Wednesday, August 13, 2014

A Better World

OK, so a few weeks I reviewed book one in the Brilliance Saga, which was aptly called Brilliant. You can see my take on that book HERE. And I really liked it because it was so unique, really nothing else like it out there. So now I've read book two, and here's my review for that.

A Better World - Marcus Sakey
A Better World (Brilliance Saga, #2)
The brilliants changed everything.

Since 1980, 1% of the world has been born with gifts we’d only dreamed of. The ability to sense a person’s most intimate secrets, or predict the stock market, or move virtually unseen. For thirty years the world has struggled with a growing divide between the exceptional...and the rest of us.

Now a terrorist network led by brilliants has crippled three cities. Supermarket shelves stand empty. 911 calls go unanswered. Fanatics are burning people alive.

Nick Cooper has always fought to make the world better for his children. As both a brilliant and an advisor to the president of the United States, he’s against everything the terrorists represent. But as America slides toward a devastating civil war, Cooper is forced to play a game he dares not lose—because his opponents have their own vision of a better world.

And to reach it, they’re willing to burn this one down.


It's absolutely true, you can't put this book down. Just like with book one, I started this one and was instantly hooked and I couldn't stop. Because it's so fast paced and it's fascinating. I am not a politically savvy person at all so I'll admit that element of this book is a bit over my head just like in book one, but it wasn't near enough to make me give up. 

This time we have Nick, fresh after rescuing his family and killing the President of the United States basically, kind of in limbo. He's quickly pulled out of limbo when he's approached by the new President of the United States and invited to help be a part of the team to help discover who the Children of Darwin are and what their motive for basically becoming terrorists on American soil. They seem to be coming after "normals", shutting down major cities. 

In one of those cities is a scientist is kidnapped,  and the city is also shut down leaving his sidekick basically stranded. We get the view of civilians going commando if you will, and those who have stockpiled their goods become targets for desperate people. Then we still have Shannon, an abnorm from book one, who is running her own missions for John Smith. There's still a weird chemistry between her and Nick but he doesn't completely trust her motives with him and at the same time, his ex-wife is giving him some mixed signals. 

Then in all of this, we have political corruption and honestly? Did not see the ending coming. The loss of life in these books is staggering when you step away and really thinking about. The other thing is that the scenario presented in these books is terrifying. I'll be frank, as American citizens, we live a pretty cushy life. Even those of us who are financially strapped, those who are homeless, etc- even the worst circumstances is actually a lot better than some areas in other countries. I think we lose sight of that, but when I read stories like this, it makes it all sound so plausible and scary. Like maybe I really should be stockpiling canned goods and stuff. 

Overall? Loved it. That ending though.. perfect set up for book three and I'm eagerly waiting for it. So, so good. 

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