I am so sad to see this trilogy come to an end. It took me a little bit to get fully absorbed into the story but oh my, once I was in I was IN. I loved these characters so much and although I'm not entirely happy with the ending I will admit that it was a fairly satisfying conclusion. I have yet to read the novellas and will be picking them up sometime this year but at this point I can safely say that I enjoyed these books. The world was interesting and realistic and the political elements (eww politics, I know) really made the story believable. I really loved Clancy's character because he was such a prime example of what could easily have been Ruby.
The pain and torment that these characters went through is so detailed and just heartbreaking. The people that we lost were just so important and gosh I sort of hate Alexandra right now but this was a story about war, and in war there are usually more victims than survivors.
I had been holding out hope that somehow Cole had made it out and it still hurts and I'm not going to talk about that because of the PAIN.
I don't even know what to say about these books.
I loved the reactions of the general public and of the parents. I loved the way that they were tricked into fearing these children because it makes so much sense. People do unbelievable things out of fear; out of the need to survive. I love how everything didn't magically go back to being fine at the end. People were scared and had adapted to this lifestyle and were not just going to accept the kids back with open arms.
I loved how the stress of everything affected Ruby and everyone around her. I loved that they weren't perfect.
Gosh I just loved it all. It was gritty and difficult and people died and it was amazing.
Read these freaking books, guys.