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390 pp.
| HarperCollins/Tegen |
February, 2020 |
TradeISBN 978-0-06-269134-7$17.99
(2)
YA
This return to the dystopian world of We Set the Dark on Fire (rev. 7/19)--whose protagonist was Dani, one of two wives to rising politico Mateo--focuses on Carmen. Dani's co-wife and secret romantic partner, Carmen was revealed in the first installment to be a member of the resistance group La Voz. Now she has left Mateo's home for the group's compound. La Voz demands absolute devotion and any sacrifice necessary for its fight against an unjust government (as in the first installment, this society includes references to our own, particularly a walled border). Carmen is torn between the group and her desire to protect Dani, who's still at Mateo's side and whose complete loyalty to La Voz hasn't yet been proven. Her resulting decisions set off a fast-paced journey, complete with daring escapes, assassinations, and a few steamy (though not graphic) encounters, allowing its heroines to display impressive survival and fighting skills as well as deep emotions. Fans who've grown attached to Carmen and Dani will appreciate this duology-concluder's more extensive look into their lives and the inventive world in which they live.
Reviewer: Shoshana Flax
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
March, 2020