Resistance

January 15, 2014
Histrionic characters overpower the action in this dystopian-political-thriller sequel to Replica (2013). Nate and his fiancee, Nadia, believe that they have successfully disabled Nate's father's plan to indefinitely extend his role as Chairman of the corporate government. As this sequel begins, they naively believe they will have the opportunity to implement reform when Nate inherits the Chairmanship. However, Nate's father secretly retained the tools he needs to rule forever once he's neutralized Nate and Nadia. Nadia is sent to a prisonlike mental institution, where she develops a predictably cliched romance with Dante, a spy for the rebellion. Meanwhile, the Chairman limits Nate's power by forcing him to accept a fiancee who will be less likely to tolerate Nate's political ideas--or his secret boyfriend, Bishop, who also happens to be a rebellion spy. Soon, Nate and Nadia find themselves involved, however ill-prepared, in the rebellion. Dante's and Bishop's practical skills are not enough to save the plot from an overreliance on convenience--Nadia's escape from confinement, in particular, stretches the limits of believability. Also unconvincing are the characters' continual emotional vacillations, which make them simply unpredictable rather than complex, particularly in the novel's final moments. Only for fans of the first book. (Dystopian adventure. 14-18)

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March 1, 2014
Grades 10-1 Black takes a sharp turn away from Faeriewalker, her popular YA fantasy series, in this sequel to Replica (2013). The story of Nate Hayes, the Chairman Heir, and his betrothed, Nadia Lake, ramps up as the pervasive Orwellian elements layer over light romance. Nate, after discovering the reality behind his original death, feels like a wanted man under his father's watchful eye, and Nadia has been spirited away to a private spa retreat while the news and paparazzi frenzy surrounding her arrest die down. Neither of them knows who to trust or how far they can go now that their previous crimes are national news. Their allies in the Resistance remain shifty by necessity, and everyone, even the heroes, is lying to keep safe. Black is an accomplished author, and her approach to sf and dystopian genres focuses on politics and trust rather than hard science. Readers should dive into Replica first, lest they become lost among the array of characters and frequently shifting, occluded alliances in Resistance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)