Fragments by Dan Wells

GoodReads Summary: Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence--it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

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Expected publication date: 28/03/13 (UK)

Sequels make me feel both excited and nervous. Nervous, because sometimes they don't quite live up to their predecessors and I'm left sourly disappointed. Fragments, however, didn't just meet my expectations, it exceeded them!

The story alternates between Kira and Marcus's point of view. We follow Kira (who is later joined by Samm and Heron) on her journey to find the Trust, and Marcus as he takes a stand and does what he can to save the people of Long Island. Marcus wasn't my favourite character in Partials, but I think I appreciated him more in Fragments. Wells shows that there's more to him than just being funny and charming, he's also a resourceful young man who's willing to take action.

In Fragments we see a different side to the Partials. In book 1 we hear about them from the survivors of Long Island, so it's no surprise that they're portrayed in a negative light. But in this book we see them through Marcus's eye, and to my surprise I found myself sympathising for them. Yes, some are cold and ruthless, but there are others that are so human-like that I couldn't help but wish that they were able to co-exist peacefully with the humans.

To my delight we also get to hear from Samm's perspective. Unlike Heron who could easily pass of as being human, he struggles with expressing his thoughts and emotions which makes his interactions with Kira all the more fascinating. He's a character I became easily fond with in book 1 and even more so in Fragments.

Heron is an interesting character, if you haven't already, I definitely recommend reading Isolation (the prequel to Partials) as it gives a glimpse into her back story. We see her being created, trained and eventually set up as a spy for the United States Government. Having read it I think it helped me better understand her fiery and sarcastic nature.

One of the best things about this trilogy is how unpredictable it is, the plot twists literally threw me. I don't think there was a moment where I thought "I saw that coming". The revelations that came to light were shocking and I was utterly fascinated with the scientific of aspect of the story. Wells raises some interesting questions, and pushes his characters to their limits, having them make tough decisions. The exploration into race, fascism, and humanity was ever present and thought provoking.

I think Dan Wells deserves a round of applause for the subtle romance. Through simple gestures and words Wells has crafted together a beautiful romance that is not only swoon worthy, but also believable. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

The ending. One moment I was like "YES. This is what I've been waiting for!" and then  next I was screaming "WHAAAT?! NOOOO!" Seriously, it's going to be a killer wait for the third and final book in the trilogy.

Bursting with action and excitement Fragments deserves all the stars (or hearts in this case), I honestly can't praise it enough!

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