Deadfall

May 1, 2015

Gr 6-9-In this sequel to Blackbird (HarperCollins, 2014), the author orchestrates an action-driven sci-fi narrative sure to entertain fans of the first volume. Lena and a small cast of characters grapple with a cruel underground organization that hunts humans for recreation and prestige. Lena struggles to piece together information regarding the organization in hopes of mending the unspeakable atrocities committed by the "hunters." Themes include the nature of humanity, fairness, love, and violence. Carey's prose is straightforward and natural. It is well suited to the characters and the readership alike. The author effectively creates a dark mood with a short sentence structure and conveys the urgency of the characters' peril. The tale is suspenseful yet heavily dialogue-driven. Fans of strong female protagonists will take solace in Lena's scrappy and street-smart style. Teens will easily come along for the ride, but the characters are underdeveloped. The villainous hunters are one-dimensional and predictable. The plot-driven story is entertaining but lacks in real substance. VERDICT This title does not stand alone, but is a must-have for rabid fans of the first book.-Katie Flynn, Williston Northampton School Library, MA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2015
The deadliest game comes to a head in the sequel to Blackbird (2014). The continuation of Sunny's story begins where Blackbird ended: she discovers the boy from her dreams isn't a figment of her imagination but a part of her past. Rafe knows Sunny's real name is Lena Marcus, and they fell in love while fighting for survival on the island where the game began. Lena and Rafe go to New York City, where they locate surviving victims of the game and find that several of the targets have been tracked and murdered by hunters who pay to play the game. Ben, Lena's love interest-turned-betrayer, returns to proclaim his love for her and to convince her he's on her side. Unsure whether or not she can trust Ben, Lena struggles with her feelings for him and her slowly returning feelings for Rafe; however, Lena doesn't let a love triangle stop her from turning hunter herself, relentless in her pursuit of the game's sadistic leader. Throughout the novel, the action rushes forward at top speed toward the breathtaking conclusion. As with Blackbird, the narrative is in the second person, with several chapters switching to the third-person points of view of secondary characters. This is a major disruption of the narrative focus, negating the immediacy and mystery created by positioning readers as Lena. A gripping, female-centered thriller for readers who can ignore the distractions. (Thriller. 15-18)

July 1, 2015
In this sequel, which picks up right where Blackbird ended, Sunny fights to recover her memory while fleeing the Hunters who are relentlessly stalking Sunny and other teens like her for sport and pleasure. Set amid New York City landmarks, the breakneck plot is thrilling even if it's ultimately all on the surface, with little thematic depth or meaning.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)