Advanced (Tainted Earth #4) by Susanne valentine (2018)
-eARC Review-

YA Fiction | Dystopian Sci-Fi
Blurb:

TEMPORARY DESCRIPTION (via book funnel)

“The world is evolving faster than anyone could have predicted and time is running out to stop the clock and make sure that no one else loses their humanity. With a choice between fighting back and finding a way to survive in this cold new world, Kaitlyn and Lincoln have to face a choice. Save themselves or risk it all to try and save everyone. Nothing is as it used to be and the world cannot be trusted. The only thing they can truly be sure of now is each other. But can they find a way to stay together?”
–Goodreads 

Book One: AFFLICTED

pooled ink Review:

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

This series really is fun and addictive. I’m so happy to have been able to receive an advanced copy because the wait is terrible to endure! Each book ends resolving one thing only to leave us on the edge of another and the need to know what happens next is strong.

I thoroughly enjoyed her first series, Cage of Lies, and this prequel series is no less thrilling. We’ve moved beyond the initial fallout, the characters are settling into this new life of survival, and yet they’re still learning more about the nightmarish experiments that hunt them down in the woods or crawl between the streets. Book four has us witnessing the organization of a first real post-chaos town and while things seem pretty good in Franklin there remains more than one bloodthirsty enemy stalking the fence. And these characters aren’t the sort to just hunker down and play cards, the world is still devolving (or perhaps evolving) and their next mission is to try and cut off the contamination from the source.

What I really love about Valenti’s books, besides the awesome apocalyptic/dystopian setting and wild adrenaline-pumping action, is her ability to jump around between perspectives. Obviously Katy and Lincoln are our main focus, but the other characters aren’t simply cast off as unimportant, instead we get to hop around and view this madness shattering their lives from different perspectives and it really helps widen the depth of each situation. And it transitions smoothly. No getting confused or annoyed. We have our main pair, our main cast, and then a background crew, but each one has a distinct role to play, a unique personality to contribute, and it all adds to the excitement of the storytelling.

I don’t know how many books there will be in this series (hopefully not too many only because these cliffhangers kill me! haha) but if you’re worried about the momentum or intrigue wavering, turning stagnant or repetitive, then don’t. Valenti just has this way of keeping each installment exciting, twisting, and fresh. I was hooked from the start and I’m not planning to bail any time soon.

Cheers.

 Purchase Here: Advanced

Check out the rest of the series! Afflicted (book 1), Altered (book 2), Adapted (book 3)