Written by Brooklyn Saliba
Never in my wildest dreams did I think or expect that I would have been one of the very lucky bloggers to read Jay Kristoff’s highly anticipated sequel to Lifelike! A big thank you to the amazing people at Allen and Unwin for making this reader exceptionally ecstatic!
However, now that I’m finished DEV1AT3, I feel lost—how are we all meant to wait until the final instalment? Once you start reading, you will feel every kind of emotion—sadness, excitement, worry, and everything in between. While you may remember experiencing this in the first novel, it’s like these feelings multiplied because the story was fast-paced. You think you know these characters, but on of the many brilliant things about this nail-biting second instalment, which is perfection, is that you could not have predicted a single thing.
Lemon Fresh, after the climatic events in Lifelike, is coming to terms with having to forcibly part ways with her best friend, Eve, and their logical friend, Cricket. Now remember, the trio are family, especially since Lemon considered Silas (Eve’s supposed grandfather) to be her own and having always looked out for Lemon ever since they found her abandoned. We’re reminded instantly of that unique, close relationship they shared and the agony that Lemon feels as they had to part and to accept that Eve wasn’t always who she thought she was. It’s truly amazing the feelings you feel within these books because Jay Kristoff certainly has a way with toying with emotions and weaving a tale.
While there were many revelations in Lifelike, the sequel seems to take it up a notch. It was so addictive throughout as we were introduced to new characters, but now, all you can think is “oh hey, but can we trust you?” Especially in the instance of one character called Hunter who associates himself with Lemon Fresh and all throughout their interactions, you’re just wondering if he can be trusted. We then meet similar people to Lemon herself, the supposed lead being The Major, and boy was his character arc unexpected. I had honestly thought that Lemon might have found her family and realised she wouldn’t be alone and could be safe…but did she really?
If you haven’t already, pick up these books! Jay Kristoff has created the most stellar and unreal post-apocalyptic world with some real menacing humans—Sister Dee was unsettling all the way through, but you never quite knew when she would snap and she is definitely a character that you wouldn’t want to cross, especially as you learn that she is one of the ringleaders and one that people would practically tremble at. Sister Dee and the Brotherhood, who dream of a world without Deviates and preach to the extreme about their wretched ways…and then, well, what if her own precious son, Abraham, isn’t what she thought? What if she has been building up this world in her own blind fury? I suppose what I ultimately feel is who are the real robot and monsters here?
Speaking of, both Eve and the Preacher’s character arcs in this book were unbelievable. I was horrified with one of their mindsets in the early pages of the book, but then, how could you blame them? And of course, now we need answers after that beyond heartbreaking and epic ending!
I can safely say DEV1AT3 has been the best book so far I’ve read this year! It was everything that I had anticipated it being and more! A big, big thank you again to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of DEV1AT3 in exchange for an honest review. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
DEV1AT3 is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Will you be reading DEV1AT3? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Lemon Fresh has seen better days.
After the climactic battle in Babel, she finds herself separated from Ezekiel and Cricket in the wastelands. Lemon’s abilities to manipulate electricity mark her as a deviate, and deadly corporate operatives are hunting her to use as a weapon in the war between BioMaas Incorporated and Daedelus Technologies. Instead, Lemon finds herself falling in with a group of fellow deviates—a band of teenagers with astonishing abilities, led by an enigmatic figure known as the Major, who may hold the secrets to Lemon’s past.
Meanwhile, Cricket finds himself in possession of the puritanical Brotherhood, a religious cult set for a head-on collision with the Major and his band. Searching for Lemon, Ezekiel finds a strange ally in an old enemy, and uncovers a plot that may see him reunited with his beloved Ana.
And inside Babel, a remade Eve hatches a plan to bring an end to the world.
