Delta

The Apex Cycle #2

by M.T. Zimny

Samantha Havardson still isn’t an Apex, but that’s about the only thing she’s sure of anymore. Her family and her identity have splintered and an immortal warrior named Adrestus is at fault. Now, Samantha must scramble to pick up the scattered pieces of her life while juggling high school and being the only kid on Apex Team without super abilities. Things only get more complicated when a cryptic message appears: NEW DELOS WILL BURN.

Samantha’s past continues to bleed into her present, getting in the way of friendships, sword practice, and final exams. While the city runs out of time, Sammy grows increasingly desperate to save the people she loves and her efforts just might land them in more danger than they were in to begin with.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

604 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

MT Zimny is a young adult author in the Pacific Northwest, where she subsists off of rainy days and ungodly amounts of overpriced coffee. She lives with her husband, her daughter, and her golden retriever.

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO PRETEND EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AFTER THAT ENDING??? ABSOLUTELY NOT, NO I REFUSE!!! I'm so upset, I'm on the floor, I'm crying, I hate this book, I LOVE this book. AAAAAA.

The character development in this one is insane, I don't even know how that's possible, but they are even better here than they were in book one. I'd say Andersen developed the most out of everyone, he's not that mean anymore and does somewhat nice things (though not without an ulterior motive, baby steps).

The plot got even more intense and I loved every minute of it. Will they save the city? CAN they even save it or will it all go up in flames? You gotta read to find out. I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole time.

We finally got to see the rest of Samantha's memories and some of them were really heartbreaking (though not as much as the ending and no I will not be forgiving that). The ones with Adrestus were my favourite though, I liked learning more about him.

I also enjoyed getting to know Sergio who's a new character, he didn't have that many scenes but left a lasting impression. I hope we'll see more of him in the final book.

Speaking of, I'm not ready for it to enddddd. I'm in pain. I love these characters so much and I need a hundred more books following them and their adventures.

Also, this series is amazing and by not reading it you are doing a disservice to yourself, so you ought to pick it up now, no time like the present! Chop chop!!

All the stars, duh.

[Boe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on SFFINSIDERS.COM

“I’ll even let that dumb teacher come. First birthday in a thousand years, it’s literally the event of a millennium.”

First of all, I have to start this review by saying, “How dare you,” to M.T. Zimny for what she put me through. I read Delta during a buddy read that we hosted within the SFF Insiders Community Discord, which Zimny helped co-host. This opened up the ability for me to rant and rave at her on the fly, as well as ask questions as I made my way through this emotional roller coaster of a book. If you’ve never joined one of our interactive buddy reads co-hosted by the author, you really should. They are a lot of fun.

Delta by M.T. Zimny
Okay, so let’s get down to business. If you felt like Beta was at level 10 for intensity, Zimny just laughed in your face as she cranked things to 11. Delta sets the stage for what is sure to be one hell of a finale in book three, Epsilon.

If you have been following my reviews for a while or engaging with me online, you know I’m a character-driven reader through and through. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good story and appreciate good world-building, but if I can’t connect with the characters, your book is dead in the water to me. Unlike Samanta, there is no bringing it back to life if your character arcs have no emotional depth.

Thankfully, once again, Zimny drew me in and not only helped me form deeper bonds with the original cast from Beta but also helped me build an emotional attachment to the new characters introduced in Delta. With that said, I’m going to go on record now and say that I will never, ever shed a tear for that jerk Anderson. Phew, okay, now that I got that off my chest, I will admit that the little twerp became much more tolerable this time around compared to book one.

Oftentimes, authors either focus the entire story on one character with blips of side characters that really have no arc to speak of, or they go the other direction and introduce a plethora of characters and arcs that start to feel unwieldy to keep up with.

I believe this is one of Zimny’s many strengths as an author. Not only does the pacing and introductions of new characters feel natural and spot on, but each character has the exact right amount of arc for their role in the story. This allows you to not only remember who they are but to actually care about them (minus that twerp Anderson; gosh, I want to push that guy in front of a bus).

If you haven’t guessed it already based on how Beta ended, this time around we get to dive deeper into Samantha's—or should I say Eydis's—memories. I’ll be honest, some of these are gut-wrenching to relive right alongside her.

"I smiled in spite of myself. It was somehow comforting to think that whoever I was, Sammy, Eydis, or otherwise, I was and always had been a pain in the neck."


Of course, true to form just like in Beta, once again Zimny flexes her mastery of sleight of hand by taking us on more twists and turns. Some you will see coming, while others will misdirect you for an even greater twist. All will make you yell at the book, and some might even make you want to throw it.

There are so many great moments with the cast this time around, some that I promise are going to make you straight up laugh out loud to the point that those around you will wonder if you are okay. A particular bathroom scene is just one of many that will cause this gut reaction.

However, there are also going to be some jaw-dropping, gut-wrenching moments in the story later on that are going to break you. I won’t tell you the exact chapter, as I don’t want to spoil anything for you, but let me just say that if you are a fan of The Walking Dead series, this particular chapter will most likely elicit the same reaction you might have felt watching Glenn’s demise. Fun fact: Zimny shared with us during the buddy read that this particular chapter has gotten more upset reactions out of readers than anything else to date.

Actually, reflecting on that now seems like a good time to point out the world-building aspect of Zimny’s writing. Personally, I think Zimny should be teaching writing workshops for other authors on how to create a world with prose that draws the reader into the story in such a way that you feel like you’re sitting right next to the characters, breathing in the ocean air, coughing up the smoke from the fire, and sitting in shock at how someone managed to do something so stupid yet somehow win a competition in that manner. She does all of this without being overly flowery in execution.

It’s been a few months since I finished reading Delta (I know, I’m the world's worst reviewer since I dragged my feet to put my thoughts down on paper), but even now, as I work on this review, I can reflect back on New Delos in my mind and feel like I’m right there. The way Zimny describes the city, the landmarks, the crowds—all of it feels real and natural. It's as if her stories come to life in my mind, and instead of reading a book, I’m watching a movie. For me as a reader, it's very rare for an author to draw me in to the point where the story comes alive, but for those with the magical ability to unlock that part of my brain, well, they gain auto-buy status on my shelf and also gain someone who will champion their work to anyone who will listen.

All in all, once again I leave fully satisfied, emotionally destroyed, and eager to see where the series ends. I can promise you this: I will be returning to New Delos before the year ends so I can see how things play out in Epsilon. I’m excited to see if the theories I have swarming around in my head pan out, or if M.T. Zimny has used enough smoke and mirrors to throw me off and blindside me again with one last major twist.

[Lauren Fulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It might have taken me four months, and is my only read of 2021 right now, but now I just want to hug Wesley, cry fangirly tears, nd also beg someone to turn this into a TV show.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally nail biting story. WOW. YES. Twisty and honestly people are SLEEPING on this series so ADD IT TO YOUR TBR.

[Brinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGH!!!! What is this ending?! At least I don’t have to wait for the next book. Delta expands so much of the story from Beta. It throws us on another whirlwind of an adventure. It kept me on my toes the entire time, I was very excited to see where it went. Oh boy, I was not expecting everything in this book to happen, but oh my!!! Highly recommend these books, can’t wait to read Epsilon. Yet again, this series needs more hype around it.

[Tee-Hee Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW
One word—WOW! 😱 If you’ve read my review for Beta (Book One in this series), then you know how much I loved it and that I gave it 5 stars! Well, the sequel doesn’t disappoint!!

There’s action on every page, it packs a punch. Plot twists, suspense, mystery, it has it all. Even some slow burn friends to lovers romance!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves superhero movies, comics, or is looking for a fast paced, binge read! SO GOOD!

And highly imaginative, well planned, and unique.

My overall rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars

[Jessica C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as gripping as the first book! This is absolutely a series that people are sleeping on and should be more recognized. It's funny, trope-defying, twisty, and nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat sitting good.

[Amanda Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible!
Zimny has done it again with the sequel to Beta, the phenomenal first book in the Apex series!

Sammy and all your favorite characters return for more high stakes and low blows, all wrapped in the fire that is the New Delos island and its inhabitants.

The vivid language instantly transported me into the world, a world filled with all the elements of a best seller!

Witty and fun. Heartwarming and heart wrenching. Gritty and thrilling! As entertaining as it is genius and full of the twists and turns any great superhero novel needs! Zimny’s subversive brilliance shines again in new and unexpected ways with this masterpiece.

With the fate of the entire world at stake, Readers are left absolutely shook and desperately waiting to find out what’s next for Sammy, New Delos, and The Lapis.

[Brock Mays · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three things I care about most in any book are the characters, the story, and the world building, in that order. And those are the three things Zimny absolutely crushes in this book.

1) The characters: with such a large cast of characters, it would be easy for each of them to be cardboard clones of one other with no personality of their own, but that is not the case for Delta. Every character has distinct personalities, strengths, weaknesses, hopes, dreams, and fears. Their personalities are all so well crafted that I felt like I knew the characters - like they were my own friends. They are consistent with their own personalities, values, identities, and worldviews. I'm very excited to see more of that. It was fun to get to share in their successes and scream "NOO!" when things went badly for them. And the worse it gets for them, the more glued to the pages I got. I even found myself rooting and feeling for the characters I was supposed to hate! Many books I read have one main character with a powerful, all important character arc, which is the only arc that matters, with everyone else as a side character. Although this book is written from first person and could fall into that trap, it is not that way - every character has their own individual arc that are sure to continue into book three. Every character has (and is the hero of) their own story, and I absolutely love that.

2) The story: I was already hooked into the story from book one - I got particularly excited for this installment with Beta's "THAT TWIST" twist, which definitely pays off in Delta. There are no extraneous plotlines that don't go anywhere. Zimny knows how to keep up a ruse until it's no longer needed, and then those storylines all pay off while still teasing more to come. I get frustrated when that isn't the case, so I was so glad when she delivered. The pacing was realistic. Things weren't just rushed for the sake of story - it made sense in the world when things happened and why. The story itself is clever, heartfelt, heart BREAKING, and fun, made even better by the colorful characters. I love superheroes and fantasy, and this doesn't feel like a rip-off of anything else. It is refreshingly, beautifully, original, without 'betraying' the genres its a part of. The story leaves me craving more, and I'm left still thinking about the characters and stories, theorizing of what'll come - the mark of a good book! (And recovering from that ending!!! The last paragraph will melt your brain. WHAT.)

3) The world building: I can picture New Delos in my mind. It is not a 'white room' that I'm forced to imagine for myself. There are landmarks in the city that I can remember and visualize (without it feeling cluttered in my brain), the world has a distinct personality and feels like one of the characters itself. The government and school leadership makes sense and isn't hard to follow. I want to attend the various events the students attend. I want to go to the school. I want to sleep on Fleming's couch. I want to be in this world and see it for myself! And Netflix, if you're listening... here's some content for your next Netflix original show!

I am eagerly awaiting book three's release, and I whole heartedly recommend the Apex Cycle to anyone and everyone!

I think I may have found my new favorite indie book.

[Tuesday Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zimny strikes again!! Rarely do I start the sequel of a book immediately after finishing the first one but I HAD TO with this one! These books suck me in and hold me captive! The excellent pacing paired with the torturous 'will they won't they' of a teenage couple was perfect! To see plot progressing while begging those two to just kiss already had me reading faster than ever before. The intertwined storylines of two heroines both past and present was a delight to read and done perfectly to keep the stories relevant to each other while still keeping them distinct and seperate. This book dove deeper into the weight of these superpowers and how they can ruin someone's own life against their will. My heart hurt for so many of these characters as they navigated through the situations they never asked for. For as quickly as I jumped into this second book after the first one, I am actually waiting just a bit to start Epsilon....because I'm just not ready for this amazing series to end. Zimny has become one of my favorite authors, I happily give her full permission to break my heart over and over again.

[Cara Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a YA superhero series with a fantasy bent in an academy setting. I don't read lots of YA anymore, but THE WAY I COULD NOT PUT THESE DOWN, LET ME TELL YOU.

I laughed. I cried. I tagged the author on Threads and told her she was cruel, in the best way. (The twists, y'all!)

Samantha, the FMC, is NOT a superhero, like most of her friends. But she's not exactly a normal teenager either... Turns out she might be immortal? Oh wait, maybe not... Guess you'll have to read to find out. The family secrets are ancient and surprising.

The characters are fantastic, the world building is excellent, and did I mention the plot twists? I will always recommend this series to anyone who reads YA--and even folks who don't.

[Joseph Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point I'm pretty sure Epsilon will break me, since this book has already chipped away at my mental state in the best way possible. I blitzed through the majority of this book in a 24 hour period and my GOD does it live up to all the hype. MT is a master wordsmith and her sequel is as gripping as it is jawdropping.
Admittedly, I found it difficult to fully immerse myself into book one. I think this is partially because for book one I was coming off of a Sanderson binge and the change in style took me by surprise. But MT has a writing style that is so comfortable to read and simply hooks you in and leaves you wanting more.
And DAMN do I want more.

One of the positives of this book that I've talked about frequently and will continue to do so, is that it is self aware of the fact that it is superhero fiction. This leads to some fun plays on Superhero stereotypes and MT does NOT shy away from skewing the definition of Hero and showing us just how dark the backstory can be, when deceit is needed to inspire hope.
But the thing I HAVE talked about more, without rambling, is the fact that the diversity in this book is on point. Whilst ofc there is LGBT rep (Justin and Marcus will get there time... and Amanda and Brooke melt my heart every time. I'm pretty sure Sammy is demi but that's a hc and I'm getting off track), an area where Zimny SHINES is with how culturally diverse the characters are. From Naomi to Boonsri, from Sergio to our golden girl Heather Hisakawa, anyone, child or adult, can pick up this book and see someone like them donning the title of superhero and wearing it proudly, and that's something not many authors can claim to have done, fewer still with the grace and skill of Zimny.
Not to mention Sergio in particular, a new addition to this book who, in dumbed down terms, has ice powers. (They're more in depth than that, but read the book instead of listening to me). Sergio wears an eye patch a lot of the time rather than popping in a fake eye. As a swordsman, Zimny could have easily pulled the 'lost an eye in training' routine from every other book ever, but she doesn't. Instead she elects to give Sergio a backstory in which he had a tumor that led to him losing an eye, which is a beautiful ode to cancer survivors, particularly those in their teens that will no doubt adore this book and Sergio because of it. Plus, Sergio is just awesome in general and we need more art of him honestly.

All of the powers within the book are extremely well realised, and the powers have logical, ATLA like progressions to them. Heather, in particular, and consider this a MILD SPOILER, has the power to wield shadows as shown in book one. In this book, if she stores her powers a certain way, she can use this to manipulate light also, which is a nice little addition to her power set that simply makes sense, and as a magic system enthusiast, this is wonderful.
Powers being explored more in this book was a particular treat, especially with how it effects the character of Naomi with her emotion feedback loop.

Honestly, the character progression in this book is top notch, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm firmly team Andersen now. He's an asshole, but at least he's trying to learn. His speech to Remi in the later sections about the book make me smile so much about her being the one he 'hates the least', and the entire Christmas break section with Sammy and Andersen staying with Fleming is a favourite part of the whole series and I hope we get some more moments like this in the future.

For our return to New Delos, the stakes are incredibly high and the introduction of the Doomsday pager is a lovely filmmakers touch, and with the memories of Eydis coming back, the stakes only get higher.

Admittedly, the sections regarding Eydis' past are my one real negative of the book. Sometimes to dip in and out of the memories partway through the chapter was extremely jarring to read and could make deciphering what was actually happening incredibly hard. Whilst the backstory is indeed interesting, I feel like it deserved it's own chapters perhaps?


But all in all, this is a read I absolutely loved, and delving into the genetics of the powers and some really dark backstories for our principal heroes was something I adored. All in all, I'm excited to see what Epsilon holds, as I'm almost certain Fleming will undergo the Epsilon initiative.


If you're wondering why I'm not electing to talk about Wesley or that ending sequence.... I don't think I have the words for it.
Though I'll admit, the book made me tear up, something not many books can say.

[Hails · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is no longer in my body & I’ve shed all the tears. This BOOK.

There is absolutely no way to talk about the plot in any of these books without huge spoilers but just know: IF YOU LIKE YA URBAN FANTASY/SCI-FI YOU WILL LIKE THESE BOOKS.

The entirety of Delta had me in my feelings. Sammy is stubborn, tenacious, brave, and will absolutely run head on into danger if she thinks she is doing the right thing. You WILL want to shake sense into her on more than one occasion, but she’s so heartfelt that you can’t help but root for her to succeed. SHES DEALING WITH A LOT, OKAY?! Girlie can NEVER catch a break!! And her friends are absolutely going through it as well. You get to know the whole cast of teens (and their guardians) so much better and you’ll learn to love and hate the most unexpected characters. Some of these chapters have the “it hurts so good” emotional whiplash of making you laugh hysterically then sob uncontrollably within a few pages (a phenomenon I’ve only ever experienced with CC1).

If someone were to ask me what the vibes of Delta are comparable to I would describe it as Percy Jackson meets Harry Potter (specifically 5-7) meets The Five Kingdoms meets Sky High, but with Viking lore and loosely located in the PNW on a fictional man made island.

Just please read The Apex Cycle! You will NOT regret it (emotionally, you will, but the story slaps). It’s a YA series, but as a 30 year old woman I AM COMPLETELY OBSESSED. If you’re still unsure, the e-book for all 3 books in the trilogy are also available on Kindle Unlimited!

[M.T. Zimny · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUTHOR REVIEW: Take my words with a grain of salt since I wrote the thing, but boy do I love this book. The arcs of some of the side characters, as well as Samantha’s struggle with her identity, were a TREAT to write, and I loved exploring more of the villain. This book surprised me with every word when I was writing it, and it’s easily the most fun I’ve had writing anything.

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Delta and by God it broke my heart with the ending, but I wasn't quite as enamoured with it as the first book in the series. There are things the author really expands on that worked excellently for me; the side character development, in particular for some of the minor antagonists in the first book was phenomenal and brought a lot of them to life in really unexpected ways. There were also things that didn't work so well for me; a reliance on flashbacks which both drew me out of the narrative, often at the most inconvenient times, and just didn't interest me making me tempted to skip ahead to get back to the world I actually wanted to read about.

There's a definite ramping up of the action and the stakes in this novel as well. The first novel was largely based on Sammy finding her new footing in a school where she's a Delta in a world of Apex superheroes. Whilst there were larger scale ramifications on offer, it was a fairly personal tale and the stakes were highest for Sammy alone. This takes us forward into city ending stakes with a message left warning that the city will burn. Will the Apex team - and Sammy - be able to figure out the plot and resolve it? Or will they make things ten times worse in the trying.

I really liked the character development here. We get to see a lot more of characters who were behind the scenes or less rounded in the first novel. Anderson is a key player here and the way the author rounds out the bully boy persona is excellently done. But the other Apex team members also get further development and Flemming has a far larger starring role, which I really appreciated. Sammy herself is still somewhat infuriating. You'd think after all her 'jump into this with no thought about consequences' she might learn, but nope. Teenage girl does teenage girl things. Someone really needs to tie her to a chair.

I also liked the expansion of the world building here. We see more of the politics and double crossing, not just on a school level but on a city/country level. Sammy finds herself entangled in things she doesn't have the experience to really grapple with and the potential fallout is huge. There's also a lot more detail on Sammy's background via flashbacks and this is where I struggled more.

I really enjoyed the tension filled stakes of the current world and I was completely engaged with the characters. I could not bring myself to care in the least about Sammy's previous life though; I struggled to remember character names as we've never actually met them and other than the direct relevance to Adrestus and the current plot, I found myself skimming them. It didn't help that the narrative device used meant that Sammy often has them at moments of greatest stress - which are also moments where I really want to know what happens and would you stop shunting me back in time and get to the good stuff damn it!

All in all though, a solid second book in the series and the third will be making it's way onto my Kindle in very short order.

[Rachel Barnard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha now knows the truth about her past, but she’s still not an Apex and her abilities will only help her so much on the Apex Team. She’s trying to balance school, being on the Apex Team, and the continued anti-Apex attacks on New Delos.

Delta picks up right where Beta left off plotwise, with well-executed pacing and action to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I loved how this book seemed even more intense than book one. The stakes are higher. The characters seem even more real and their personalities are still unique and consistent from book one. I really liked how Sammy had to work through an identity crisis in this book. I really enjoyed seeing more of book one’s antagonists as well.

I did feel like I had to suspend my disbelief a bit more with this book, but like all superhero action movies/books, I was too sucked into it to step back and critique any of the individual story elements. Do they really train for hours every day and go to classes and fight crime? I was way too enthralled by the characters and completely strapped in for the story and the exciting conclusion

[SP Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in shock. I am UPSET.

And the worst part of all this is that at the moment I type this, book 3 is NOT available in ebook OR audio, which means I LITERALLY HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PAPERBACK TO ARRIVE IN MY MEAT SPACE OMFGGGGGG

I don't even know where to begin with this book jfc. It was so emotional, the stakes so much higher. The character work in this book was top notch. Loved the evolution of Anderson and oh, how I screamed for Sammy to throw the truth in his face for hundreds of pages across two books, and she FINALLY DID. DELICIOUS. Loved the new characters(Sergio!), and the deeper dive into existing characters(was about to list them here, but it's basically the whole damn cast). That being said, Winny is still an irredeemable POS in my eyes, and her dad is even worse. But that ENDING. THAT ENDING, I AM BEREFT. I NEED BOOK 3 YESTERDAY.

[Leslie Erkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel is full of everything you want in a book. It has action, it’s emotional, gives you laughs, make you want the throw the book… at one point, towards the end, I even put the book down and didn’t read it for 3 days. I was broken and as long as I didn’t continue… it wouldn’t be true.
I did, however, continue and I’m glad I did!
This book will take you for a roller coaster ride! You are invested in the characters and the action will thrill those that love super heroes/comic books.
The twists will eat at you and make you wonder what kind of person this author is… J/k She’s amazing and I can’t wait to read the conclusion to this series. Although I have a feeling it will break me again!
This author has been put on my automatic buy list for sure!

[Kristin Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is your next bingeworthy piece of media. It gives the same, can't stop feeling as the best edge of your seat shows on your favorite streaming platform. This book is my second fastest read time because it's just that addictive. Even though I'd be exhausted after staying up too late reading "just one more" chapter, I never regretted a moment of it. It has the perfect balance of clues to drag you along confident you know the next step, only for it to twist just slightly out of your imagining in such a satisfying way. The characters are loveable, even when you want to punch them in the face. And you can't help but cheer for your favorites to get it right this time. Cannot wait for the next one.

[I.D. Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For reference: I listened to the audiobook.

MT Zimny delivers another refreshing take on the superhero genre and Elizabeth breathes LIFE into an already vibrant story with her narration. The plot kept me on my toes and was a fun combination of your favorite high school movie and Batman adventure. The only reason I would take off half a star is because it took a little bit to get me hooked but once the action started it didn’t stop-since we don’t do half stars, I had to give it 5 because I love everyone in this story!

Emotional beats hit when they needed to and the author and narrator worked together to make sure I felt the gravity of every scene. With the end leaving me wanting more, I can’t wait to finish the story with Epsilon!

[Alexia Muelle-Rushbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

X-Men x Divergent - but better.

Delta continues were Beta left off, perfectly continuing Samantha's story as she tries to understand her past and present - whilst trying to fit in, tackle school life amongst the gifted, and ultimately save those she cares for.

Despite the length of these books, the story never lags, the characters are rich and engaging, and each chapter pulled me further into this imagination world. The emotions and stakes are equally charged - and the action-packed finale had my heart on tender hooks.

Diving straight into book 3 is a no-brainer.

Both writer and narrator are outstanding and I can't recommend this series highly enough.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the aftermath of the first book Sammy has joined the Apex team, but the situation is still crazy. Worse, the villain seems to be able to mind control certain supers, and may be able to create them too.

Mild gripe: while it's a good read, I do wish there was less teen drama and more plot. Love triangles are all well and good, but having this going on with the other plot is just.. bit weird.

We learn why Sammy won't die, interestingly, as well as the villain plot. Our heroes stop THAT plot but fuck things up in a different way, leading to a status quo change.

3.5 out of 5. Still good, but the teen drama is a bit much.

[Mad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel doesn't disappoint!! It builds on the excitement, action, and character development of the previous book (Beta--which you have to read to get into Delta). Just like Beta I read this so fast which is a big compliment considering how fractured my attention is these days. So if you're looking for an exciting read with nuanced characters I highly recommend this series. Despite the fantasy setting, the friendships and potential love stories between the characters feel realistic. Looking forward to book 3!

[MJ Hildebrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5-star speedread for the Apex Cycle. This book was SO. GOOD. The whole thing. It was even more intense than Beta, so I can't wait to see what Epsilon has in store. But MT does such a great job of making everything so *real*. She brings in real, 'mundane' problems (i.e, ones that we face in a non-superpowered world) and makes all the characters feel so real. And the world feels so real too! I'm having so much fun with this series and I'm dreading the moment it's over because there is a severe lack of non Marvel/DC superhero fiction out there.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great second book in the series! Consistent character personalities as they continue to pursue the resolution to the storylines introduced in Beta. The conflict between characters aligns with their age. There is a good balance between their learned knowledge, unique experiences, and their perceptions of what would be the best decisions to make. Each character has their own personality that I loved, rolled my eyes at, wanted to tell them to shut up, and wanted to scream at them to communicate!!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK. No words to describe the experience- I quite literally couldn’t put it down. Whenever I had a moment (sometimes maybe at my desk at work lol) I was devouring it.

Sam, Wesley, and Naomi are a trio to be reckoned with. I am so invested in the wellbeing of these characters. Sam is the worst but also the best?

i immediately bought the next book because I NEEDED to know what happened.

Please please read this book. Please support this amazing author. PLEASE give me a TV show.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good, if not better than, the first book! I just loved the continued development of our main character. Very action packed as well! Having read it, I love the cover of the book even more now, it is pretty important to the story! Again, loved the narrator of the audiobook! Everytime she calls to listen to the voicemail message, it takes me a moment to realize it's not my phone going to a voicemail and it is in fact part of the audiobook and that just makes me giggle!

[David Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I thought the first book dragged me in. I wasn't prepared for the drama of this one!

Everything I loved about the first book, Beta, was tripled in this one. I have never read a 600 page book so fast in my life. I devoured every inch of the text and was completely immersed in Sammy's world.

Although the ending was traumatic, I've gone right onto the final book, Epsilon.

I need to know how this ends!

[Mikel Melwasul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A teenage superhero drama you won't forget.
If you're here you've read the first one and you're in for more of the same great character writing.
If you haven't, go read the first one.
This is a delightful dive deeper into the depths of The Apex Cycle.
M.T. puts a refreshing take on familiar concepts, and does a wonderful job making them their own. I laughed. I cried. I raged.
I have 0 complaints and I need more.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gritty and heart-wrenching 2nd installment. Sammy and her friends and their relationships are pushed to their limits. I really enjoyed how gritty this sequel got and the deeper delve into the mysteries surrounding Samantha’s past.

This book had me laughing, crying, shrieking and squealing out loud! All in all a thrilling super hero adventure with a good dose of mystery.