About the Book
-
Author:
- Kass Morgan
- Genres:
- Boy-Girl Romance
- Science Fiction
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
BFF Charm: Mixed Bag
Talky Talk: Two Roads Diverged
Bonus Factors: Mystery Illness, Metric System
Relationship Status: Going Steady
Spoiler Alert: This is the sequel to The 100, aka source material for the TV show of the same name. The books and the show are quite a bit different, so TV-only peeps are better off checking out Book 1 first. Beyond the commonalities between the two properties, there are absolutely no spoilers for the TV show.
Cover Story: Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s — omg teenagers falling from the sky!? Not quite as fun as hamburger rain, FOR SURE.
Also not fun for series cover uniformists: the books have adopted a similar style to the TV show’s promo images. (In fact, I’m pretty sure the same falling people have been reused.) Even though it’s a new design and there’s no Teen-nado in the book, I think it’s a definite improvement over what could have been if the original style (with requisite kissyface again) was used as it was in international editions.
The Deal:
Twenty-one days have passed since the hundred arrived on Earth. In addition to minor concerns like surviving the strange terrain and coexisting without throttling each other, the hundred have discovered that they’re not the only humans on the planet. Some have never even left. And they ain’t exactly sending their new neighbours a Welcome Wagon basket.
Back on the Colony spaceship, their familes and friends aren’t faring much better. As the oxygen supply rapidly dwindles, chaos and unrest are tearing the Colony apart.
BFF Charm: Mixed Bag
Just like last time, I have a mixed bag of BFF charms for the main quartet, although some recalibrating is in order. Obvs, Bellamy is still my boo, even if our honeymoon stage is over and I’m not as charmed by him as I was during the first book. The girls both continue to grow on me, with Clarke slowly and surely winning me over, and Glass’ past revealing how much snobbiness she’s lost along with her family’s wealth.
But the award for Most Improved goes to Wells. He finally comes alive for me when his inquisitive mind asks all the questions about Earth that I’d want to know, and when his natural leadership qualities shine through whatever resistance and adversity that comes his way.
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Love (and possibly radioactivity, but whatevs) is in the air; even minor characters are pairing off. But trouble is never far from paradise — although thankfully NOT because of love triangles.
Talky Talk: Two Roads Diverged
Kass Morgan’s writing still remains fast-paced and entertaining, but now there’s an entire season of the TV adaptation to complement her story. While the major plot points are similar, the books and the show are evolving into closely tied but separate entities.* It’s neat to follow and compare the two stories as they unfold, and even my terrible memory doesn’t have problems keeping them straight.
*The deviations don’t diminish the show’s faithfulness to the spirit of the books, though.
Bonus Factor: Mystery Illness
What’s the latest craze sweeping the Hundred nation? Nausea, fever, upset stomach — YUM! Is it contagious? Is it lethal? Whatever it is, the sick are showing no signs of recovery.
Bonus Factor: Metric System
AWW YISS, metric is the preferred measurement system in the future! Maybe humanity isn’t doomed after all.
Relationship Status: Going Steady
I’m in it for the long haul with this series, no matter what shape or form it takes (book or TV). It transports me to a world that I can’t get enough of, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Little, Brown. I received neither money nor froyo for writing this review (dammit!). Day 21 is available now.
Shop Our The 100 Themed Merch
