Have you ever not wanted to let a series go because you were afraid of waking up? I have this problem on a regular basis, but only when the series is good. With The Darkest Mind series, I had a good run. It was a fun read, but … it was the last book. In The Afterlight dropped some deep hooks into me, and I didn’t want to let go of the story. I’m in that crucial moment where I don’t want to read anything else – I just want to get back to the series I finished.
The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1) Book Review
Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2) Book Review
In The Darkest Minds series, the U.S. had been torn apart by a disease that affected the young. Those who survived were neurologically altered and the government had placed all surviving children into concentration camps. Ruby escaped – and she had the most dangerous potential of them all.
In The Darkest Minds and Never Fade, Ruby fought for the life she wanted – which was to be free. In the camps, she was a prisoner because of who she was. After she escaped, she was pushed into The Children’s League and was a prisoner all over again. But she held onto hope.
In In the Afterlight, the League has changed and Ruby holds command with Cole, brother to her love – Liam. The adults have gone, and the children with X-men potential face plans to get the rest of the children in camps free. Besides that, there are a few other objectives that must be dealt with.
When Ruby became a force to be reckoned with in the second book, she’s doubled down in this final book. It doesn’t matter how much she loves someone – she will do want needs to be done to secure her position and save the lives of children, even if that means becoming the pariah. Even if it means pushing away her one true love.
I love the fact that Ruby puts the needs of others above her desire for romance. She’s human, but she’s such a complete bad ass in this series and never takes a wanted moment of romance when there’s some fighting to be done. Ruby always puts what’s important above what she wants in terms of physical desire.
The end – well, you just have to read it. And read it slowly. It’s a difficult world to lose once you’ve finished.
In The Afterlight
by Alexandra Bracken
