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LIFEL1K3 #2
DEV1AT3
Lemon Fresh has seen better days.
After the climactic battle in Babel, she finds herself separated from Ezekiel and Cricket in the wastelands. Lemon’s abilities to manipulate electricity mark her as a deviate, and deadly corporate operatives are hunting her to use as a weapon in the war between BioMaas Incorporated and Daedelus Technologies. Instead, Lemon finds herself falling in with a group of fellow deviates—a band of teenagers with astonishing abilities, led by an enigmatic figure known as the Major, who may hold the secrets to Lemon’s past.
Meanwhile, Cricket finds himself in possession of the puritanical Brotherhood, a religious cult set for a head-on collision with the Major and his band. Searching for Lemon, Ezekiel finds a strange ally in an old enemy, and uncovers a plot that may see him reunited with his beloved Ana.
And inside Babel, a remade Eve hatches a plan to bring an end to the world.
After the climactic battle in Babel, she finds herself separated from Ezekiel and Cricket in the wastelands. Lemon’s abilities to manipulate electricity mark her as a deviate, and deadly corporate operatives are hunting her to use as a weapon in the war between BioMaas Incorporated and Daedelus Technologies. Instead, Lemon finds herself falling in with a group of fellow deviates—a band of teenagers with astonishing abilities, led by an enigmatic figure known as the Major, who may hold the secrets to Lemon’s past.
Meanwhile, Cricket finds himself in possession of the puritanical Brotherhood, a religious cult set for a head-on collision with the Major and his band. Searching for Lemon, Ezekiel finds a strange ally in an old enemy, and uncovers a plot that may see him reunited with his beloved Ana.
And inside Babel, a remade Eve hatches a plan to bring an end to the world.
419 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2019
174 people are currently reading
7186 people want to read
About the author
Jay Kristoff
56 books30.3k followersJay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over two million books in print and is published in over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live.
He does not believe in happy endings.
He does not believe in happy endings.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 921 reviews
September 17, 2019
im a simple person - i see anything with jay kristoffs name and i read it. no questions asked. mainly because i always know what im going to get when i open one of his books.
true to his storytelling genius, the pacing in this is on point, the method at revealing information/world building is clever, the characters have great depth to them, the plot line is never lacking, and dont even get me started on that ending. i really, really enjoyed this.
i also appreciate that this sequel shifts direction from the first book and focuses on a different character. although i would have much rather read about ezekiel (i hope the third book focuses on him), the focus on lemon fresh is a nice change of pace and adds more to the series as a whole.
im really excited to see where this story continues to go and i highly suggest anyone who has read 'lifelike' to pick this up ASAP.
↠ 3.5 stars
true to his storytelling genius, the pacing in this is on point, the method at revealing information/world building is clever, the characters have great depth to them, the plot line is never lacking, and dont even get me started on that ending. i really, really enjoyed this.
i also appreciate that this sequel shifts direction from the first book and focuses on a different character. although i would have much rather read about ezekiel (i hope the third book focuses on him), the focus on lemon fresh is a nice change of pace and adds more to the series as a whole.
im really excited to see where this story continues to go and i highly suggest anyone who has read 'lifelike' to pick this up ASAP.
↠ 3.5 stars
July 27, 2019
Deviate totally lived up to my expectations! Now to await Book #3. How fast can you write Jay Kristoff? 😁
I absolutely love this post apocalyptic, robotic world! If you aren't reading this series - you should be! Kristoff does an amazing job of making you feel like you have been pulled in to his world. There is drama, humor, secrets, lies, manipulations, friendship, loyalty, love, deviate teens with some X-Men like superpowers, killers, fanatical cults set on purifying the race from deviates, deadly operatives hunting our main characters, big corporations battling for control and lifelike robots hell bent on bringing the human race to extinction. Plus the main characters are like friends you enjoy spending time with and can't wait to see again. Eve, Lemon Fresh, Zeke and Cricket are #squadgoals. See - there's A LOT going on here! Trust me when I tell you - this is not a fluffy YA series and you don't want to miss it!
I absolutely love this post apocalyptic, robotic world! If you aren't reading this series - you should be! Kristoff does an amazing job of making you feel like you have been pulled in to his world. There is drama, humor, secrets, lies, manipulations, friendship, loyalty, love, deviate teens with some X-Men like superpowers, killers, fanatical cults set on purifying the race from deviates, deadly operatives hunting our main characters, big corporations battling for control and lifelike robots hell bent on bringing the human race to extinction. Plus the main characters are like friends you enjoy spending time with and can't wait to see again. Eve, Lemon Fresh, Zeke and Cricket are #squadgoals. See - there's A LOT going on here! Trust me when I tell you - this is not a fluffy YA series and you don't want to miss it!
lost-interest
December 1, 2019After being disappointed twice by Mr.Kristoff with both Darkdawn and Aurora Rising. I can't currently continue the series as I feel I won't be fair to it and because I forgot almost everything in book 1. Also his writing gets more on my nerve now more than it makes me happy!!
(And yes, I am trying to clean my shelves and getting rid of some books!)
(And yes, I am trying to clean my shelves and getting rid of some books!)
dnf-lost-interest
June 25, 2019I need this book more than food and water and air.
July 24, 2019
On sale now! Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
In a brutal, blasted country called the Yousay (USA, of course), hostile androids contend against regular humans and superpowered mutants against a backdrop of robot death matches, in a dystopian Mad Max type of world. DEV1AT3 is the sequel to Lifel1k3, which should be read first. Obligatory warning: This review ― not to mention a helpful four-page glossary that author Jay Kristoff provides at the very beginning of DEV1AT3 ― contains a few major spoilers for LIFEL1K3. (Those spoilers are also in the blurb for this book. So.)
Eve has spent her entire life thinking she was human, until discovering at the end of LIFEL1K3 that she’s an extremely realistic android, called a Lifelike, indistinguishable from humans except for their extreme strength, speed and self-healing powers. Deeply bitter about all the lies she’s been told, Eve has joined five of the six remaining Lifelikes in the search for Ana Monrovia, the daughter of their founder who was injured and hidden away in suspended animation. Ana is the key to unlocking some old Monrovia technology, including the information needed create more Lifelikes and a nanovirus that erases the Three Laws (protect yourself, obey humans and, most importantly, don’t kill humans) from a robot’s core code. The Lifelikes already have this Libertas virus, but are intent on obtaining it and spreading it to all of robotdom.
Meanwhile, Eve’s former best friend, human fifteen-year-old Lemon Fresh, has been hiding a “deviate” mental superpower all her life: the ability to overload electronics and burn them out. Lemon and the one remaining Lifelike who is friendly to humans, Ezekiel, are on the run, hiding from the agents of two powerful feuding megacorporations searching for the person who has this power and can turn the tide of the war between them. Lemon gets separated from Ezekiel and winds up with a group of humans who may just be her type of people. But the megacorps’ agents are still hunting for her, along with the ruthless members of a religious cult whose goal is to kill all mutants or deviates, like Lemon. Ezekiel is trying to beat Eve’s group to find Ana, in the company of a companion who will be a surprise (possibly welcome; but maybe not) to readers of LIFEL1K3. Ezekiel is hoping that Eve still has a conscience about killing people, but is that hope a vain one?
DEV1AT3 amps up the suspense from LIFEL1K3, and benefits from a more coherent plot. The characters are both colorful and memorable, and the stakes are high: humanity itself is at risk. There are a couple of robot deathmatches to liven up the plot along the way, starring Cricket, Eve’s formerly small robot companion whose brain has been put into a 77-ton WarBot. It’s a previously longed-for but uncomfortable change for Cricket, as he finds himself at the mercy of others’ agendas. Another entertaining character is Solomon, a humorously cynical robot who’s figured out a way to finesse the Three Laws and gain for himself some more personal freedom.
The theme of love and loyalty for friends and found family is strong here, particularly in Lemon. Her loyalty to friends (even the robotic ones) is laudable, even though it leads her to make some highly questionable decisions. Another character whose actions I sometimes found difficult to believe was Eve. Her character transplant lends itself well to the plot of DEV1AT3, and is perhaps even necessary to drive the plot, but didn’t entirely ring true to me.
Anti-religious views seem to bubble under the surface of DEV1AT3. Traditionally religious characters are inevitably fanatical or twisted or both, and when a new friend shares a copy of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species with Lemon, she reacts with a spiritual fervor to its message, tears in her eyes and all. It’s the Good Book for deviates!
Other than these quibbles, I enjoyed DEV1AT3 a lot. There are some great plot twists that truly caught me by surprise, and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. I’d recommend this LIFELIKE trilogy to readers who enjoy dystopian YA science fiction. I’m definitely planning to read the next and final book in this series.
Content notes: Lots of dystopian and sometimes disturbing violence (like ).
I received a hardback copy from the publisher, not to mention a NetGalley ebook. Thanks!
In a brutal, blasted country called the Yousay (USA, of course), hostile androids contend against regular humans and superpowered mutants against a backdrop of robot death matches, in a dystopian Mad Max type of world. DEV1AT3 is the sequel to Lifel1k3, which should be read first. Obligatory warning: This review ― not to mention a helpful four-page glossary that author Jay Kristoff provides at the very beginning of DEV1AT3 ― contains a few major spoilers for LIFEL1K3. (Those spoilers are also in the blurb for this book. So.)
Eve has spent her entire life thinking she was human, until discovering at the end of LIFEL1K3 that she’s an extremely realistic android, called a Lifelike, indistinguishable from humans except for their extreme strength, speed and self-healing powers. Deeply bitter about all the lies she’s been told, Eve has joined five of the six remaining Lifelikes in the search for Ana Monrovia, the daughter of their founder who was injured and hidden away in suspended animation. Ana is the key to unlocking some old Monrovia technology, including the information needed create more Lifelikes and a nanovirus that erases the Three Laws (protect yourself, obey humans and, most importantly, don’t kill humans) from a robot’s core code. The Lifelikes already have this Libertas virus, but are intent on obtaining it and spreading it to all of robotdom.
Meanwhile, Eve’s former best friend, human fifteen-year-old Lemon Fresh, has been hiding a “deviate” mental superpower all her life: the ability to overload electronics and burn them out. Lemon and the one remaining Lifelike who is friendly to humans, Ezekiel, are on the run, hiding from the agents of two powerful feuding megacorporations searching for the person who has this power and can turn the tide of the war between them. Lemon gets separated from Ezekiel and winds up with a group of humans who may just be her type of people. But the megacorps’ agents are still hunting for her, along with the ruthless members of a religious cult whose goal is to kill all mutants or deviates, like Lemon. Ezekiel is trying to beat Eve’s group to find Ana, in the company of a companion who will be a surprise (possibly welcome; but maybe not) to readers of LIFEL1K3. Ezekiel is hoping that Eve still has a conscience about killing people, but is that hope a vain one?
DEV1AT3 amps up the suspense from LIFEL1K3, and benefits from a more coherent plot. The characters are both colorful and memorable, and the stakes are high: humanity itself is at risk. There are a couple of robot deathmatches to liven up the plot along the way, starring Cricket, Eve’s formerly small robot companion whose brain has been put into a 77-ton WarBot. It’s a previously longed-for but uncomfortable change for Cricket, as he finds himself at the mercy of others’ agendas. Another entertaining character is Solomon, a humorously cynical robot who’s figured out a way to finesse the Three Laws and gain for himself some more personal freedom.
The theme of love and loyalty for friends and found family is strong here, particularly in Lemon. Her loyalty to friends (even the robotic ones) is laudable, even though it leads her to make some highly questionable decisions. Another character whose actions I sometimes found difficult to believe was Eve. Her character transplant lends itself well to the plot of DEV1AT3, and is perhaps even necessary to drive the plot, but didn’t entirely ring true to me.
Anti-religious views seem to bubble under the surface of DEV1AT3. Traditionally religious characters are inevitably fanatical or twisted or both, and when a new friend shares a copy of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species with Lemon, she reacts with a spiritual fervor to its message, tears in her eyes and all. It’s the Good Book for deviates!
Other than these quibbles, I enjoyed DEV1AT3 a lot. There are some great plot twists that truly caught me by surprise, and it kept me engaged from beginning to end. I’d recommend this LIFELIKE trilogy to readers who enjoy dystopian YA science fiction. I’m definitely planning to read the next and final book in this series.
Content notes: Lots of dystopian and sometimes disturbing violence (like ).
I received a hardback copy from the publisher, not to mention a NetGalley ebook. Thanks!
September 16, 2019
Rating ~3.5
That ending...wtf though
Safe to say this book was not what I was expecting. There was a complete shift in focus, where the first book was primarily all about Eve. This book was predominately all about Lemon.
The Cast:
Lemon
Our favorite sidekick got a promoted to newbie heroine status. In this installment, we learn that Lemon has known about her special abilities for quite sometime. She has chosen to keep her special ability hidden from everyone, even her best friend. But as always with secrets, they never stay hidden and it isn't long before a number of enemies are after our dear Lemon Fresh. Fortunately, she finds allies in her fellow deviates.
Cricket
Cute little bot got an upgrade at the end of the last book and now in this one he's forced to fill the role of his new robot body. Finally becoming the battle bot he always used to claim he wanted to be.
Grimm
A new addition to the cast, like Lemon he is a deviate.
Ezekiel
Emotionally, he is a mess. Torn between his feelings for Ana, the girl who taught him love and what it meant to be alive (this point by the way is so greatly overused and referenced it started to grate), and Eve the girl he was falling for despite her differences to the Ana he remembered.
Eve
At the end of the first book, we knew our girl had big plans ahead. But rather than following our girl on a slow descent into darkness we're forced to witness her essentially do a 180 and go all-in on the Lifelike mission. All of sudden she wants to help her siblings bring about the end of humanity. And honestly, this was the most disappointing aspect of the book for me. It was too rather sudden and quite forced. Previously, before she thought she was Ana, she was just Eve and she was just a normal girl just trying to survive. Just because all her memories of being Ana were false doesn't mean everything about the life she lived as Eve was.
*More detailed review to come*
That ending...wtf though
Safe to say this book was not what I was expecting. There was a complete shift in focus, where the first book was primarily all about Eve. This book was predominately all about Lemon.
The Cast:
Lemon
Our favorite sidekick got a promoted to newbie heroine status. In this installment, we learn that Lemon has known about her special abilities for quite sometime. She has chosen to keep her special ability hidden from everyone, even her best friend. But as always with secrets, they never stay hidden and it isn't long before a number of enemies are after our dear Lemon Fresh. Fortunately, she finds allies in her fellow deviates.
Cricket
Cute little bot got an upgrade at the end of the last book and now in this one he's forced to fill the role of his new robot body. Finally becoming the battle bot he always used to claim he wanted to be.
Grimm
A new addition to the cast, like Lemon he is a deviate.
Ezekiel
Emotionally, he is a mess. Torn between his feelings for Ana, the girl who taught him love and what it meant to be alive (this point by the way is so greatly overused and referenced it started to grate), and Eve the girl he was falling for despite her differences to the Ana he remembered.
Eve
At the end of the first book, we knew our girl had big plans ahead. But rather than following our girl on a slow descent into darkness we're forced to witness her essentially do a 180 and go all-in on the Lifelike mission. All of sudden she wants to help her siblings bring about the end of humanity. And honestly, this was the most disappointing aspect of the book for me. It was too rather sudden and quite forced. Previously, before she thought she was Ana, she was just Eve and she was just a normal girl just trying to survive. Just because all her memories of being Ana were false doesn't mean everything about the life she lived as Eve was.
*More detailed review to come*
August 16, 2021
”Sometimes you don’t know you’ve crossed the line till you’re on the other side”.
Para ser completamente sincera, esta secuela de LIFEL1K3 me aburrió esta vida y la otra. Después de la pelea final en Babel del primer libro y de que Eve descubriera que era una lifelike y que la verdadera Anna estaba escondida en una especie de animación suspendida, la historia prometía muchísimo. Pero ¿qué me encontré en DEV1AT3? Un libro que se centró en Lemon Fresh y en Cricket, dos personajes secundarios, y que le dio dos capítulos a la que supuestamente era la protagonista.
Sorry, pero allí me perdieron. Lemon Fresh y Cricket no son ni de lejos tan interesantes como una lifelike que acaba de descubrir que lo es, que toda su vida ha sido una mentira, que todo el mundo le ha ocultado cosas y que, ahora, planea vengarse destruyendo al mundo para darle paso a una nueva era. Y sí, entiendo que las perspectivas de Lemon Fresh y Cricket son importantes para entender un poco más sobre las facciones de los deviates y de los fanáticos de la Brotherhood, pero ¿qué le costaba a Jay Kristoff balancear un poco las cosas y darles más tiempo de página a Eve y a Zeke?
En fin, que lo que pensé durante todo el libro fue una retahíla constante de “ah, okay, vale. No, no me importa. Hmm… sí, ¿y qué? Qué aburrido… ¿Cuántas páginas me faltan? Joder… Y nada que aparece Eve, ugh”.
Es muy probable que lea el último libro de la trilogía única y exclusivamente porque ya llegué tan lejos, pero, vamos, no voy a esperar mucho.
Para ser completamente sincera, esta secuela de LIFEL1K3 me aburrió esta vida y la otra. Después de la pelea final en Babel del primer libro y de que Eve descubriera que era una lifelike y que la verdadera Anna estaba escondida en una especie de animación suspendida, la historia prometía muchísimo. Pero ¿qué me encontré en DEV1AT3? Un libro que se centró en Lemon Fresh y en Cricket, dos personajes secundarios, y que le dio dos capítulos a la que supuestamente era la protagonista.
Sorry, pero allí me perdieron. Lemon Fresh y Cricket no son ni de lejos tan interesantes como una lifelike que acaba de descubrir que lo es, que toda su vida ha sido una mentira, que todo el mundo le ha ocultado cosas y que, ahora, planea vengarse destruyendo al mundo para darle paso a una nueva era. Y sí, entiendo que las perspectivas de Lemon Fresh y Cricket son importantes para entender un poco más sobre las facciones de los deviates y de los fanáticos de la Brotherhood, pero ¿qué le costaba a Jay Kristoff balancear un poco las cosas y darles más tiempo de página a Eve y a Zeke?
En fin, que lo que pensé durante todo el libro fue una retahíla constante de “ah, okay, vale. No, no me importa. Hmm… sí, ¿y qué? Qué aburrido… ¿Cuántas páginas me faltan? Joder… Y nada que aparece Eve, ugh”.
Es muy probable que lea el último libro de la trilogía única y exclusivamente porque ya llegué tan lejos, pero, vamos, no voy a esperar mucho.
March 27, 2020
3.5/5 stars ~ I wish I could have rated this higher, trust me I really wanted to but in my opinion it just didn't quite live up to the expectations set by Lifelike. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2019 but I have to say I found the pace to be a bit slow and the perspectives not as interesting as Eve's in the first book which I enjoyed a lot more. I struggled to binge this book because I was already in a slump and it didn't quite hook my attention. I was hoping for more solid plot twists so I was a bit disappointed by the lack of excitement I experienced while reading this. I still enjoyed reading about the turn of events the story took after the cliffhanger in Lifelike and the journey each character embarked on but I think I am far more interested in Eve and the Lifelikes revenge plot :/ It was cool reading about other deviates and Lemon's little gang, I'm curious to find out about where they will end up after that ending. Cricket's character development was also a nice surprise that I wasn't expecting :) Fingers crossed the next book has more plot twists and lot more of Eve! A special thanks to Allen & Unwin NZ for sending me an ARC of this book.
September 26, 2024
4,5 stars A fun and quick ride
August 28, 2019
Amazing! Great characters, entertaining dialogue, terrific story and action, action, action. What more could anyone ask for!
Poor Ezekiel - I cannot imagine what the future holds for him. Poor Fix - the less said about that the better. There were sad moments and fun moments and lot of people and non people dying not very nice deaths. The battles are hugely exciting and the author's imagination knows no bounds. Those hive ladies were just incredible.
And the totally abrupt ending means we are left hanging for the next book. Soon please Mr. Kristoff!
Poor Ezekiel - I cannot imagine what the future holds for him. Poor Fix - the less said about that the better. There were sad moments and fun moments and lot of people and non people dying not very nice deaths. The battles are hugely exciting and the author's imagination knows no bounds. Those hive ladies were just incredible.
And the totally abrupt ending means we are left hanging for the next book. Soon please Mr. Kristoff!
May 6, 2020
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When you're looking down the barrel at your own funeral,
even doing something stupid sounds better
than doing nothing at all.
Jay Kristoff wastes no time in DEV1AT3: the reader hits the ground running and there's barely a break until the end of this trilogy's second installment.
Picking up right where we left off in LIFEL1K3, the band of friends has split up and they all find themselves along different parts of the Yusay. Some are stranded on their own and forced to become partners with unlikely new “friends,” others are attempting to come together again, and one of them is determined to make a new path for herself.
The swiftness with which Eve went to the dark side felt off to me in book one, and it still rubs me the wrong way in book two. I know that this is a “girl” who has had her life dictated for her from the moment of her duplicitous creation, and she is entitled to feel resentment at that—even outright anger. But Eve took no shortcuts, she went from surprise and rage to outright evil-doing and a entered a bond with a group that want to destroy some of those that she held dear. It doesn't help that we don't spend a lot of time in Eve's mind in DEV1AT3, so it's not easy for me to even attempt to see things from her perspective. She's in the background, causing mayhem, and I see her through the betrayed eyes of those who are as shocked as me to see her murdering who are, for the most part, innocent bystanders in her quest.
And hot on her heels was Ezekiel with Preacher. Preacher has grown on me. He is a dastardly character, but an example of how one can still win you over through action and personality, through involvement into his way of being. I knew what he would do once he and Ezekiel reached the finish line, and still, I can't help but admire the resourcefulness of this man, terrible as it may be at times. As far as Ezekiel goes, a lot of the shine has been wiped from his eyes and they are opening up, he's growing, and it's good to see. Now, rather than driving himself forward for the mere sake of the love he feels for Ana, there are much bigger stakes to fight for and he knows it. This special snowflake is maturing.
My two favorite little ones continue to be Cricket and Lemon... Both of them, it the thick of the Brotherhood's circle were some of the best and most exciting scenes in this book, and I lived for them. Not only is the Brotherhood a perfect example of what happens when religious fanaticism goes a step too far and three steps around the wrong corner, but the fight that Lemon and her new crew put up against them is purely badass. These kids are gutsy, funny, full of life and ready to spit in your face if you try to keep them down. I am still sad about the loss in this new band, even though I didn't know this character for long, but that just goes to show how easily you fall for this cast.
Building up throughout DEV1AT3, the final chapters were nail-biters. The anxiety went up a few high notches, and I am still completely in limbo over what happened to some of these guys after that wild explosion may or may not have wiped out an entire settlement. Whenever you think you know how this plot is going to continue, whenever you start to see everyone get even close to reuniting, whenever anything seems to begin to be solved... You know nothing, everyone is torn apart again, and there are still so many pieces to gather before the full puzzle is completed.
If LIFELIK3 was intriguing, DEV1AT3 just takes things several steps further. At this point, I am not sure there are limits to the things that anyone is willing to do to get what they want, but I know that I want to find out.
When you're looking down the barrel at your own funeral,
even doing something stupid sounds better
than doing nothing at all.
Jay Kristoff wastes no time in DEV1AT3: the reader hits the ground running and there's barely a break until the end of this trilogy's second installment.
Picking up right where we left off in LIFEL1K3, the band of friends has split up and they all find themselves along different parts of the Yusay. Some are stranded on their own and forced to become partners with unlikely new “friends,” others are attempting to come together again, and one of them is determined to make a new path for herself.
The swiftness with which Eve went to the dark side felt off to me in book one, and it still rubs me the wrong way in book two. I know that this is a “girl” who has had her life dictated for her from the moment of her duplicitous creation, and she is entitled to feel resentment at that—even outright anger. But Eve took no shortcuts, she went from surprise and rage to outright evil-doing and a entered a bond with a group that want to destroy some of those that she held dear. It doesn't help that we don't spend a lot of time in Eve's mind in DEV1AT3, so it's not easy for me to even attempt to see things from her perspective. She's in the background, causing mayhem, and I see her through the betrayed eyes of those who are as shocked as me to see her murdering who are, for the most part, innocent bystanders in her quest.
And hot on her heels was Ezekiel with Preacher. Preacher has grown on me. He is a dastardly character, but an example of how one can still win you over through action and personality, through involvement into his way of being. I knew what he would do once he and Ezekiel reached the finish line, and still, I can't help but admire the resourcefulness of this man, terrible as it may be at times. As far as Ezekiel goes, a lot of the shine has been wiped from his eyes and they are opening up, he's growing, and it's good to see. Now, rather than driving himself forward for the mere sake of the love he feels for Ana, there are much bigger stakes to fight for and he knows it. This special snowflake is maturing.
My two favorite little ones continue to be Cricket and Lemon... Both of them, it the thick of the Brotherhood's circle were some of the best and most exciting scenes in this book, and I lived for them. Not only is the Brotherhood a perfect example of what happens when religious fanaticism goes a step too far and three steps around the wrong corner, but the fight that Lemon and her new crew put up against them is purely badass. These kids are gutsy, funny, full of life and ready to spit in your face if you try to keep them down. I am still sad about the loss in this new band, even though I didn't know this character for long, but that just goes to show how easily you fall for this cast.
Building up throughout DEV1AT3, the final chapters were nail-biters. The anxiety went up a few high notches, and I am still completely in limbo over what happened to some of these guys after that wild explosion may or may not have wiped out an entire settlement. Whenever you think you know how this plot is going to continue, whenever you start to see everyone get even close to reuniting, whenever anything seems to begin to be solved... You know nothing, everyone is torn apart again, and there are still so many pieces to gather before the full puzzle is completed.
If LIFELIK3 was intriguing, DEV1AT3 just takes things several steps further. At this point, I am not sure there are limits to the things that anyone is willing to do to get what they want, but I know that I want to find out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2019
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
The Buzz
I really enjoyed Lemon Fresh in LifeL1k3. She was a breath of fresh air and I really hurt for her and Ezekial at the end of the first book. So I was dying to check out the sequel where our side kick takes center stage...
I think the title Dev1at3 totally suits Lemon's story and goes with the LifeL1k3 moniker quite well. I don't hate the cover design. I think in person it would probably be quite stunning in an understated sort of way. I wish it matched LifeL1k3's cover a bit more. They use the same honeycomb shape but side by side they don't feel like they're from the same series if it wasn't for the names.
The Premise
For Dev1at3 we pull away from Eve's POV and only follow her in certain climatic moments. And our favorite BFF takes center stage! We pick up where we left off in LifeL1k3... Lemon Fresh, Ezekiel and Cricket are estranged from their girl, Eve. Now they've got to figure out what to do... and circumstances happen that they are separated. I know this is vague but if you want more the premise reveals way more. Suffice to say these three stay close to one another but take their own journey through the wastes. Never fear though this isn't the last we've seen of the lifel1k3s either.
I read a lot of Jay Kristoff and I have to say one reason is the man knows how to plot. He keeps the pace swift, the characters fun and the plot twisty and moving forward. TBH I'm not always shocked by his twists, and there is a moment in Dev1at3 that felt quite contrived to me, but it was complicated, it was tense and I enjoyed the heck out of it! There are nailings, explosions, chases, rockets, mech battles, shootouts and self harm!! And the villains made me cry and wail in despair for my precious characters that deserve all the love instead of all the abandonment and manipulation they received.
My Experience
When I started Dev1at3 I totally jumped on all the POVs! I LOVED it. I wasn't bored or loving one of them over the other. It felt really natural how Lemon came to be parted from Cricket and Ezekiel. Even the bond that forms between her and her captor felt spot on to me. There is a moment for Ezekiel too that made my heart feel crushed for him. We all knew it was coming but you can't help but feel for a machine that has gone through such a soul changing journey.
Lemon Fresh, Ezekiel and Cricket meet new characters and I universally loved them all! Each one allies with different characters and I was really taken with our little group of Deviates that Lemon meets. Major struck me right away as a powerful figure and I loved how he figured in everything. And Cricket makes a couple of friends that were dynamite!! My absolute favorite, is a robot that totally steals the spotlight due to his bromance with straight-laced Cricket. And even Ezekiel makes the decision to take on another in his chase, brave, stupid and makes total sense. All of this new blood totally enlivened Dev1at3 for me and made the wild ride worth reading.
Jay Kristoff knows how to rev our engines. He doesn't like for everyone to survive their encounters in his books and Dev1at3 is no different. Sometimes this means skewing events so certain things happen that aren't natural. There was a moment like this and it really irritated me, but it was just a moment. The ending doesn't disappoint but sets us up for the final installment without making Dev1at3 any less of a powerful part of the story.
Why was the sequel, Dev1at3, better than LifeL1k3?
-Lemon Fresh!
I would not be surprised if you said she was your favorite character. And she is the protagonist and goes on a soul searing journey that will break your heart.
-Cricket's Bromance!
It doesn't happen right away but he meets the right robot and a connection is made... It totally changes his life and leads to tough choices for our battle bot.
-Deviates vs. The Brotherhood!
This is a war I didn't even know I wanted. We explore some key players and then get to be on the sidelines as tensions explode between them.
-Ezekiel's Realization!
Such a good lifelike... you really want him to find happiness. But Eve is so mad! And something has got to break...
-Oh no, its a missile!!
The finale is incredible and fun and outrageous. I totally loved it and this is the only hint I'm going to give you but yeah, you can't skip this middle book!!
Dev1at3 is a great sequel to LifeL1k3... in fact, dare I say its better!! Lemon Fresh takes center stage along with our lovelorn Ezekiel and our straight-laced Cricket and takes us on a wild ride to meet more of the denizens involved in the war of the wastes! “Sometimes you don't know you've crossed the line till you're on the other side.”And now I'm ready for the final book of the LifeL1k3 series!! Bring it on!!
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
A- Cover & Title grade
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. Read my special perspective under the typewriter on my reviews...
Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!
February 16, 2022
A really fun ride with lots of new characters that I loved and emphasis on some oldies (Lemon and Cricket, yay!!) while putting some on the back burner (Eve and the Snowflakes, phew).
Lots happened and of course there's a cliffhanger, but it was well done and I'm really looking forward to the next one.
There are some typical Kristoff YA plot holes but as usual, suspend critical thinking, sit back and enjoy the ride without taking anything too seriously and you'll be 'right.
Lots happened and of course there's a cliffhanger, but it was well done and I'm really looking forward to the next one.
There are some typical Kristoff YA plot holes but as usual, suspend critical thinking, sit back and enjoy the ride without taking anything too seriously and you'll be 'right.
Want to read
August 10, 2018
I've come to the conclusion that (along with a couple of other authors) I should just set up a direct debit out of my account each month to go directly into Jay Kristoff's bank account. This would cut out the middle man and let's face it I'm going to end up buying whatever book is the new release eventually so might as well do it in installments. This is my long ass winded way of saying he is an autobuy and I can't wait for this because I loved Lifel1k3.
August 26, 2019
ughhhh the wait for the next book WILL be the death of me guys.
DEV1AT3 was such an amazing book. I'm so mad that it took me forever to dive into it but let me tell you - it did not disappoint. I can't believe that I missed everyone so much since I re-read LIFEL1K3. It's weird but oddly comforting. So, when I dove into this book it kind of felt a bit nostalgic.
I will admit that I was a bit disappointed that this mainly focused around Lemon.. but towards the end I think my opinion changed for the better. At least for that character. I did love the whole Eve vs Ana thing but I'm still not a fan of Eve's 'siblings'. After all of that, I couldn't remember who my favorite character was in the first book but I know for damn sure that Cricket is mine with this one. Love that robot to pieces.
Other than all of that, I didn't like the ending and I hate waiting. Ugh, I need the next book NOW.
DEV1AT3 was such an amazing book. I'm so mad that it took me forever to dive into it but let me tell you - it did not disappoint. I can't believe that I missed everyone so much since I re-read LIFEL1K3. It's weird but oddly comforting. So, when I dove into this book it kind of felt a bit nostalgic.
I will admit that I was a bit disappointed that this mainly focused around Lemon.. but towards the end I think my opinion changed for the better. At least for that character. I did love the whole Eve vs Ana thing but I'm still not a fan of Eve's 'siblings'. After all of that, I couldn't remember who my favorite character was in the first book but I know for damn sure that Cricket is mine with this one. Love that robot to pieces.
Other than all of that, I didn't like the ending and I hate waiting. Ugh, I need the next book NOW.
May 20, 2020
Never--and I mean never...read a Jay Kristoff book and think you'll be okay with it ending and you not having the sequel with you. You'll always end up being these dogs:
April 20, 2020
*2020* I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT AN ARC OF THIS.
but here we are. LETS GOOOOO
the ending of this is a damn thing gave me a heart attack.
my poor babies.
and fyi
July 29, 2019
DEV1AT3 is far more awesome than Book 1. I'm looking forward to Book 3.
March 21, 2022
“People fear the future. And that’s what you are.”
You will not be surprised to hear that in Dev1at3 we… well, we deviate from the course set by the previous book. Firstly, the little band is split and splintered and our protagonists must fight for survival against a set of adverse factors. Your main POWs are Lemon caught between BioMass and her own people; Ezekiel forced into a partnership of convenience with an enemy; and Cricket subjugated by humans who see him as an “it.” There is also an occasional Evie as a bonus (meh, she really doesn’t contribute much).
The main arcs and grand bifurcation points are perfections in terms of logic and the dynamic of the story. The key characters and their paths are fastidiously planned. Make no mistake, there is no room for coincidence and improvisation here, we even get a little premonition party where Mr Kristoff subtly lets us know he planned torture and torment (to quote: misery and pain and death) on the way ahead.
And roughly, you can expect all three of the above but there is also fun to be had as Dedalus Technologies with their cyborgs and machines, BioMass Inc. with their half-animal half-human hybrids and organic weapons, and the Snowflake remnants of Gnosis vie for their modest life goals of world domination (who wouldn’t relate?). Throw in an entrepreneurial cult into the mix, season with your typical outcasts assortment and you are good to go.
“No heroics, just heroes.”
As the title suggests, the motif of deviation (from the norm, whatever that norm might be) is explored in depth, and when I say in-depth I mean down to Mr Darwin. The Brotherhood is nicely employed here and even though I hate this take on religion, I admit that the religiosity card was deftly played.
We had machines (robots and lifelikes) vs people, now it is more about homo sapiens (the Brotherhood) and the homo superior (the deviates).
There are some existential questions that beg to be answered, and when I write “beg,” it’s the same begging the nuclear missile does when it explodes. Does a changed body change us? Do we become someone else when the external layer transforms (Cricket)? Or is our inner core a constant, an axis for our intimate self regardless of what happen on the exterior (Evie)? The book is about unbecoming as much as it is about character growth, and admittedly because we YA, all of the protagonists have some growing up to do.
I equally liked the debates on the letter versus the spirit of the laws especially that it leads to the exploration of the grey areas between them but also to discerning those moments when there is, there really is only back and white. When you need to choose and the choice will be against a simple cost-benefit calculation. Especially when the mathematics of rationality is pitched against the chemistry of friendship and love.
Friendships are something of a speciality for Mr Kristoff so you can expect the feels. He also creates outwardly paradoxical characters with equal ease and so it is always fun to read about those (a macho secretly devouring bodice rippers is one example, but there are more of those delicious bits). Romance is there but it is toned down, yay. When the warm fuzzy feelings started in Lemon’s belly, I was really scared we will get a full metalalchemist triangle here but thankfully we veered towards from enemies to lovers.
Although Lemon moves to the front row, Solomon definitely stole the show (NOT TOO BRIGHT, I SEE. YOU MUST BE BEST FRIENDS THEN.) but there are also other new characters to love and hate.
Overall, it would be more than satisfactory if not for the fact that while the basic points of the story make sense, Mr Kristoff frequently gets lost in details of the mess he created. The pace is somewhat slow and I wasn’t too pressed to finish by an impending sense of doom because we know that until the heroes get together again, nothing of importance can happen. In this sense, everything that they go through in this instalment merely delays the inevitable. Get on with it. True cert.
Also in the series:
1. LIFEL1K3 ★★★☆☆
3. TRUEL1F3 ★★☆☆☆
You will not be surprised to hear that in Dev1at3 we… well, we deviate from the course set by the previous book. Firstly, the little band is split and splintered and our protagonists must fight for survival against a set of adverse factors. Your main POWs are Lemon caught between BioMass and her own people; Ezekiel forced into a partnership of convenience with an enemy; and Cricket subjugated by humans who see him as an “it.” There is also an occasional Evie as a bonus (meh, she really doesn’t contribute much).
The main arcs and grand bifurcation points are perfections in terms of logic and the dynamic of the story. The key characters and their paths are fastidiously planned. Make no mistake, there is no room for coincidence and improvisation here, we even get a little premonition party where Mr Kristoff subtly lets us know he planned torture and torment (to quote: misery and pain and death) on the way ahead.
And roughly, you can expect all three of the above but there is also fun to be had as Dedalus Technologies with their cyborgs and machines, BioMass Inc. with their half-animal half-human hybrids and organic weapons, and the Snowflake remnants of Gnosis vie for their modest life goals of world domination (who wouldn’t relate?). Throw in an entrepreneurial cult into the mix, season with your typical outcasts assortment and you are good to go.
“No heroics, just heroes.”
As the title suggests, the motif of deviation (from the norm, whatever that norm might be) is explored in depth, and when I say in-depth I mean down to Mr Darwin. The Brotherhood is nicely employed here and even though I hate this take on religion, I admit that the religiosity card was deftly played.
We had machines (robots and lifelikes) vs people, now it is more about homo sapiens (the Brotherhood) and the homo superior (the deviates).
There are some existential questions that beg to be answered, and when I write “beg,” it’s the same begging the nuclear missile does when it explodes. Does a changed body change us? Do we become someone else when the external layer transforms (Cricket)? Or is our inner core a constant, an axis for our intimate self regardless of what happen on the exterior (Evie)? The book is about unbecoming as much as it is about character growth, and admittedly because we YA, all of the protagonists have some growing up to do.
I equally liked the debates on the letter versus the spirit of the laws especially that it leads to the exploration of the grey areas between them but also to discerning those moments when there is, there really is only back and white. When you need to choose and the choice will be against a simple cost-benefit calculation. Especially when the mathematics of rationality is pitched against the chemistry of friendship and love.
Friendships are something of a speciality for Mr Kristoff so you can expect the feels. He also creates outwardly paradoxical characters with equal ease and so it is always fun to read about those (a macho secretly devouring bodice rippers is one example, but there are more of those delicious bits). Romance is there but it is toned down, yay. When the warm fuzzy feelings started in Lemon’s belly, I was really scared we will get a full metal
Although Lemon moves to the front row, Solomon definitely stole the show (NOT TOO BRIGHT, I SEE. YOU MUST BE BEST FRIENDS THEN.) but there are also other new characters to love and hate.
Overall, it would be more than satisfactory if not for the fact that while the basic points of the story make sense, Mr Kristoff frequently gets lost in details of the mess he created. The pace is somewhat slow and I wasn’t too pressed to finish by an impending sense of doom because we know that until the heroes get together again, nothing of importance can happen. In this sense, everything that they go through in this instalment merely delays the inevitable. Get on with it. True cert.
Also in the series:
1. LIFEL1K3 ★★★☆☆
3. TRUEL1F3 ★★☆☆☆
June 22, 2019
As soon as I found out this was a book with Lemon Fresh, I was all over it. Then the first page was a glossary slash refresher of all of the characters and I couldn’t stop grinning.
I loved Lemon so much. I was thrilled to get so much time in her head. She’s snarky and maybe a little prickly, but really the softest of marshmallows. There are a few new characters, but I’m going to leave that super vague. Same for what’s going on with the old characters.
Plot wise, it starts with a bang and doesn’t let go. It’s filled with robot battles and explosions and killer bees and rifts opening in the sky and so many other things that could be spoilery. My main complaint is that I never really felt settled into the story. There are so many pieces and so many directions and it was a bit much for me.
Overall, it’s one hell of a roller coaster and as usual the ending makes me want book 3 right now.
**Huge thanks Knopf BFYR for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Lemon so much. I was thrilled to get so much time in her head. She’s snarky and maybe a little prickly, but really the softest of marshmallows. There are a few new characters, but I’m going to leave that super vague. Same for what’s going on with the old characters.
Plot wise, it starts with a bang and doesn’t let go. It’s filled with robot battles and explosions and killer bees and rifts opening in the sky and so many other things that could be spoilery. My main complaint is that I never really felt settled into the story. There are so many pieces and so many directions and it was a bit much for me.
Overall, it’s one hell of a roller coaster and as usual the ending makes me want book 3 right now.
**Huge thanks Knopf BFYR for providing the arc free of charge**
June 26, 2019
ARC provided by Knopf Books in exchange for an honest review.
I had so much fun reading this one, y’all. I really loved LIFEL1KE, and this sequel did not disappoint. I will admit, however, that I didn’t love it as much as the first book. But that’s just because I had a few issues with the pacing and some of the predictable twists (which, honestly, is not a bad thing.)
DEV1AT3 picks up right after the events in LIFEL1K3. The group is separated into four POVs: Lemon Fresh, Cricket, Eve, and Ezekiel. Lemon Fresh finds a group of deviates hiding in a bunker, Cricket, no longer a small bot, gets taken in by a cult, Eve is off doing her own weird shit (I know, I’m being vague), and Ezekiel teams up with an old favorite of mine.
I’m going to start out by saying that one of my favorite themes in this series is the friendships and found families. DEV1AT3 still holds true to those themes. Even when Lemon Fresh lives among fellow deviates, she’s always fiercely determined to go out to find the friends she was separated from. And Cricket will forever have my heart. He has so much character growth for a bot, and I want nothing more than for him to be happy!
And while we all know how things ended with Eve in the last book, I can assure you the religious references and vigilantism is still strong in this one. I will say Eve’s POV was probably my least favorite, though, because it wasn’t quite the main focus in this installment.
But the huge new plot line in this book is the Brotherhood, and how it mirrors some wild cult behavior we are seeing today. The Brotherhood is basically out there trying to erase all deviates (people who have “different” abilities) And wow… if that isn’t a giant metaphor for xenophobia and racism we still see today in America…
Overall I immensely enjoyed this sequel, and in true Kristoff fashion, we are left with some more questions than answers! But I adored the journey, and the banter, and the action. I’m already looking forward to the final book!
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August 3, 2019
what a fun sequel!! i think i enjoyed this one more than the 1st book! i love there is mini Glossary on the front of the book so youll remember anything that happened on the 1st book!
The Story centered more on on Sidekicks characters on book 1 which i enjoyed immensely! I love Cricket, Zeke and Lemon Fresh so it was so funnnn to be inside their heads in this book
So many actions and robot fights and super powers mixed with funny banters typical Jay Kristoff
Just like LIFEL1K3 i found some of the worldbuilding was too crazy and i just couldnt wrap my head on it 😅😅 but the characters.. oh the characters keep me turning on the pages!! Once again Jay Kristoff proofs he is such an amazing storyteller
The Story centered more on on Sidekicks characters on book 1 which i enjoyed immensely! I love Cricket, Zeke and Lemon Fresh so it was so funnnn to be inside their heads in this book
So many actions and robot fights and super powers mixed with funny banters typical Jay Kristoff
Just like LIFEL1K3 i found some of the worldbuilding was too crazy and i just couldnt wrap my head on it 😅😅 but the characters.. oh the characters keep me turning on the pages!! Once again Jay Kristoff proofs he is such an amazing storyteller
July 5, 2020
There’s not a single dull moment to be found in this book! Such a thrilling and fast-paced read that left me aching more!
Not sure how I feel yet about some developments as well as the amount of ‘slang’ being present and used a bit too much at times... but it’s forgive-able seeing how much I enjoyed reading this book from beginning till end.
I loved the characters, human and non-human as well (maybe the non-human characters even more so, lol), a lot, and also really liked meeting all the new ones, who were a good and interesting addition to the storyline.
Overall, this book is a really great read and a very good sequel to LIFEL1K3 and when you liked the first book, you won’t be disappointed by this one either (even though I still have my doubts about some developments haha). I definitely recommend picking this one up and I can’t believe that it took me so long to do so. In the end, I now read it with two book buddies of mine as a buddyread, which was a lot more fun anyway; to read it together.
Not sure how I feel yet about some developments as well as the amount of ‘slang’ being present and used a bit too much at times... but it’s forgive-able seeing how much I enjoyed reading this book from beginning till end.
I loved the characters, human and non-human as well (maybe the non-human characters even more so, lol), a lot, and also really liked meeting all the new ones, who were a good and interesting addition to the storyline.
Overall, this book is a really great read and a very good sequel to LIFEL1K3 and when you liked the first book, you won’t be disappointed by this one either (even though I still have my doubts about some developments haha). I definitely recommend picking this one up and I can’t believe that it took me so long to do so. In the end, I now read it with two book buddies of mine as a buddyread, which was a lot more fun anyway; to read it together.
September 20, 2020
Some minor spoilers for Lifel1k3
Things I know about Jay Kristoff.
Dev1at3 starts out just after the events of Lifel1k3 and our characters have ended up in some precarious situations. Evie might has lost her mind, Ezekiel has definitely list his heart, Cricket might have gained a body but he lost his mistress and Lemon, well Lem has lost her bestest which felt like the biggest loss of all.
I don’t want to give away too many details of the story since the discovery of them is where all the fun lies.
Lemon is used to being the sidekick girl, she was comic relief and the fun banter partner, now she is thrust into the role of the main character.
She has both of the biggest corps on her tail, one wants to destroy her and the other wants to use her to destroy. But first things first she needs to find something to help with the radiation poisoning she is feeling.
Zeke, is trying to do the write thing but when he gets separated from Lemon, he makes a few questionable choices and decides to trust someone that probably shouldn’t be trusted. More still he is pulled in so many directions. Who does he save? Lemon Fresh the girl he’s known a few weeks and made a promise to. Anna, the girl he loved and lost. Or, Evie the girl he thought was Anna, who was more than he could have dreamed.
Cricket has always wanted to be big but now he is in the body of a Goliath it doesn’t seem like everything it is cracked up to be and being in the middle of Brotherhood territory is no fun for a bot at all. He needs to find a way to get back to the people he really cares about and not end up wiped in the process.
Eve, oh Eve. She is having a little bit of a breakdown and might have taken a few things a little too far. It seems when the blinders were pulled off she kinda swung hard the other direction and her friends should be very afraid both for her and of her.
A few new characters are introduced that have some powers like Lemon and the roots of the Brotherhood are explained in this. Plus, we get to see more of the Yousay and the all the destruction it has gone through since war 4.0. I really like seeing how the two big Corporations took very different roads to become behemoths in there bid to control the world. One is all tech and the other is more genetic modification.
But be prepared with Truel1f3 in hand because this is going to end with a bang and you’ll want to jump into the next book right away.
Things I know about Jay Kristoff.
① - He isn’t afraid to take chances with his characters and stories.
❷ - He probably is sustained by the tears of his readers.
③ - He write friendships really well.
❹ - He really seems to enjoy worlds with a lot of devastation due to over pollution.
⑤ - Just because you think you know where the story is going don’t get too comfortable because things are about to change.
Dev1at3 starts out just after the events of Lifel1k3 and our characters have ended up in some precarious situations. Evie might has lost her mind, Ezekiel has definitely list his heart, Cricket might have gained a body but he lost his mistress and Lemon, well Lem has lost her bestest which felt like the biggest loss of all.
I don’t want to give away too many details of the story since the discovery of them is where all the fun lies.
Lemon is used to being the sidekick girl, she was comic relief and the fun banter partner, now she is thrust into the role of the main character.
She has both of the biggest corps on her tail, one wants to destroy her and the other wants to use her to destroy. But first things first she needs to find something to help with the radiation poisoning she is feeling.
Zeke, is trying to do the write thing but when he gets separated from Lemon, he makes a few questionable choices and decides to trust someone that probably shouldn’t be trusted. More still he is pulled in so many directions. Who does he save? Lemon Fresh the girl he’s known a few weeks and made a promise to. Anna, the girl he loved and lost. Or, Evie the girl he thought was Anna, who was more than he could have dreamed.
Affection’s a two-way street, son. Anything else is just obsession.”
Cricket has always wanted to be big but now he is in the body of a Goliath it doesn’t seem like everything it is cracked up to be and being in the middle of Brotherhood territory is no fun for a bot at all. He needs to find a way to get back to the people he really cares about and not end up wiped in the process.
Eve, oh Eve. She is having a little bit of a breakdown and might have taken a few things a little too far. It seems when the blinders were pulled off she kinda swung hard the other direction and her friends should be very afraid both for her and of her.
“Sometimes you don't know you've crossed the line till you're on the other side.”
A few new characters are introduced that have some powers like Lemon and the roots of the Brotherhood are explained in this. Plus, we get to see more of the Yousay and the all the destruction it has gone through since war 4.0. I really like seeing how the two big Corporations took very different roads to become behemoths in there bid to control the world. One is all tech and the other is more genetic modification.
But be prepared with Truel1f3 in hand because this is going to end with a bang and you’ll want to jump into the next book right away.
October 6, 2019
4.5 stars. I liked this better than the first one! This was very much Lemon Fresh’s book and I am glad it was. She really gets put through the wringer both physically and emotionally in this one. I loved Cricket, Solomon and Preacher too. The last 25% was amazing!
October 31, 2022
Sei stata spaventata per troppo tempo. La gente teme quello che è diverso. Che non può controllare. Ha paura del futuro. E questo è ciò che sei, miss Fresh. Il futuro. E la gente farebbe bene ad avere paura di te. Perché non sei sola.
4,5 - Se il primo mi era piaciuto, questo l'ho letto in un giorno (di sabato; lo ricorderò come uno dei pochi sabati in cui me ne sono stata a leggere in panciolle, senza rimorsi e con i familiari altrove, immersa in una bolla magica) e l'ho concluso più gasata che mai.
Come avevo notato in precedenza, personaggi e scrittura (nei limiti in cui lo è lo stile talora cruento e cinico di zio Jay) lo rendono uno YA e il clima generale si mantiene sempre fumettistico, fracassone e sopra le righe, e bla bla, ma che caspita di serie: divertente, emozionante, non riesci a staccartene.
Questo, peraltro, si è rivelato il mio volume preferito, in tutto e per tutto: si parte con la marcia ingranata, esattamente da dove eravamo rimasti, e si prosegue accelerando a più non posso.
Kristoff ci dona soprese e brividi a ogni scena, con un continuo alternarsi di certi personaggi dal lato buono e da quello oscuro.
Amo Lem, amo Lemon Fresh, perché è una quindicenne sciocchina e sognatrice, che ostenta l'aria da dura per sopravvivere nelle discariche e in un territorio (il mitico Yousay) irradiato dopo la guerra mondiale 3.0 e devastato ulteriormente dopo l'insurrezione cyborg 4.0.
In questa irriconoscibile terra post-apocalittica, ricoperta ora di deserto vetrificato, ora di rifiuti e plastica, tantissima plastica, si muovono i sopravvissuti del disastro, che parrebbero non aver capito nulla degli errori delle generazioni precedenti: pregiudizi e bigottismo religioso, invidie economiche e spionaggio industriale all'ennesima potenza, umani che considerano oggetti e schiavi i logika e i makina, e poi androidi iper evoluti che non accettano di restare mere creazioni, ma pretendono di sostituirsi ai loro creatori.
Ma in tanta bruttura, c'è ancora speranza, c'è ancora il tempo per gustarsi una barretta liofilizzata e fare festa, c'è il tempo per gli amici e cercare le proprie origini. Persino per leggere un vecchissimo romanzo rosa, sopravvissuto alla catastrofe (qui sono ufficialmente scoppiata ridere... geniale).
«Resta qui, Lentiggini.»
«Vericerto» annuì lei. «Sono troppo carina per morire.»
4,5 - Se il primo mi era piaciuto, questo l'ho letto in un giorno (di sabato; lo ricorderò come uno dei pochi sabati in cui me ne sono stata a leggere in panciolle, senza rimorsi e con i familiari altrove, immersa in una bolla magica) e l'ho concluso più gasata che mai.
Come avevo notato in precedenza, personaggi e scrittura (nei limiti in cui lo è lo stile talora cruento e cinico di zio Jay) lo rendono uno YA e il clima generale si mantiene sempre fumettistico, fracassone e sopra le righe, e bla bla, ma che caspita di serie: divertente, emozionante, non riesci a staccartene.
Questo, peraltro, si è rivelato il mio volume preferito, in tutto e per tutto: si parte con la marcia ingranata, esattamente da dove eravamo rimasti, e si prosegue accelerando a più non posso.
Kristoff ci dona soprese e brividi a ogni scena, con un continuo alternarsi di certi personaggi dal lato buono e da quello oscuro.
Amo Lem, amo Lemon Fresh, perché è una quindicenne sciocchina e sognatrice, che ostenta l'aria da dura per sopravvivere nelle discariche e in un territorio (il mitico Yousay) irradiato dopo la guerra mondiale 3.0 e devastato ulteriormente dopo l'insurrezione cyborg 4.0.
In questa irriconoscibile terra post-apocalittica, ricoperta ora di deserto vetrificato, ora di rifiuti e plastica, tantissima plastica, si muovono i sopravvissuti del disastro, che parrebbero non aver capito nulla degli errori delle generazioni precedenti: pregiudizi e bigottismo religioso, invidie economiche e spionaggio industriale all'ennesima potenza, umani che considerano oggetti e schiavi i logika e i makina, e poi androidi iper evoluti che non accettano di restare mere creazioni, ma pretendono di sostituirsi ai loro creatori.
Ma in tanta bruttura, c'è ancora speranza, c'è ancora il tempo per gustarsi una barretta liofilizzata e fare festa, c'è il tempo per gli amici e cercare le proprie origini. Persino per leggere un vecchissimo romanzo rosa, sopravvissuto alla catastrofe (qui sono ufficialmente scoppiata ridere... geniale).
«Resta qui, Lentiggini.»
«Vericerto» annuì lei. «Sono troppo carina per morire.»
Want to read
April 14, 20212021 update: never was a fan of Kristoff's writing the more I read of it . . . and since all the Twitter revelations of just HOW problematic he unapologetically (dare I even say gleefully) is, I'm taking my stars away from his books. Also, my waning interest has now been sufficiently squashed in any of his future writings and that's 100% on him.
this is a 100% appropriate reaction to that cover
this is a 100% appropriate reaction to that cover
September 8, 2019
I absolutely loved the first book in this series , the second book suffered of that lack of surprising twist since everyone had a role already. There were some attempts at surprising twists but none as radical as the first book, that being said I did enjoyed this book as a sequel because while it wasn’t perfect it did not extinguish my desire to read the next one . Amazing series so far .
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