4 Stars 
 I debated giving this book 3.5 stars. It could've had stronger character development. It wasn't quite emotional enough for my taste. It only had a hint of a romantic element. 
 But I just kind of really liked it. 
 Based on pure enjoyment and how well it reeled me in, it deserves those four stars. I was so surprised by this book! I think I have to take back some of what I said about not being able to get into books with teenage boy characters. I was sucked in fairly quickly, and this one was more action-packed than the first. 
 What I really love about this series though is that the worst things always happen. Then things get worse. Then you think the characters will get a break, but something else terrible happens. Does that make me a sadist? Maybe. What I mean is, I like that the author doesn't take the easy way out by putting them in situations that were easy to solve. It keeps me on my toes, wondering how they're going to get out of their latest impossible situation, wondering what awful thing will happen next. And oh my goodness I nearly had a heart attack just reading one part! 
 (view spoiler)[That scene when they were hiding in the Underneath with the Crank?!!! I literally cursed out loud because I was SO not ready for that! Apparently I was more into the story and in the characters' shoes than I thought. It probably didn't help that I was lying in bed, alone in the dark when I read it lol. (hide spoiler)] 
 I hate myself a little for what I'm about to say because I don't like to compare books, but... The biggest problem I had with The Hunger Games was Katniss's lack of emotion and reaction to all the terrible things happening to and around her. And how can I feel what's happening if the main character doesn't even feel it? In this series though, Thomas, while maybe not the biggest personality in the world, at least does feel and react to the terrible things happening and the terrible things he's forced to do because of his situation. 
 Ok, my review is getting kind of long, but one last thing. I also kind of loved that there was a minor love triangle, but with a guy at the tip this time. I'm not sure I've ever read that before, so it was a fun change. 
 So yeah, maybe I was a little lenient with my rating because of how much this book surprised me, but it turned out be a great continuation of the series. 
 Original Review on Blog