In the Afterlight - Alexandra Bracken

In the Afterlight – Alexandra Bracken

In the Afterlight is the third and final book in the Darkest Minds Series, a series of which I have absolutely loved right from the very start! I am going to be quite vague with this review in case anyone reads it who hasn’t read the previous two in the series.

‘Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the governments attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds. 

They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.

Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.’

In the Afterlight follows shortly on from Never Fade, and that of the grief and turmoil left behind after the incident in Los Angeles. Hidden away in a warehouse, the remaining league children and others with psi abilities are planning their next move with a group of somewhat corrupt group of agents around, already showing a sign of trouble to come. We follow the psi children, as they take control of their own situation, build plans to uncover the true horrors of the camps, and save those still left behind. All of this in hope to find a way to get back to their families, to have a normal life again, especially with research of a cure to hand.

This final book in the series is filled with action, suspense, friendship, love and such heart ache that it really is one massive emotional rollercoaster.  There isn’t a moment in this book where something isn’t going on. Which truly makes it a great book to end the series, despite that I never wanted it to end.

The characters and the relationships in this book were brilliant, and a credit to Brackens writing, they were put under some very stressful times causing a great strain on a lot of the characters. Liam and Ruby being pulled in different directions by their differing opinions. Cole and Liam, being siblings and constantly sparring with each other over every little thing, I don’t think they ever agreed on anything. Vida and Ruby, Vida and Zu, Vida and Chubs…in fact Vida with everyone in this novel really, but her character is brilliant none the less. Chubs was his usual great self too of course. Then of course the infamous Clancy, not once in this book did I pity him, he was horrible and cruel, and I honestly cannot believe how it panned out with his character, the control that he actually had still. I couldn’t believe how much I hated him in the final few paragraphs after what happened at Sawtooth. Although I feel the end was just deserved for him over all.

It is really difficult giving a review on a book that is in a series, as I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone who has never read the previous books. However, I truly loved this trilogy, it was great fun, it was action packed, and there was heart ache in pretty much each and every book. Bracken kept us engaged and involved with every page we turned, and that was a true credit to her writing style. I loved Ruby as the main protagonist, she was everything I wanted from a lead, and the friendships she developed were each unique and brilliant as they went along.

I honestly couldn’t recommend this series enough. So I would say if you like YA, Dystopian and paranormal novels, with a lot of kick ass action and great characters. Then this really is the book for you. SO I would say pick it up and give it a go, it won’t disappoint!

I have given this book a 5 out 5

The Darkest Minds Never Fade in the Afterlight