** spoiler alert ** 
 4.5-5 stars. 
 Forget alien invasion... Someone make this a movie! 
 I can't get over how much I love Deuce. I mean, I want to be Deuce. 
 I was completely expecting book two to be full of vomit worthy love triangle angst. It wasn't! While there is technically still those undertones of "both boys want to be with her," Deuce is solid in her desire to be with Fade. 
 So let's talk about Fade... I am typically the girl that will root for the darker character, the darker the better. That isn't the case for this book though. Fade had me intrigued from the first moment we met him. It's strange really, because in my opinion from the outside he looks weak and kind of emotional. This boy that survived years alone in the tunnels fighting Freaks now has all of these "I'm not good enough," feelings. I'd usually write that character off pretty fast because that irritates me. For some reason, with Fade I feel completely opposite. I'm hard core rooting for his comeback and I cannot wait until that fighter emerges again. 
 Stalker gained a lot of my respect in this book. Being someone I didn't hold in high regard in book one, this also surprised me. Tegan forgave Stalker and he apologized for not knowing better when it came to her protection in the ruins. His talent at being a warrior is what makes him so appealing to the story. He's limitless, it feel like. If there were a male counterpart to Deuce, I would say it was Stalker. 
 Tegan... Oh my it made me so happy that she volunteered to go with them. She has found her calling to medicine and I love that after all the pain and suffering she's faced, she is now a healer. *First pump for Tegan* 
 Can I just say... How Aguirre gave these characters families.... I just can't even deal with the emotion. It's just such goodness in this world full of evil. 
 Okay, book two was absolutely surprising. Every time I got comfortable with their safety, Freaks obliterated the scene. The comprehension and intelligence of these creatures was shocking at every turn and I couldn't get enough. I want to know everything there is to know about them. 
 The death...... That. Death. Oh my gosh..... WHY?! I literally had tears in my eyes because... Well... WHY?! I can't even imagine what is in store in book three. I'm nervous for all of these characters. I've learned to love so many of them and I won't lie, any death will probably break my heart from this point on.