I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book. In the first book, when Phoenix and Sadie got in the way when they wanted to help I would be like "ok I get why you did it but don't do it again". In this book, it got a little too much. For me it was a little confusing because at one point they would be like "Hey we girls are just as tough as you" then in the next they would be like "dude we girls aren't like you, we like to cook and junk". Also there was a lot of dialogue that was a little uselessThere was literally a moment where Jayden explained his story twice in a row, it was kinda annoying , I would just skim over a bunch of places and keep moving on from there. Most of my major problems are spoilers tho
I really hated the whole love-triangle thing to the point that when Devon died I was like "good, now the love triangle was gone". Phoenix would be like "i really love Jayden" but then turn around and say something like "Devon has a hot bod tho" then she finally came the conclusion (after she kissed him) that he was just a good friend. So he decides to hook up with Jessica. uh... ok.
I also didn't like how Phoenix was always doubting Jayden or acting surprised when he shared a sad fact like "hey I killed innocent people". I mean shouldn't you expect that sort of thing? Also the doubting thing got boring. Have faith Phoenix.
Also the last fighting scene with Jessica? that was too weird I'm not a huge fan of blood drinking (anywhere) and that scene was too creepy. I mean It's not the reason for the low stars I just wanted to say that if the goal was to show how messed up Jessica was/is, then well done!
I don't know if it's just because i've read so many Dystopian book that I am sort of desensitized, but I felt like Phoenix and Sadie were a little too emotional Except for the end part, when Phoenix gets all bad-a on Jessica but who am I to know? Their friendship was one of the best things in this book, without it, it would not have been as successful. even when it got a little annoying, I loved their faithfulness to each other and when they were all "hey we need some girl bonding time so back off BFs". Very commendable.
Obliviously I will read the other books (because Jayden) but honestly, I feel like the most important parts of this book could have been compressed into fewer pages like the training scenes, you could have just told me that they trained and stuff, I didn't really need all the details of that but clearly it was a good enough book that I will push on to the other books