I did it! Thanks to a double ear infection, a sinus infection AND strep I was able to read this six book series in seven days. It was a bumpy ride. All the books were good, but they were all full of suffering, pain, death, murder, suicide, (a little bit of love) and not a whole lot of hope. But I made it through them all and I’m glad that I did because this was a pretty solid series. Book seven, Light, has a couple of twists. First, the sphere that had turned completely black in book six now is clear. So the barrier between the rest of the world and the FAYZ is still there but everyone can see what’s happening within the sphere. This is good and bad. Kids and parents write heartfelt messages to one another, news media attempts to “interview” kids (again, with written questions and written responses) and now there are witnesses (without explanation) to some of the atrocities that are occurring within the sphere. For example, without explaining that Penny has the ability to make one’s worst dreams appear to come true, it appears that Caine and Sam used their “terrifying” powers (telekinesis and basically light/heat shooting out of one’s hands) to kill a defenseless girl (not the case). While Caine, Sam and the kids prepare to fight Gaia, a monster now with human form, people on the outside are discussing what should happen when the kids get out of the dome or if they should even get out. This limited contact with the outside world is both welcome and unwelcome. They need to be preparing for war, they need to be harvesting food because while they can see the outside, it doesn’t mean that they are getting out. And yet, the draw to connect with the outside is strong for so many of the kids that they’re shirking whatever duties that they might have. But Gaia is coming, and her focus to get out of the FAYZ and dominate the rest of the world is relentless and inevitable.
And that’s where I stop talking about the book. It was a good end of a series. Perhaps the battle itself lasted a little bit too long, but considering that we’ve been dealing with Gaia for the entire series without her having corporal form, I guess I’ll allow it (haha, as if I have any power). The tone shifts towards the end, it’s a welcome shift but one that I was completely not used to as I went through each book. This book leaves us with some hope, some happiness, some growth and more that a few bittersweet moments. I think I read that this will be a movie series and it’s one that I think could translate well on the big screen.
Onto Liane Moriaty so I can cleanse my mind of the visions of little kids hacking others with machetes (deservedly or not).