Review: Outpost (Razorland #2) by Ann Aguirre

Outpost (Razorland #2) by Ann Aguirre

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published: Sept. 4th, 2012 by Feiwel & Friends

Source: Amazon Vine

Deuce’s whole world has changed. Down below, she was considered an adult. Now, topside in a town called Salvation, she’s a brat in need of training in the eyes of the townsfolk. She doesn’t fit in with the other girls: Deuce only knows how to fight.

To make matters worse, her Hunter partner, Fade, keeps Deuce at a distance. Her feelings for Fade haven’t changed, but he seems not to want her around anymore. Confused and lonely, she starts looking for a way out.

Deuce signs up to serve in the summer patrols—those who make sure the planters can work the fields without danger. It should be routine, but things have been changing on the surface, just as they did below ground. The Freaks have grown smarter. They’re watching. Waiting. Planning. The monsters don’t intend to let Salvation survive, and it may take a girl like Deuce to turn back the tide.

Enclave, book one in this amazing series, was intense.  It was almost physically hard to read, yet I couldn't pull my eyes away from the page.  I was terrified for the characters and every single horrific thing they had to endure.  Outpost was less intense, however I still had a difficult time setting the book down.  While the intense moments were less frequent, the book itself wasn't less amazing.

I felt like we finally got a chance to see the girl Deuce.  Not the huntress so much, though huntress Deuce is still there, but the more normal girl Deuce.  Deuce learns about love and family and caring about others.  She's clueless about the interactions of humans and the manners of all these 'normal' people around her.  She doesn't know what a birthday is, she doesn't know what so many things mean.  And she has so much to learn.  Also, her and Fade have a lot to figure out and it's a bumpy ride.  Mostly it's because Deuce has a lot to learn about communication and signals.  She doesn't understand certain things.  This all felt so real to me because of her past life and how she was raised and I thought it was done very well.  I also loved her relationships with others.  From her times with her new family to those she arrived with were terrific.  She relies on her new family for the love and support she never knew she craved.  But she leans on her friends for her mere survival out in the field.  Every character was brilliantly done.

Now there's a lot of other things going on as well.  The town has felt 'safe' for too long.  They don't seem to understand the danger out there.  And then planting season comes and they come across a major problem as Freaks are getting smarter and finding ways to set the town back.  Deuce's huntress abilities suddenly have become very useful and this town may not survive without her...

If you haven't read this series yet, I very highly suggest you do so!

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.