This is quite an extraordinary and intriguing story. It has lots of twists and turns and is quite mesmerizing, and the depth of the story is totally enthralling. I would certainly have no hesitation in recommending this book, even if it is part of a series.
A confrontation between the New Patriots and the Headhunters is thwarted when Elise Black is released and Cerberus offers Cleo a proposition; an opportunity to add to her arsenal. While in pursuit of the Phantom, Cleo’s mother, General Reaver, is bitten by an infected rodent, and contracts the Hydra virus. In view of her mother’s dilemma, Cleo has to move up their plans to infiltrate the Sanctuary. As the only known survivor of the Hydra virus, Amelia has agreed to offer herself to the Sanctuary’s scientists, so they can formulate a cure from her blood. Amelia knew there would be sacrifices and risks, but as she focuses on the mission she wonders how much safety is worth. Amelia’s father is alive; she both feared, hated and loved him and he was a father in everything but genetics. Now he is eager to get started on her bloodwork. Amelia wants to help everyone inside and outside the Sanctuary, so would have to untangle the truth from deception. There were those inside the Sanctuary that were helping the New Patriots, among them Cleo’s brother; his skills earned him a spot in the Sanctuary. Now he keeps his head down and does his job, but has been waiting for his chance to play his part. After extensive testing, Declan declares they have the cure, but why would he say Amelia’s blood was the key and also the pinnacle of his life’s achievement, the one he could never tell a soul about. With assistance from Amelia, Micah and Silas, the resistance orchestrate Declan’s downfall, in the hope that the citizens will turn on the Coalition; to work together to build a new world, a new society based on freedom and choice, not fear and tyranny. Amanda had done this, and now her father would know how she had betrayed him; yet why did he think he had been betrayed by another. The Sanctuary would deal swiftly and decisively with Declan, but it is not what Amelia had expected. Gabriel knew better than anyone the kind of people the New Patriots were, what they stood for, what they wanted. Nadira has given Gabriel a new life, a new purpose; she had sacrificed her life for his, offering him redemption. Cleo and the New Patriots were offering Gabriel everything he had been denied before, vengeance, justice and a new and better world; he had what it takes to lead, to fight and after they took the Sanctuary he would have his revenge, but which side is he really on. Gabriel knew Willow, Finn and Benjie had disappeared, but he knew without a doubt that they would never warn the Sanctuary; but who did and why? The New Patriots saw every elite as the enemy and they were willing to do anything to destroy that enemy, anything. But if they were planning an attack, Gabriel was onboard. Celeste is manipulative, petty, cunning and cruel, but she helps Willow, Finn and Benjie make their escape. Willow cannot believe Amelia and Micah were trusting these people; she didn’t trust them, she didn’t like them and wanted to get as far away from them as she could. Willow wanted to protect the people she loved; she wanted so many things, all of them outside her grasp. While Amelia is off saving the world at the Sanctuary, Willow needs to do something; she wants to find Raven and Shadow. Willow might not find Raven, but Raven and Shadow could find them. A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.