First, if you haven't seen my review of the first book in this series, The Book of Ivy, you can check it out here. I loved it so I had high expectations for book 2. I was not disappointed. The Revolution of Ivy was gritty and exciting and wrapped up all the loose ends.
We pick up right where we left off at the end of book 1. Ivy is outside the fence and reality sets in quickly. Nothing is glossed over. Things are hard. There are dangers on the outside both human and otherwise and I loved that it felt very real. Ivy gets dirty and thirsty and very cold and she gets hurt. This is not a book where the heroine miraculously escapes danger unscathed and I loved that.
We're introduced to a couple of new characters, Caleb and Ash, who basically take the place of Ivy's father and sister. There's a great juxtaposition between Ivy's real family, and these new friends who become her family outside the fence. Ivy has a lot of conflicting emotions. She loves her family despite their treatment of her and feels a certain responsibility toward them. She hopes in her heart of hearts that they will come rescue her, even though she knows in her head that it's not likely. As she gets closer to these new friends and begins to think of them as family, she feels guilty and struggles with her own emotions. I really loved the friendships that Ivy develops and really enjoyed reading Ivy and Ash in particular. Positive female friendships are always something I appreciate.
I love, love, love the romance. It doesn't overpower the book, but it's still a major part of it. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying that Ivy and Bishop are reunited at a certain point but things are not all butterflies and rainbows. As in real life, there are some major issues. Emotions get in the way. Ivy gets in her own way because she doesn't know how to deal with her own emotions. But, don't worry, there are some magnificent swoon-worthy moments. Bishop is everything you could want in a book boyfriend, just like in book one.
This book is different than most dystopia I've read in that there's not a huge nationwide or worldwide revolution going on. There are major societal issues but in this series they are centered on one city. There is no war. Things change and there's definitely a revolution but not one with explosions and riots. This is a much more realistic dystopia in my eyes.
At the end, everything is wrapped up pretty neatly. All my questions were answered and all the loose ends were tied up. Some may say things were a little too neat, and I think that's true to an extent, but I always like a happily ever after and I felt very satisfied when I finished the book.
Overall, I love how realistic the book, and series as a whole, felt. The circumstances, the emotions, the characters motivations and reactions - it all felt very real. There's a societal revolution but Ivy also goes through a personal revolution as well. All the loose ends were tied up and I enjoyed the read.
Favorite Quotes
And I understand in a way I never have before that loving someone is always going to feel like flying - the unthinkable drop, the fear of falling, the heart-in-your-throat thrill. It is always going to be impossible until the moment it;s not and you're soaring on pure faith, your altitude completely dependent on something you can't control.
His body is warm. His jacket smells like Autumn, brittle-backed leaves and chilly sunlight.