Pacing was also done so well. I thought that because this was a short novel (when did 300+ pages become short to me?) that the pacing would be fast, but it wasn’t. The book took it’s time with the story. The writing was so well done and this is an easy to read novel.
My only concern for other readers is that there is a huge cast of characters in this novel, which can be confusing for some readers. The three big factions in this book have a lot of characters in them, but I felt that once I started the novel and got into it that I had a really good grasp on who was who and who did what. I only got confused on one character, but it was midnight when I was reading this book so that was more than likely because of my tiredness rather than the author’s writing.
Verdict: This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster that will leave you wanting more. Honestly, I’m itching to read the third book in this series! I love the universe Case Maynard has written and I can’t wait to read more from her, whether it be this series or another. She’s an author you need to watch out for. Definitely a must read if you’re a dystopian lover!
August 17, 2017
This book was the equivalent of a ride on a runaway train for me. As Vee continues on her journey to eradicate The Tax and free the children from slavery, she encounters societies that couldn't be more different from those in the south she has known. How far is Vee willing to go to achieve her goals? What is she willing to sacrifice to do what's right?
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and actually purchased The Surrendered so I wouldn't start mid-series. I can truly say that these titles have sucked me in, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and actually purchased The Surrendered so I wouldn't start mid-series. I can truly say that these titles have sucked me in, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
September 23, 2017
Plot: Ten months after taking down the Southwest system, Vee and the Union have only one mission: to free every child and put an end to the slavery system instituted by the Commander. After months of defying the order, Vee, Oliver and Cason find themselves in the North, New England. Captured by the inhabitants of Subterranea, the Union discovers their quest for freedom has left the people in New England with little to no means to survive. Already haunted by Ramsey's death, Vee doesn't want anyone else to die due to her actions and embarks on her most dangerous mission yet: Vee must work undercover to put an end to one more Master.
"It's eerie to travel through this smoky city and see no inhabitants. Almost as through people have been erased."
Once again, the plot was very intriguing. It didn't disappoint as most second books in a series usually do - in a matter of fact, I think I enjoyed the plot of The Underground a lot more than I enjoyed the plot of The Surrendered. As in the previous novel, Case Maynard's writing style is flawless and it catches one's attention. There are still a lot of twists and surprises -however, I must confess, I did see one of the twists coming.
Characters: In The Underground new characters are introduced -as well as a whole new world. I don't want to spoil anyone, but there was this one character that always gave off bad vibes and I was so happy that at the end I was right. It's really difficult to trust anyone in Maynard's world.
Vee still is the girl who speaks her mind and goes to no end to free the children in the Mills. However, she is haunted by the events from the first novel. She has nightmares with Ramsey's death and blames herself for the death of John William and Miss Ann -deaths Matt does not let her forget. After the ordeals she went through, Vee was left with emotional scars and I'm really glad they were dealt with -I'm not fond of characters that go through traumatic experiences and show no signs of going through them. Vee became aware of how much her rash decisions affected the life of the people around her and tried to be more careful -she tried to think before acting (bravo for the character development). Talking about rash decisions... Xiang, the master Vee and her crew had to assassinate, was a hothead. He simply jumped to conclusions without taking a moment to think through it all. Vee never knew what to expect of him.
Romance: Once again, I was afraid there was going to be a love triangle (by now everyone knows how much I dislike them), but there was none. Vee having a flickering heart would be out of character, in my opinion. But you never know...
Worldbuiling: As mentioned before, Maynard crafted a new world, the Subterranea. An underground community led by Percy, the Subterranea is trying to become independent from the Commander. However, although it was more technological evolved, I found this community a little bit similar to the Southies in their beliefs -they too wanted the children to keep working under a slavery system than set them free. They had no interest in putting an end to the Tax.
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
"It's eerie to travel through this smoky city and see no inhabitants. Almost as through people have been erased."
Once again, the plot was very intriguing. It didn't disappoint as most second books in a series usually do - in a matter of fact, I think I enjoyed the plot of The Underground a lot more than I enjoyed the plot of The Surrendered. As in the previous novel, Case Maynard's writing style is flawless and it catches one's attention. There are still a lot of twists and surprises -however, I must confess, I did see one of the twists coming.
Characters: In The Underground new characters are introduced -as well as a whole new world. I don't want to spoil anyone, but there was this one character that always gave off bad vibes and I was so happy that at the end I was right. It's really difficult to trust anyone in Maynard's world.
Vee still is the girl who speaks her mind and goes to no end to free the children in the Mills. However, she is haunted by the events from the first novel. She has nightmares with Ramsey's death and blames herself for the death of John William and Miss Ann -deaths Matt does not let her forget. After the ordeals she went through, Vee was left with emotional scars and I'm really glad they were dealt with -I'm not fond of characters that go through traumatic experiences and show no signs of going through them. Vee became aware of how much her rash decisions affected the life of the people around her and tried to be more careful -she tried to think before acting (bravo for the character development). Talking about rash decisions... Xiang, the master Vee and her crew had to assassinate, was a hothead. He simply jumped to conclusions without taking a moment to think through it all. Vee never knew what to expect of him.
Romance: Once again, I was afraid there was going to be a love triangle (by now everyone knows how much I dislike them), but there was none. Vee having a flickering heart would be out of character, in my opinion. But you never know...
Worldbuiling: As mentioned before, Maynard crafted a new world, the Subterranea. An underground community led by Percy, the Subterranea is trying to become independent from the Commander. However, although it was more technological evolved, I found this community a little bit similar to the Southies in their beliefs -they too wanted the children to keep working under a slavery system than set them free. They had no interest in putting an end to the Tax.
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
December 29, 2017
At the beginning, I thought this book wasn’t as good as the first, and that they weren’t focusing that much on the original goal. But, then, plot twists. Yes, plural, as in oh my gosh I did not expect any of that. This put me in an emotional joyride with the characters that I still love, and this book was probably as good, if not better, than the first. I think it ripped out my heart and then speed it back in several times. The pacing was amazing and I love how it shows Vee’s emotions and conscience. I can’t wait for the next book!
November 10, 2017
I really loved the character progression in this one. I am getting to love Vee more and more. The story is getting even better. Really looking forward to the next book.
September 12, 2017
Usually sequels don't grab me as much as first books in a series . . . But, The Underground almost outshines its already AMAZING predecessor! Vee's journey took me on another roller-coaster ride, chucking surprises at me left and right. And, as with book 1, people were not who they at first appeared--so WELL done! I literally screamed at the end, wanting more! Cannot wait until book 3!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews