Altered

Altered (Tainted Earth #2) by Susanne Valenti (2018)
-eARC Review-

YA Fiction | Dystopian Sci-Fi
Blurb:

“The world is twisting into something new. Kaitlyn’s focus must be on survival but the chances of that are getting slimmer at every turn. With everything evolving into a stronger version of its past self, she needs to find a way to do the same.

She has to become strong enough to survive in this new, harsh world and with Lincoln by her side she feels it may just be possible. He is the one thing she knows she can rely on while everything around them comes crashing down. The pressure of their safety weighs heavily on his shoulders and he doesn’t want to trust the beating of his heart. Though it pulls them ever closer, how can he trust in their emotions when so much has happened?

One thing is certain; they need to find a way to safety before it’s too late to escape. In a world where nothing is what it once was, they must find a way to adapt. Hope is fading as the storm closes in on them and time is running out.”
–Goodreads

Publication Date: March 10, 2018

Book One: AFFLICTED

pooled ink Review:

Thank you to the author for submitting this book for review!

ANOTHER CLIFF HANGER. THE AGONY.

Well Valenti has done it again. She’s managed to spin a tale full of twists and turns only to suddenly break it off with a cliffhanger/major twist that will have me raging for days with the desire to know what happens next!

Book two in this dystopian saga picks up right where we left off in Afflicted and jumps around between different POVs that not only help keep us up to date with what’s going on in different places at the same time, but it also allows us a view into how different characters are coping with it all. Valenti has been consistently good at this storytelling tactic and it really manages to keep up the tension and pacing of the plot.

For whatever reason Valenti’s writing style clicks with me so it was no surprise to me that I was swept away on this wild adventure once more. Having read the Cage of Lies saga first it’s really cool to see little tie-ins between that distant overgrown world and the one currently tearing apart in the Tainted Earth saga. (For those of you who missed my review of Afflicted, this series is a prequel to Valenti’s Cage of Lies saga although you can easily read either series first).

There were a lot of characters in the first book to keep track of and although their numbers began to dwindle it was a bit of an effort to remember exactly who was who. Although you’ll remember the big personalities and the major players easily. There was some teen drama, as expected, but not as much as in the first book thankfully as the marines take charge and the teens start really coming to grips with their new reality.

Plot-wise we pick up from the end of book one where the characters finally reach the Wall to the haven city only to be turned away and bombed. It was a seriously intense cliff-hanger and I had no idea how many from the group would survive. This book starts with everyone scattered but as the city isn’t accepting refugees as promised they have to scramble for a new plan, a new destination, and hopefully a new haven. The world Valenti has crafted in this series is insane and I just never know what to expect.

I’m a fan. Ever since Valenti sent me a copy of Chained (Cage of Lies #1) I knew she had a really cool concept going and what she’s doing with this prequel series has me excited all over again. Dystopian books can be hit or miss as it’s a somewhat saturated genre, however Valenti somehow manages to keep everything fresh and exciting for me. I know some people won’t agree but as for me I am eagerly awaiting what comes next.

Altered is a riveting sequel in the Tainted Earth saga that will have your eyes sparking with familiarity and your jaw dropping with its destination. Adventurous, deadly, and crafted within a bold predatory world, this dystopian series is shaping up to be one twisting thrill of a ride.

Cheers.

Purchase here: Altered