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kareilaI had a hard time getting through this sequel because it pretty much dispenses with the political consequences of the first book. President Ryman is nowhere to be seen, even though one of the hero journalists from the first book is his veep - a plot twist I found completely incredible, and not only is it not justified here, but the protagonists are completely unable to reach him at any point during this story. "How convenient," as my old friend the Church Lady would say.
Moreover, the author has made a highly questionable, if interesting, plot choice by - SPOILER ALERT - allowing Georgia to continue to exist in Shaun's head, and occasionally as a full-bodied hallucination. I'm as glad to see her as anyone, and clearly Shaun can't function without being able to interact with her in some form, but I didn't think it was a good choice for the reader in terms of suspension of disbelief. I will allow, though, that the choice made a little more sense after I read the final chapter.
So take away the real George, Rick, and the Ryman circus, and who is left? A visibly cracked Shaun and a bunch of extras from the first book. They've been left alone for a whole year - again, "how convenient" - before the CDC decides to move in on them, leaving them running around trying to get themselves killed exposing the truth about the CDC's shady practices. Actually, it's unclear they're even exposing anything, since they're too terrified of retribution to publish anything factual on their site. Instead, they take up with a mad scientist intent on proving that the virus can be cured, because apparently they've decided they're on a mission to save the world instead of just finding out the truth.
Hoping the third book is better.
Moreover, the author has made a highly questionable, if interesting, plot choice by - SPOILER ALERT - allowing Georgia to continue to exist in Shaun's head, and occasionally as a full-bodied hallucination. I'm as glad to see her as anyone, and clearly Shaun can't function without being able to interact with her in some form, but I didn't think it was a good choice for the reader in terms of suspension of disbelief. I will allow, though, that the choice made a little more sense after I read the final chapter.
So take away the real George, Rick, and the Ryman circus, and who is left? A visibly cracked Shaun and a bunch of extras from the first book. They've been left alone for a whole year - again, "how convenient" - before the CDC decides to move in on them, leaving them running around trying to get themselves killed exposing the truth about the CDC's shady practices. Actually, it's unclear they're even exposing anything, since they're too terrified of retribution to publish anything factual on their site. Instead, they take up with a mad scientist intent on proving that the virus can be cured, because apparently they've decided they're on a mission to save the world instead of just finding out the truth.
Hoping the third book is better.
