Ranking:  Title: Never Fade Series:  The Darkest Minds, #2 Author: Alexandra Bracken Expected Publication: October 15, 2013

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

It pains me to say this but, this sequel is totally exhausting and too slow paced for me. I was caught between daydreaming of what the hell some phrases means. I sometimes wanted to skip some none sense scenes and too melodramatic exchanges between the characters. Ruby for once is a very melodramatic too self absorbed in terms of -- her thinking, she's starting to be like Clancy. Well good news girl, you are not. It was totally normal to be mad when someone threatens people who are dear to you. Honestly I was really tired of her not accepting her powers and self pity. I thought she was over that? And why not use you powers when you needed it the most?

Here are some scenes left me annoyed with her:

“Oh my God. I tried sucking in air through the muzzle, but in the last few minutes it’d tightened, and tightened, and tightened with the shrill screaming inside of my head. I banged my face against the carpet, the first sob working its way out of me like someone had reached in and ripped it out of my throat. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.
Clancy would have been so proud of me. The way I’d used those kids, twisting them, manipulating them, ripping into Rob’s mind until it shattered. Clancy would have looked into my face and seen his own reflection there.

We have to use them to keep the others in their place.

My stomach heaved, the bile burning its way into my mouth until I was choking on it. I wanted to be sick, I wanted to get the blackness out of me, I needed air, to get away from Rob, from this, from what he’d made me and what I’d done.

Monster, monster, monster, monster, monster. I slammed my foot against the trunk door over and over until the plastic began to crack. Where was Rob? Why wasn’t he saying anything?”

Excerpt From: Bracken, Alexandra. “The Darkest Minds Never Fade.” 

Well that sucks. And it really sucks that I have to endure the whole book of Ruby drowning in self pity and bad decisions. *Sigh*

The Plot. Well it was absolutely a very slow paced book I've ever read for this month. There are some moments that it keeps me excited but there are more times I see myself drifting off. And I hate just how opposite this book is to the the first sequel. It's a bit boring compared to the first book. And I absolutely wanted to think that the third book will somehow redeem itself.

In short, this book did not hit me hard. But I am still looking forward of what will happen to all the IAAN kids.