Title:  Outpost
Author: Ann Aguirre
Publisher/Year: Feiwel & Friends 2012
Length:  336 pages
Series: Razorland Series #2

Overview

Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide

My Thoughts

I really enjoy this series and can’t put my finger on what makes it so different.  In this story, we’ve got our classing YA love triangle, but i’m not sure who i’m rooting for.  This 2nd installment takes us on a few different paths, and the outcome is still kind of ambiguous to me (probably the reason that i’m loving it).  So as the overview above states, Deuce finds herself in a place that she’s just not made for (or so she thinks).  In the enclave, she was an adult, never had to answer to parents or teachers other than Silk and the Wordkeepers and that’s absolutely not how it is in Salvation.  She’s also at a crossroads since Fade wants nothing to do with her and Stalker does, and Tegan’s an entirely different story since she keeps trying to make it seem as though everything that happened on the journey never happened.

This means that there HAS to be trouble brewing outside their little world since they are so involved in this story line right?  Well, that’s exactly what we get.  While we’re led to believe that the Freaks (or Muties) are primitive and without the ability to plan and develop strategy and think on their own, we learn that evolution is taking place and things are going to be flipped faster than we know it.

Some of the secondary characters in also begin to be more important here which is nice.  Longshot not only has a soft side for Deuce, but he really believes in her.  Through this book we learn a bit more and see where their relationship will take them.  we also see more from Momma Oakes and Edmund which is nice since Deuce needs someone to be a parent and these 2 are PERFECT for the job.

So, there’s a lot of ups and downs in this story, and the lead into the 3rd book Horde is really putting me on edge.  i can’t wait to see what comes next and here’s what i hope we find out

1) What is Longshot asking Deuce to do and what will come of that?

2) What’s going on with Fade?  (really?!?)

3) What’s happening outside the walls of Salvation and how long will those walls hold up?

4) what is it that the Freaks really want?

5) who will survive?

happy reading all!!