Justice Ascending (The Scorpius Syndrome, #3)

by Rebecca Zanetti

[EBookObsessed]

Once again Rebecca Zanetti held me captive. There was no way I was putting this story down.

I wanted Tace’s story since he recovered from infection and started noticing his own lack of emotion. It was a very intriguing (and sad) development to see the gregarious and flirtatious medic loose his emotions. It was also hinted at the end of Shadow Falling that Tace was obsessing on fellow soldier, Sami. Was this a hint of his further fall into darkness or a tingle of his humanity returning? It may be a bit of both.

As a refresher, Tace was infected while Vanguard was out of the Vitamin B cocktail that they all take. They found that B helps against the worst of the infection. This is why Tace is showing a lack of emotions that the others do not. He did receive B during his recovery so we are still learning how that will effect him in the long run. It is also important to remember that while we have had months and months between stories to digest the happenings of the prior stories, time wise, this novel takes place right after Shadow Falling and in general, it has been less than a year since the spread of Scorpius and the fall of civilization, and just weeks since the infection of Tace specifically until this story begins.

In Justice Ascending, we see Tace still struggling with knowing that he lacks emotions…or maybe it is more correct to say that he knows he should be struggling with that fact, but he can’t work up any concern and he knows that is wrong. His concern is more that he will become a ripper and the friends he has made will be the ones forced to kill him. Again, while he is not emotional about that, just the fact that he knows that they will be upset shows that all is not completely lost for Tace.

He knows that he is becoming obsessed with Sami and his concern is less his obsession, since he noticed Sami and was attracted to her since the first day she arrived. Tace is more concerned that the obsession in conjunction with his fall into darkness might cause him to hurt her. Again, this shows that all is not lost for Tace.

Tace knows he should put some space between him and Sami but that won’t be happening anytime soon since they are both sent up to the Merc camp. Their only doctor was killed during the attack by the President when he tried to take Vinnie and Raze’s sister. (I’ll give you a moment to recall…okay) Jax sends them Tace to patch up their wounded but Jax won’t let him go alone, so he sends Sami to back him up.

We are still looking for the bunker. We are still trying to find Deacan and Nora from Scorpius Rising.

What is great in this series is that both Jax (Vanguard) and Greyson (Mercenaries) are contemplating an alliance but since they aren’t 100 percent sure it will work out, they both strategize each situation with how do we get the other camps stuff and what do we need to do to be allies? And they both know that the other is also weighing each interaction the same way and they are cool with it since they are both good leaders and aren’t going to risk their people by trusting too easily. It’s just funny to see them shaking hands while checking the area for goods and forces but there is no malice just the reality of the new world order and no malice between the leaders as long as they don’t actually act against one another.

There is so much happening in Justice Ascending and yet there is still so many things left up in the air. Part of me wants to know what will happen and the other part doesn’t want it to end.