The Dark Shore (Atlanteans, #2)

by Kevin Emerson

[Ashley]

Nose Graze — Young Adult book reviews

Hmm. I have very mixed feelings about The Dark Shore. I started out a little nervous because it had been so long since I'd read The Lost Code and I was afraid I'd have no idea what was going on. Luckily, things are recapped pretty well in The Dark Shore. It started out a bit overwhelming, but I managed to piece things together as I went.

I think the best part about The Dark Shore was the world building. Parts of it were a bit creepy and gruesome, but I got a really good sense of what the world was like, with the viruses, and the disgusting worm infestations, and the crazy religious cults, etc. There was this one description of a girl with worms that literally had me shivering. It was so creepy and disgusting and I could just picture it... ahh!! Gross!

Religion and "Gods" play a surprisingly large role in The Dark Shore. I don't remember that being the case in The Lost Code. But in this book we learn about a whole religion tied into the Atlantis mythology.. but it's also a little crazy and cult-like, with chopping off fingers, and hanging dead bodies, and strange worshipping...

But there were several things that bugged me in The Dark Shore, most significantly the romance. This book falls victim to the "second book romance bump", which is a term I just randomly invented. It's when there's a great new romance in book 1, but then in order to "spice things up" in book 2 the couple suffers from relationship problems. They grow apart, they fight, they nitpick, and they basically bicker like an old married couple. This is exactly what happens to Owen and Lilly. And just to top things off, we get a love triangle as well. All the little arguments just felt so stupid and trivial. I wanted to smack both characters and tell them to grow up!

There's also a bit of peer pressure drug use in The Dark Shore, which I wasn't psyched about.

Although, there is a pretty big twist at the end, which I did not see coming! When we find out Owen was a Cryo. Like.. was I blind? I don't know.. It just came out of nowhere and it was awesome! I didn't expect it AT ALL, although maybe I should have. I loved being completely taken off guard by the twist! One of the best things in the world is when you don't see a twist coming, but when it does, suddenly everything falls into place and you're like, "Ooohh, I see now!" That's exactly how I felt!

But when Owen found out his memories had been altered, I was embarrassed for him when he like fell to the floor in pathetic tears. His friend was over there DYING and Paul was like killing everyone, and Owen was just acting all pathetic on the floor going "Waaaa my life is a lie! What's real?? Are you real, Lilly? NOTHING IS REAL!" I was literally embarrassed for him. I don't think I've ever seen a character act that pathetic.

So, ultimately, I don't think I liked The Dark Shore as much as The Lost Code, but it was still a pretty good book. It's a bit more gruesome and serious than The Lost Code, which just makes it feel pretty different overall. I do think I would have enjoyed the book more if not for the annoying romance thing and a few other small factors.