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The Darkest Minds #3.5
Beyond the Night
'A RIVETING EMOTIONAL READ THAT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE!'- Melissa Marr, author of the bestselling Wicked Lovely series, on The Darkest Minds The government-run 'rehabilitation camps' have been shut down, but kids with Psi powers are anything but free. Sam would rather be on her own than put in the care of a foster family and given the 'cure' - a dangerous procedure that unclaimed kids across the country are being forced to undergo. But there's more at stake than just her own safety. Sam once made someone a promise and the time has come to fulfill it. Now that she's out of her camp, Mia only has one thought in her head: finding Lucas, her beloved older brother.Don't miss the thrilling novella that connects the last two novels in the New York Times bestselling series The Darkest Minds.MORE PRAISE FOR THE DARKEST MINDS'The story's quick-paced action leads to a heartbreaking cliffhanger that will have readers eager for the next book ...' - Publishers Weekly'Haunting ... Bracken creates a gripping and terrifying dystopian world.' - Kirkus Reviews'HELL TO THE YES, I love this story and these characters so much!!' - Goodreads'THE DARKEST MINDS was, without a doubt, one of the best books I have read!' - Goodreads
152 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2017
43 people are currently reading
8189 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Bracken
32 books25.7k followersHi! I'm Alex and I write books. Please note that I don't respond to messages here on GoodReads. Please send me a note on twitter or IG @alexbracken. xx A
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
August 25, 2018
"and in time, rise like sparks beyond the night."
This is why I love Alexandra Bracken so much. It makes so much sense and you realize it's the titles of the books and it's also how she ended the book and wow. And THEN you realize she did the same thing with her other books. I mean The Darkest Minds Never Fade In The Afterlight? Makes sense? Hell frickin yeah. All these novellas are officially on my best of the best shelf. And that's not even enough.
This is why I love Alexandra Bracken so much. It makes so much sense and you realize it's the titles of the books and it's also how she ended the book and wow. And THEN you realize she did the same thing with her other books. I mean The Darkest Minds Never Fade In The Afterlight? Makes sense? Hell frickin yeah. All these novellas are officially on my best of the best shelf. And that's not even enough.
January 14, 2019
Not gonna lie, Mia got on my nerves a little bit. I’m not sure how to feel about how the story went, but I still loved seeing Liam and the old cast again.
April 4, 2020
Wow I love Sam and Lucas so much, I think they might be my new favorite characters :)
November 19, 2018
This is exactly what I wanted after finishing In the Afterlight. It's essentially the "what happened next" in Sam, Mia and Lucas' story and a short insight into what the world looks like now that Psi kids are free from their torture camps.
I loved that this novella showcases how messed up the world still is. Often stories end on a happy note, which is just unrealistic, and we never really get to see what happens after the heroes save the day. But in this case we get to see how the major characters are living following on from the events of the third book, and the tough time they're still having being treated as "other" and still being sold off to the highest bidder. This is significantly better and more believable than the traditional happy ending wrap up we sort of got in the last book.
I'm going to put this out there and I'm not ashamed to admit it: I adore Sam and Lucas. I wish they had a whole book and I would have traded three books about Ruby for that very story. I liked that Bracken addresses that Mia doesn't really like Sam initially, despite her saving her bacon and instead both female characters are selflessly shielding Lucas and trying to find a solution to their problem. With Ruby's help, admittedly.
Anyone else feel like some of the stuff mentioned in this novella really deserves an entire series all to itself? Heads up Bracken....we want more!
I loved that this novella showcases how messed up the world still is. Often stories end on a happy note, which is just unrealistic, and we never really get to see what happens after the heroes save the day. But in this case we get to see how the major characters are living following on from the events of the third book, and the tough time they're still having being treated as "other" and still being sold off to the highest bidder. This is significantly better and more believable than the traditional happy ending wrap up we sort of got in the last book.
I'm going to put this out there and I'm not ashamed to admit it: I adore Sam and Lucas. I wish they had a whole book and I would have traded three books about Ruby for that very story. I liked that Bracken addresses that Mia doesn't really like Sam initially, despite her saving her bacon and instead both female characters are selflessly shielding Lucas and trying to find a solution to their problem. With Ruby's help, admittedly.
Anyone else feel like some of the stuff mentioned in this novella really deserves an entire series all to itself? Heads up Bracken....we want more!
September 6, 2018
"You want to know the real reason they never let us touch or talk to each other if they could help it? It made us strong. If you have people who love you, you can fall back on them when you're afraid."
These three novellas fill in a lot of the gaps the original trilogy left behind; what happened to Zu in between when she left East River in The Darkest Minds and when Ruby found her again in In the Afterlight? What happened to the Reds when they were taken from the camps and what happened in Thurmond after Ruby escaped? These are dark stories, and while they're not necessary to understand the main trilogy I'd highly recommend them because they offer so much in terms of character development and world building.
Full review available on my blog Reading Every Night.
January 21, 2018
Oh that was so emotional... Moved me so much! These damn novellas they're just as painful as the series itself!
"...home is wherever there’s love; that as long as we’re together, we carry it with us. It will grow as we do. It will grow as we bring others in, as we bring the lost ones together again, gather up the embers scattered from the same fire. One day, we will ignite and create a blaze that no one can put out, ignore, hurt. We will move forward as one, and in time, rise like sparks beyond the night."
I was nearly brought to tears reading the last chapter and the epilogue of this, just so moving! And it takes a lot for me to cry at a book okay! So even the fact that the end of this novella stirred just a watery prick at my eyes is huge! Just so beautifully done...
Honestly everyone needs to read this series and experience it for themselves! And these novellas! They just add even more to it! Rereading Sparks Rise and this because I finally found it makes me so want to reread the original series. These books actually just feel so painfully real. No joke the story literally feels like something that could happen in real life. It's just so well done and feels so realistic and even makes so much logical sense! From the cause of what happens, to the consequences afterward and his the world slowly transitions and changes, there is no easy fix for what has happened in the world of this book, Beyond the Night really drives that home, and that makes it so intensely meaningful. Plus the ending is left open, and this takes place after the events of In the Afterlight, the last book in the main trilogy, so it is the end of this story but our imaginations are left to run wild, in whatever way you want to think, whether that is that everything will slowly improve and become better, or the horrors and pain will continue...
These are just such beautiful and hard hitting stories and my love for this series has been reignited and has reached a new height from this. I have so much love for Lucas' character he is just so precious and I connect with him so much. Sam is amazing as well and Mia is great too. Also, we get to reunite with our old favourites from the main trilogy, Ruby, darling Liam, Chubs and Vida and oh was that a treat. It was so so good to see them again. If only Clancy would have made appearance that would have made my day, butt haha oh well this novel was still amazing. I do like Sparks Rise overall but that might have been just because it's been so long since I read this series that the beginning of this book confused me a little but it was still fine, and the perfection of that ending not to mention the beautiful eloquence of that writing just shot it up even more. This series needs more hype honestly, it is so underrated, and the fact that these novellas connect with you and are just as impactful if not more so! This whole series and world, main trilogy and novellas, will always remain as one of my all time favourite series I'm sure. I need to reread the trilogy!
Beyond the Night gets a 9/10, just because I enjoyed Sparks Rise marginally more and that was a 10 so yeah, but this was still insanely enjoyable and stirred up so many emotions. Just beautiful... This series and these novellas need more hype! Read them people!
"...home is wherever there’s love; that as long as we’re together, we carry it with us. It will grow as we do. It will grow as we bring others in, as we bring the lost ones together again, gather up the embers scattered from the same fire. One day, we will ignite and create a blaze that no one can put out, ignore, hurt. We will move forward as one, and in time, rise like sparks beyond the night."
I was nearly brought to tears reading the last chapter and the epilogue of this, just so moving! And it takes a lot for me to cry at a book okay! So even the fact that the end of this novella stirred just a watery prick at my eyes is huge! Just so beautifully done...
Honestly everyone needs to read this series and experience it for themselves! And these novellas! They just add even more to it! Rereading Sparks Rise and this because I finally found it makes me so want to reread the original series. These books actually just feel so painfully real. No joke the story literally feels like something that could happen in real life. It's just so well done and feels so realistic and even makes so much logical sense! From the cause of what happens, to the consequences afterward and his the world slowly transitions and changes, there is no easy fix for what has happened in the world of this book, Beyond the Night really drives that home, and that makes it so intensely meaningful. Plus the ending is left open, and this takes place after the events of In the Afterlight, the last book in the main trilogy, so it is the end of this story but our imaginations are left to run wild, in whatever way you want to think, whether that is that everything will slowly improve and become better, or the horrors and pain will continue...
These are just such beautiful and hard hitting stories and my love for this series has been reignited and has reached a new height from this. I have so much love for Lucas' character he is just so precious and I connect with him so much. Sam is amazing as well and Mia is great too. Also, we get to reunite with our old favourites from the main trilogy, Ruby, darling Liam, Chubs and Vida and oh was that a treat. It was so so good to see them again. If only Clancy would have made appearance that would have made my day, butt haha oh well this novel was still amazing. I do like Sparks Rise overall but that might have been just because it's been so long since I read this series that the beginning of this book confused me a little but it was still fine, and the perfection of that ending not to mention the beautiful eloquence of that writing just shot it up even more. This series needs more hype honestly, it is so underrated, and the fact that these novellas connect with you and are just as impactful if not more so! This whole series and world, main trilogy and novellas, will always remain as one of my all time favourite series I'm sure. I need to reread the trilogy!
Beyond the Night gets a 9/10, just because I enjoyed Sparks Rise marginally more and that was a 10 so yeah, but this was still insanely enjoyable and stirred up so many emotions. Just beautiful... This series and these novellas need more hype! Read them people!
May 2, 2019
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019. Reto #3. Un libro que te haga sentir nostálgico.
Este libro fue hermoso, no sé cómo no lo leí antes fue todo lo que necesitaba después de In the after light.
SPOILERS
Me dolió ver a Sam tan destruída, sabiendo que ella fue la que siempre inspiró a Ruby para ser valiente y tan bien fue horrible ver a Lucas tan destruido y sin ser capaz de reconocer a Sam y su hermana.
Mia no me cayo muy bien pero entiendo que esta perturbada después de pasar tantos años encerrada.
Ahora hablemos de lo que más ame volver a ver a Ruby, Liam, Chubs y Vida trabajando en una misión les juro que fue hermoso.
No puedo creer que estén monitoreando a Ruby y que los adultos siguen traficando con niños, es como ¿que no aprendieron nada?
Pero en fin ahora tengo más ganas de leer el libro de Zu.
Este libro fue hermoso, no sé cómo no lo leí antes fue todo lo que necesitaba después de In the after light.
SPOILERS
Me dolió ver a Sam tan destruída, sabiendo que ella fue la que siempre inspiró a Ruby para ser valiente y tan bien fue horrible ver a Lucas tan destruido y sin ser capaz de reconocer a Sam y su hermana.
Mia no me cayo muy bien pero entiendo que esta perturbada después de pasar tantos años encerrada.
Ahora hablemos de lo que más ame volver a ver a Ruby, Liam, Chubs y Vida trabajando en una misión les juro que fue hermoso.
No puedo creer que estén monitoreando a Ruby y que los adultos siguen traficando con niños, es como ¿que no aprendieron nada?
Pero en fin ahora tengo más ganas de leer el libro de Zu.
September 7, 2018
4.5 stars
I really liked how this ended up, it was the perfect epilogue for the trilogy .. Sam and Lucas are amazing and I liked Mia's character and her loyalty to her brother .. also it's good to have a final look at Ruby and Liam and how they ended up .. PS: will anyone talk about how adorable Chubs and Vida are ?? their chemistry is AMAZING :D just saying
I really liked how this ended up, it was the perfect epilogue for the trilogy .. Sam and Lucas are amazing and I liked Mia's character and her loyalty to her brother .. also it's good to have a final look at Ruby and Liam and how they ended up .. PS: will anyone talk about how adorable Chubs and Vida are ?? their chemistry is AMAZING :D just saying
November 15, 2024
That was cute
April 21, 2025
4.5 - tears just tears. And thank God for ruby! Also I want more from ruby and Liam like now that things r changing but like it’s literally over like bro no
December 30, 2018
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘 — 4,25
November 29, 2018
This was a freaking ride, let me tell you.
First off, it was definitely what I needed after finishing "In the Afterlight" because I was left with SO many questions and feelings of uncertainty, but this novella helped ease a lot of that. I was really happy to be back with Sam and Lucas, and to finally be able to meet Mia, but I was also absolutely thrilled to find my way back to the original group. I almost screamed when Vida showed up and saved Sam and Mia from that prison-like holding area because I knew I was going to get some closure to the third book. Also, can we discuss Sam for a moment? I don't know what it is, but I really enjoy her character and feel so drawn into her stories. I could read an entire companion novel just about her because there's so much more to explore beyond who she was at Thurmond. This novella definitely made me feel even closer to the TDM world and its characters.
Now, as for the action and plot twists of this particular story, I will honestly say I had no idea if Lucas would come back to himself or not up until it happened. The way Bracken wrote this novella really made me guess as to whether or not Sam and Mia were going to have to mourn him and move on, or rejoice because he found his way back. I think I held my breath at the same time Mia did in the story when Lucas finally spoke, and I remember having to go back and make sure I had read that correctly. This story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I loved every second of it.
As for the closure, I did enjoy how Bracken attempted to explain and wrap everything up in this novella in ways she didn't at the end of the third book. Getting a glimpse of what life has been like for Psi kids after the camps closed, learning that there are no longer skip tracers but now snatchers, hearing Liam discuss Cole's death, watching Ruby fully embrace her abilities to the point of being able to help others, and seeing that Sam isn't going to be left behind. All of this was truly necessary, at least for me, in furthering my love for this series and its characters. However, a lot was still left unanswered for me in terms of the government, the future for the current Psi kids and even their children, and the state of the country as a whole. Hopefully I will see some of these things get addressed in "The Darkest Legacy."
I finished this novella with such a heavy heart because it felt like I was moving on from a tight-knit friend group whom I'd experienced so much with, and who I wouldn't get to see again for a long time. I can't wait to reread this series again in the future!
First off, it was definitely what I needed after finishing "In the Afterlight" because I was left with SO many questions and feelings of uncertainty, but this novella helped ease a lot of that. I was really happy to be back with Sam and Lucas, and to finally be able to meet Mia, but I was also absolutely thrilled to find my way back to the original group. I almost screamed when Vida showed up and saved Sam and Mia from that prison-like holding area because I knew I was going to get some closure to the third book. Also, can we discuss Sam for a moment? I don't know what it is, but I really enjoy her character and feel so drawn into her stories. I could read an entire companion novel just about her because there's so much more to explore beyond who she was at Thurmond. This novella definitely made me feel even closer to the TDM world and its characters.
Now, as for the action and plot twists of this particular story, I will honestly say I had no idea if Lucas would come back to himself or not up until it happened. The way Bracken wrote this novella really made me guess as to whether or not Sam and Mia were going to have to mourn him and move on, or rejoice because he found his way back. I think I held my breath at the same time Mia did in the story when Lucas finally spoke, and I remember having to go back and make sure I had read that correctly. This story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I loved every second of it.
As for the closure, I did enjoy how Bracken attempted to explain and wrap everything up in this novella in ways she didn't at the end of the third book. Getting a glimpse of what life has been like for Psi kids after the camps closed, learning that there are no longer skip tracers but now snatchers, hearing Liam discuss Cole's death, watching Ruby fully embrace her abilities to the point of being able to help others, and seeing that Sam isn't going to be left behind. All of this was truly necessary, at least for me, in furthering my love for this series and its characters. However, a lot was still left unanswered for me in terms of the government, the future for the current Psi kids and even their children, and the state of the country as a whole. Hopefully I will see some of these things get addressed in "The Darkest Legacy."
I finished this novella with such a heavy heart because it felt like I was moving on from a tight-knit friend group whom I'd experienced so much with, and who I wouldn't get to see again for a long time. I can't wait to reread this series again in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2019
When I originally picked this up to read, I thought it was just going to be about Lucas and Sam and Mia and finding their way back to each other.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it brought all of the separate stories together and neatly and nicely finished off the series. (As much as I loved Zu, I don’t feel that need to read on. Ruby’s story is where I’m at)
I will say that this though, protecting and actioning Cole’s dreams for the Reds made me feel all kinds of weepy pride. Even if I’m still not ready to forgive the author for what she did to him.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it brought all of the separate stories together and neatly and nicely finished off the series. (As much as I loved Zu, I don’t feel that need to read on. Ruby’s story is where I’m at)
I will say that this though, protecting and actioning Cole’s dreams for the Reds made me feel all kinds of weepy pride. Even if I’m still not ready to forgive the author for what she did to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2021
This novella feels like a sequel to Sparks Rise and also an epilogue of In The Afterlight. Our old gang (Ruby, Chubs, Liam, Vida) is back, and now we follow Sam, Mia (Lucas's sister), and Lucas
I really like this, the ending is filled with so much hope and I feel it answers my questions from In the Afterlight. It gives an insight of what our main characters from the original series are doing after the Thurmond hit and also Mia's, Sam's, and Lucas's role in it.
The star of the show is still Mia and Sam, but Ruby and Liam plays an important role here. I like Mia's character, I think she reads younger than her age and sometimes I find her so annoying, but there's this scene that I like very much. As for Sam, after what happened at Sparks Rise, I can see how she's so disheartened by it, but I still like her and she's a very reasonable character.
I don't really like Ruby in the original series, I even wonder if the original series would not be THAT frustrating if Sam is the protagonist, but if I think about it again, if Sam is the protagonist, things wouldn't happen the way it did and maybe my favorite character (Liam, Chubs, Vida, Liam especially) would not SHINE as they shone if Ruby's the main character.
Now somehow I think that the ending of Lucas, Mia, and Sam's story is so fairy-tale-esque compared to the original series, which are full of deaths and blood and gore and frustration. I can't relate to the romance between Sam and Lucas, and Lucas's character feels... too fairy-tale-ic to me. I don't know, I don't really like this as much
But.. Seeing Ruby and Liam here makes me so happy.
Ruby
Liam
I really like this, the ending is filled with so much hope and I feel it answers my questions from In the Afterlight. It gives an insight of what our main characters from the original series are doing after the Thurmond hit and also Mia's, Sam's, and Lucas's role in it.
The star of the show is still Mia and Sam, but Ruby and Liam plays an important role here. I like Mia's character, I think she reads younger than her age and sometimes I find her so annoying, but there's this scene that I like very much. As for Sam, after what happened at Sparks Rise, I can see how she's so disheartened by it, but I still like her and she's a very reasonable character.
I don't really like Ruby in the original series, I even wonder if the original series would not be THAT frustrating if Sam is the protagonist, but if I think about it again, if Sam is the protagonist, things wouldn't happen the way it did and maybe my favorite character (Liam, Chubs, Vida, Liam especially) would not SHINE as they shone if Ruby's the main character.
Now somehow I think that the ending of Lucas, Mia, and Sam's story is so fairy-tale-esque compared to the original series, which are full of deaths and blood and gore and frustration. I can't relate to the romance between Sam and Lucas, and Lucas's character feels... too fairy-tale-ic to me. I don't know, I don't really like this as much
But.. Seeing Ruby and Liam here makes me so happy.
Ruby
Liam
October 17, 2023
,,Jeśli ułożę słowa, jeśli wyobrażę sobie nowy świat, chcę, żebyśmy to my byli jego mieszkańcami (...). Oni nigdy nam go nie odbiorą. Nie uda im się to. To miejsce już zawsze będzie nasze.
Czeka tam na nowych marzycieli, którzy wypełnią jego mury opowieściami. Może któregoś dnia tak się stanie.
Ale my już zawsze będziemy znali drogę powrotną. Zawsze będziemy potrafili je odnaleźć."
🥺🥺
Czeka tam na nowych marzycieli, którzy wypełnią jego mury opowieściami. Może któregoś dnia tak się stanie.
Ale my już zawsze będziemy znali drogę powrotną. Zawsze będziemy potrafili je odnaleźć."
🥺🥺
January 25, 2022
Very. Well. Done. This novella is a must read because it continues the story from Sparks Rise as well as In the Afterlight — answering questions I had after Afterlight and healing my heart from Sparks’ ending.
May 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this Novella. I love that we get to see Sam and Mia and Lucas. I also liked that we got to see some part of the break in at Thurmond since Sam and her cabin was freed. This is also a really good “ending” for the Reds since we didnt get to see that in the 3rd book.
August 3, 2021
Slow and repetitive at first but then… amazing story ♥️♥️♥️♥️
September 25, 2022
no but this novella was better than the rest of the series😭😂🫶
October 10, 2023
i CRIED. i SOBBED. (they were tears of happiness though so don’t worry)
Read
March 9, 2024I love these kids sm my heart is about to burst
October 31, 2023
4.5. it would be a 5 if mia didn’t exist
May 19, 2019
A much better story arc than most I've read in the Darkest Minds. Beyond the Night picks up the bones of the devastating climax in Sparks Rise. Better than Sparks Rise, Beyond the Night wrings out the tears and tightens the hold Samantha Dahl has on us. I love Lucas's mind and Mia's ferocity. Their character building marinates the story for a tasty treat. Right when I had given up hope for ever liking Darkest Minds and its depressing plotline, I picked up this nugget and it's fantastic.
May 2, 2019
Spoilers:
-I did not consider there being snatchers and a bounty on Rubys head. I thought they had hid her powers from the public 🤦🏻♀️
-YES!!!! I was hoping Ruby would be able to fix the reds! I’m so happy they’ll be okay!
-SEEING THE GANG HURT MY HEART!! It hurt even more missing Nico and Cole and Zu 😭
-The whole discussion about Zu’s sass had me dying with laughter 😂😂😂😂😂
-Very happy it all worked out!
-I did not consider there being snatchers and a bounty on Rubys head. I thought they had hid her powers from the public 🤦🏻♀️
-YES!!!! I was hoping Ruby would be able to fix the reds! I’m so happy they’ll be okay!
-SEEING THE GANG HURT MY HEART!! It hurt even more missing Nico and Cole and Zu 😭
-The whole discussion about Zu’s sass had me dying with laughter 😂😂😂😂😂
-Very happy it all worked out!
May 6, 2022
Oh man. If there wasn’t a forth book. If this was the ending of the end it would be perfect just as the third books ending was. I can’t wait to hear more from some of my favorite characters and can’t wait to meet new ones!
December 28, 2018
Beyond the Night
This novella was really emotional for me because it satisfied the thirst I had for Sam and Lucas' romance. It was a beautiful novella, of life after the camps had shut down, of the struggles all these kids with Psi abilities still face despite everything that has happened.
I was a little disappointed at the end of In the Afterlight as I felt like we didn't get much closure to Sam's story but this novella delivered it to me in abundance. It was heartbreaking seeing what she went through, endearing walking alongside her in her journey to rescue Mia, and immensely satisfying watching her be reunited with Ruby and then Lucas. I also really loved how we were reunited with all of my favourite characters from the series, especially Liam! The ending of this novel made me really emotional and I'm sad to have finished this series but really glad that I decided to read it. Alexandra Bracken has such a fantastic ability to write and I'm really glad I was able to experience the story she told.
“We will move forward as one, and in time, rise like sparks beyond the night.”
This novella was really emotional for me because it satisfied the thirst I had for Sam and Lucas' romance. It was a beautiful novella, of life after the camps had shut down, of the struggles all these kids with Psi abilities still face despite everything that has happened.
I was a little disappointed at the end of In the Afterlight as I felt like we didn't get much closure to Sam's story but this novella delivered it to me in abundance. It was heartbreaking seeing what she went through, endearing walking alongside her in her journey to rescue Mia, and immensely satisfying watching her be reunited with Ruby and then Lucas. I also really loved how we were reunited with all of my favourite characters from the series, especially Liam! The ending of this novel made me really emotional and I'm sad to have finished this series but really glad that I decided to read it. Alexandra Bracken has such a fantastic ability to write and I'm really glad I was able to experience the story she told.
"But we will always know the way back.
We will always know where to find it."
June 16, 2022
Okay I read the “Through the dark” book with all three novellas in it. I was surprised to discover it was actually three stories in one, each one happening in between the three main books.
I think my favorite was “Beyond the night” because it happens after the third book and you get to know what happens to all the characters, and you meet new one which is so exciting ! It’s like a long epilogue.
My least favorite was “sparks rise” because it didn’t have a lot of action and it was kind of slow.
And then there’s “in time” which was really great because we got to learn more about this famous guy Zu met and how he helped her when she got away from East River.
But it was nice to let the series last a little longer with these three novellas.
It was well written ( like always) and we got to discover the point of view of Sam, Ruby’s friend.
Over all, I enjoyed these last books and I’m actually going to by “ The darkest legacies” which is a following book about Zu when she’s 17.
I can’t wait to know what happens in the world 5 years later !
So I’m not really saying goodby to The Darkest Minds… not yet.
A fan,
Youwon’tknowmyname
May 25, 2024
Lucas and Sam have become some of my favorite characters in the series and although I know that the novellas are separate from the series, I almost gave In the Afterlight a lower rating for the sole reason that we didn't get to see Sams fate then. However, I managed to read this before I made the rating decision and I'm glad I did. This really felt like the epilogue the final book needed, I even think if this had been a part of book three, it would've made it a five star read.
It was hard to get into Mia as a narrator since we'd never met her before and only knew of her because of a brief mention, but she grew on me towards the end. It was great to have Sam back, and see her have the opportunity for a happy ending with Lucas. What made this a great novella, however, was the way it tied up a couple of loose ends from In The Afterlight and connected the series to The Darkest Legacy in little ways.
It was hard to get into Mia as a narrator since we'd never met her before and only knew of her because of a brief mention, but she grew on me towards the end. It was great to have Sam back, and see her have the opportunity for a happy ending with Lucas. What made this a great novella, however, was the way it tied up a couple of loose ends from In The Afterlight and connected the series to The Darkest Legacy in little ways.
March 16, 2025
3 stars. We went back to Sam and Luc's story for the happy ending.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Luc doesn't remember anything, the PSF finally managed to erase his mind completely. He only responds to direct orders, and once she realizes this, Sam uses orders to get Luc and herself out of the camp. She hides Luc and goes to another camp called Black Rock to get his sister Mia.
Mia was such a character, right in the middle of likeable and annoying. Sometimes she was really smart and she was helping Sam, but other times, she was blaiming Sam for what happened to her brother. She was comfused, to say the least, and so I am, as to how I feel about her.
I also felt like the story was a bit too long and it dragged a bit, until Ruby and her team found Sam, Mia and Luc. They became fast friends. (Ruby and Sam were already friends, I mean the rest of the characters, and Sam, Mia, and Luc became members of Ruby's group of misfits.
Right after Ruby got into Luc's mind and brought him back by fixing whatever the PSF broke. That part was what I had been waiting for for quite some time, and the scene was both a happy and an emotional one for me. My favorite scene of the story, hands down.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Luc doesn't remember anything, the PSF finally managed to erase his mind completely. He only responds to direct orders, and once she realizes this, Sam uses orders to get Luc and herself out of the camp. She hides Luc and goes to another camp called Black Rock to get his sister Mia.
Mia was such a character, right in the middle of likeable and annoying. Sometimes she was really smart and she was helping Sam, but other times, she was blaiming Sam for what happened to her brother. She was comfused, to say the least, and so I am, as to how I feel about her.
I also felt like the story was a bit too long and it dragged a bit, until Ruby and her team found Sam, Mia and Luc. They became fast friends. (Ruby and Sam were already friends, I mean the rest of the characters, and Sam, Mia, and Luc became members of Ruby's group of misfits.
Right after Ruby got into Luc's mind and brought him back by fixing whatever the PSF broke. That part was what I had been waiting for for quite some time, and the scene was both a happy and an emotional one for me. My favorite scene of the story, hands down.
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