Review: Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott
Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood #2)
by: Victoria Scott
Publication Date: Feb. 24, 2015
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Dystopia
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 320 pages
Order Links: Amazon
My Rating: 4/5 stars
What would you do to save someone you love?
In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.
But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?
The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.
In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.
But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?
The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.
Upon finishing Fire & Flood, I couldn't wait to get my hands on its sequel! I loved the premise behind this series and how Scott has created such a believable, realistic heroine in Tella. That's not to say she doesn't have her flaws. However, I was able to look past those and really focus on the action packed, intense story it was.
Tella was a bit frustrating for me in the beginning with her constant worrying about whether or not she's depending too much on Guy. She wants to keep him close because she cares for him, but at the same time she feels like she has something to prove. She really dwells on this more than she should and then there were times that I felt she was rebelling just to prove she could. She did get better as the book went on, though. Where Guy felt more the leader in the previous book, Tella really takes the reigns in this one. She is not perfect though. She makes mistakes and she constantly wonders if her decision was the right one or if she should have heeded Guy's advice instead. However, it is her big heart that really endears her to me. She cares for her companions, as well as the Pandoras. Seeing her interact with them was absolutely my favorite part of this one.
The more I read, the more I feared for what was to come. I didn't want anything bad to come to Tella, her friends, or their Pandoras. However, they are in a brutal race of survival. Everyone there has someone to lose if they don't succeed, so the fact they banded together was nice to see. We do have a few new character additions and I was really wary of them. I was afraid they would upset the balance and cause problems for Tella's team. Things weren't perfect between them and there were times I was confused by some of their actions, but overall they were a team and they respected one another.
As frustrated as I could get with Guy in this one, I did still love him. He really does care for Tella and he is afraid of showing her just how much. Scott does a great job with their tension and there were so many moments you could feel him desperately wanting to express himself and when he doesn't, I just wanted to scream! Tella definitely tests him in this book and the swoony moments are few and far between, but they are definitely worth the wait and the frustration!
There were a few twists in this one that I didn't expect and I was both desperate and afraid to turn the pages, knowing that my heart might not be able to take what was to come! I am really anxious for the next book and am hoping that Scott maintains her fast paced, action packed world (with more Guy and Tella romantic moments) as well as gives us plenty more with those adorable Pandoras we all love!
6 comments
I think I am the only person who doesn't get annoyed with Tella lol I just love her. I think I just like how realistic she is, like I feel like I would have been her when she was first dropped into the contest... Great review Jessica!
ReplyDeleteHaha, she definitely got better for me!
DeleteWoohoo! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Jess! I loved Guy, his temperament and all. The Pandoras are my favorite part of the books! I seriously there will be a third book because this one ended so cruelly :O Excellent review, Jess!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I hope there will be one too!
DeleteGreat review, lady! I didn't love this one as much as the first. I was disappointed in Tella's attitude for a lot of the book. I thought the whole "I am a tough and independent heroine" story line felt forced. Her heart was in a better place in book 1. Not that I want her to be weak! But she could have gone about things in a different way. :/ And this made the romance quite frustrating. Hopefully book 3 will be better for me!
ReplyDeleteThanks hun! I agree- this definitely didn't live up to the first. I hope the final book will be better too!
DeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
My blog is an award-free blog, however, as I just do not have the time to follow-up.