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Blackout #2
Sparks
The girl's English accent was flat, exhausted. Like she didn’t expect anyone to care about what she was saying; like she wasn’t sure why she was bothering at all. But then, she was British – and, apparently, Northern. And something terrible was happening in the North, and if she was thinking nobody had come to their rescue so far, she was right.
It’s 2034 and the United Kingdom is no more. Now there is only North and South, and the vast concrete Wall that separates the two.
A group of misfit outcasts have saved the North from annihilation – and started an unwinnable war with the brutal, totalitarian Board. Two months later, as the future grows ever bleaker, a mysterious international agency offers a final glimmer of hope.
But the Agency may not be all it seems, and the gang are still reeling from the fallout of their original mission as they wrestle with old demons and fraying loyalties. Plus there’s still the small matter of having a government to overthrow…
It turns out starting the fight is one thing. Finishing it is a whole different story.
It’s 2034 and the United Kingdom is no more. Now there is only North and South, and the vast concrete Wall that separates the two.
A group of misfit outcasts have saved the North from annihilation – and started an unwinnable war with the brutal, totalitarian Board. Two months later, as the future grows ever bleaker, a mysterious international agency offers a final glimmer of hope.
But the Agency may not be all it seems, and the gang are still reeling from the fallout of their original mission as they wrestle with old demons and fraying loyalties. Plus there’s still the small matter of having a government to overthrow…
It turns out starting the fight is one thing. Finishing it is a whole different story.
- GenresYoung AdultDystopia
462 pages, Paperback
Published July 3, 2020
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Kit Mallory
2 books28 followersKit Mallory lives in Bath, UK, and writes YA speculative fiction about underdogs, kickass girls who like to kiss other girls, and mental health. Her debut novel Blackout was shortlisted for the 2016 Mslexia Children's Novel Competition and longlisted for the 2016 Bath Children's Novel Award. She was almost certainly a mermaid in a former life.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 2, 2020
A real accomplishment. Stellar story, with incredibly portrayed characters that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. Highly impressed by the portrayal of mental illness and the themes present in Sparks, and I’m so glad to see queer protagonists being unapologetic and kick-ass heroes. Loved it.
July 22, 2020
Epically Awesome!!!
With the North and South now divided in the UK life has never been more different. Following on from Blackout, we join the characters again in the next leg of their epic adventure for freedom and justice. When they are picked up by The Agency, their talents are put to good use and they promise to help them fight against The Board, but The Agency soon shows itself to not be all it seems and so the fight against the The Board takes an unexpected turn.
EPIC! EPIC! EPIC! I adore this series so much and the sequel has been long awaited and most anticipated. I knew Kit Mallory wouldn’t disappoint with this. Blackout was such a strong novel, especially for Young Adult fiction and so it needed an amazing sequel. Kit has delivered just this. It was exciting, a total thrill, and completely not what I expected at all!
I couldn’t even predicted how this was all going to go after the end of the first book, all I knew was I needed to know!!! To manage to provide such edge of your seat drama, in an action packed adventure takes talent and Kit Mallory’s follow up, Sparks ticked every box I wanted it to and then even more. I was surprised at every moment, excited yet biting my nails with anticipation of what would happen in the next chapter, on the next page. I was gripped!
As soon as I picked this up, I knew there would be no putting it down until I was finished. I have become so emotionally attached to this story and these characters from having met them in Blackout, so for me this was such an emotional read. When you feel this connected to characters you can’t help but feel like you are there with them, a part of them, a part of the action and so you end up swept away in the drama and excitement of the adventure. It was a thrill to be back with the gang, it really was!
There were also brilliant new characters in this sequel, I loved them all, but one in particular really had me adoring them. I hate to love her but Leila is awesome! With all the new characters that were introduced though, I am excited to see if perhaps in Kit’s future works we will get to see any of them.
Now though, I am just sad that this second part is it over! But for me, this will always be one of my favourites and a set of books I return to over and over again. I will definitely be buying a paperback of this to complete my collection! It was just amazing and definitely the best Young Adult categorised series I have ever read. If you haven’t read Blackout then you will need to read it before picking up the sequel, and if you haven’t found this series yet then you really need to read it. It is the most brilliant thing, so creative and imaginative, and scarily could be a reality which makes it so easy to connect with. I really can’t recommend it enough!!!
With the North and South now divided in the UK life has never been more different. Following on from Blackout, we join the characters again in the next leg of their epic adventure for freedom and justice. When they are picked up by The Agency, their talents are put to good use and they promise to help them fight against The Board, but The Agency soon shows itself to not be all it seems and so the fight against the The Board takes an unexpected turn.
EPIC! EPIC! EPIC! I adore this series so much and the sequel has been long awaited and most anticipated. I knew Kit Mallory wouldn’t disappoint with this. Blackout was such a strong novel, especially for Young Adult fiction and so it needed an amazing sequel. Kit has delivered just this. It was exciting, a total thrill, and completely not what I expected at all!
I couldn’t even predicted how this was all going to go after the end of the first book, all I knew was I needed to know!!! To manage to provide such edge of your seat drama, in an action packed adventure takes talent and Kit Mallory’s follow up, Sparks ticked every box I wanted it to and then even more. I was surprised at every moment, excited yet biting my nails with anticipation of what would happen in the next chapter, on the next page. I was gripped!
As soon as I picked this up, I knew there would be no putting it down until I was finished. I have become so emotionally attached to this story and these characters from having met them in Blackout, so for me this was such an emotional read. When you feel this connected to characters you can’t help but feel like you are there with them, a part of them, a part of the action and so you end up swept away in the drama and excitement of the adventure. It was a thrill to be back with the gang, it really was!
There were also brilliant new characters in this sequel, I loved them all, but one in particular really had me adoring them. I hate to love her but Leila is awesome! With all the new characters that were introduced though, I am excited to see if perhaps in Kit’s future works we will get to see any of them.
Now though, I am just sad that this second part is it over! But for me, this will always be one of my favourites and a set of books I return to over and over again. I will definitely be buying a paperback of this to complete my collection! It was just amazing and definitely the best Young Adult categorised series I have ever read. If you haven’t read Blackout then you will need to read it before picking up the sequel, and if you haven’t found this series yet then you really need to read it. It is the most brilliant thing, so creative and imaginative, and scarily could be a reality which makes it so easy to connect with. I really can’t recommend it enough!!!
July 3, 2020
Oh I needed this a brilliant conclusion to the Blackout Duology a near future based rebellion vs dystopia fight back with a lead lesbian romance and also exploration of PTSD and OCD is the story I need for 2020
Full review - a near future based rebellion vs dystopia fight back with a lead lesbian romance and also exploration of PTSD and OCD is the story I needed today.
Full review - a near future based rebellion vs dystopia fight back with a lead lesbian romance and also exploration of PTSD and OCD is the story I needed today.
July 3, 2020
there’s so much darkness in this one but it works so well; and almost all of it is perfectly counterbalanced by lighter moments - whether it’s a moment of humour or a soft glance between the characters! (and you all know how much i love a balanced book!!) it’s also hella queer & the entire story is driven by a chaotic group of wonderful little weirdos. dystopian style fiction isn’t normally my go-to genre but i have to admit that this one (and Blackout - the first in the series) really did keep me hooked the entire time!! definitely check it out if you’re a fan of “if the entire world imploded, what would happen” type narratives!
my copy was very kindly sent to me by the author but this had no influence over my thoughts on the book!!
my copy was very kindly sent to me by the author but this had no influence over my thoughts on the book!!
July 17, 2020
This book was everything I hoped for - and even more.
The tension builds, the Board become an even bigger (and more personal) threat, there's yet more dangerous, life-threatening tension, and I LOVE the new characters introduced. My favourite thing is the honesty of these books, how everything feels raw and real - the love, the trauma, the heartache, and the anxiety of the characters. It's the perfect balance of heartwarming, sweet, and emotional enough to make me bawl for the characters. And the friendship is presented as just as important as romantic love, which makes me love these books even more. Add to that a suspenseful survival plot, a world where you can't trust anyone, and plans that go horribly wrong, and this book is truly unforgettable.
I couldn't have asked for more.
The tension builds, the Board become an even bigger (and more personal) threat, there's yet more dangerous, life-threatening tension, and I LOVE the new characters introduced. My favourite thing is the honesty of these books, how everything feels raw and real - the love, the trauma, the heartache, and the anxiety of the characters. It's the perfect balance of heartwarming, sweet, and emotional enough to make me bawl for the characters. And the friendship is presented as just as important as romantic love, which makes me love these books even more. Add to that a suspenseful survival plot, a world where you can't trust anyone, and plans that go horribly wrong, and this book is truly unforgettable.
I couldn't have asked for more.
July 3, 2020
I was dying to discover what happens next to this crack team of rebellious misfits as soon as I read the final lines of the original Blackout, and I was not disappointed. Sparks had everything I wanted - butts were kicked, safes were cracked and girls kissed girls. All against a smart backdrop of a dystopian UK and an evil dictatorship that must be overthrown.
Excellent read, and a compelling end to the Blackout story. I wish books like this had existed when I was a teen. 10/10.
Excellent read, and a compelling end to the Blackout story. I wish books like this had existed when I was a teen. 10/10.
February 10, 2025
I preferred the first book in the title, but it’s hard to follow-up from something so good and so fresh.
I think it was the author’s debut series and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what else they publish.
I think it was the author’s debut series and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what else they publish.
July 13, 2020
Full review to come later :)
October 30, 2020
In the second book in this series, Angel was one of those with something to lose, and it felt like she was reigning herself in the whole time - and even though it was harshly done, Angel had to work through her PTSD to be able to function a little bit better, instead of closing herself off the whole time. I didn't quite know what to make of Julia Hann - there were times when she could come across as underhandedly manipulative; but she also seemed to be fighting for the greater good and was on the side of Skyler and them.
Despite the fact that Leila was a criminal, I found her conversations entertaining and amusing. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Despite the fact that Leila was a criminal, I found her conversations entertaining and amusing. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews