As an avid reader of sci-fi books, I was very excited to hear about an alien / dystopian themed book that's lead protagonist was a female, it's not something you see very often and that is definitely what made this series stand out for me. I first picked up this book just over a year ago and I loved it.
Cassie, the books protagonist is tough, caring and relatable, she provides depth and meaning to the story and helps to show the impact this horrific alien invasion has had on even the most mundane people. Her journey throughout the book is moving and touching. I felt like I had experienced all the highs and lows with Cassie and I loved her character. I especially liked how far she would go to look after her younger brother Sammy, it is usually the male protagonist going to save the female but I like how Yancey offered an alternative spin on this. Despite Cassie being the most developed character in the book, the other characters are just as clever and unique, including Ringer and Zombie. Through the use of these amazing and diverse characters, Yancey is able to create a unique feel within this book.
The plot throughout this book was fast paced and driven, it took me only a day to read as I just could not put it down. Despite the themes being dark it was still a good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it, I especially liked the picture Yancey creates with the different waves of alien invasion which helps to build on the plot and make it even more intriguing.
The only thing I disliked was the forced romance within this book. Does Cassie really need a love interest? I mean she lasted so long without the need for any help from anyone else yet when she finds Evan Walker she becomes somewhat useless.. I felt like their entire relationship was forced and I didn't like it. I did not like Evan's character at all either, I just found him a tedious and dull character but thankfully the other characters were far more interesting than him.
Despite the book getting mixed opinions, I absolutely loved it. I would recommend this book for older teens that have an interest in sci-fi but it would also appeal to adults as it has many different elements that will appeal to a varied audience.
