ARC Review: In the End | How to Survive a Prison

In the End by Demitria Lunetta
Published by HarperTeen
Format Reviewed: Physical ARC
Publication Date: June 24th, 2014
Genre: YA Dystopian, Science Fiction
Pages: 448
Reviewed by: Stephanie
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
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The thrilling conclusion to In the After, the survival story of Amy and Baby, set in a near future where Earth has been overrun by vicious, predatory creatures.

It’s been three months since Amy escaped New Hope, and she’s been surviving on her own, like she did in the After. Until one day, her former fellow Guardian’s voice rings out in her earpiece. And in a desperate tone, Kay utters the four words Amy had hoped she would never hear: Dr. Reynolds has Baby.

Now it’s a race against time, for Baby is in imminent danger, her life threatened by the malevolent doctor who had helped start the end of the world. In order to save Baby, Amy must make her way to Fort Black, a prison-turned-survivor-colony, where she will need to find Ken, Kay’s brother. He alone holds the key to Baby’s survival.

One small slip-up on this quest could spark a downward spiral that would not only cost Baby and Amy their lives, but threaten the very survival of the people in the After.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation was given, offered, or taken to alter this review.

Dude, creepy.  

Yes, that's my summary of this book in just two words. Fort Black is definitely not was I expected. I will go ahead and say that I didn't really read the synopsis since I consider that the content in some are a bit spoilerly. So of course, I'm reading and find out that Fort Black is a freakin' prison and basically have an internal moment of, "What!? Good crap!" I mean... that's worse than I expected. I seriously thought it would just be this little down with make shift guard posts or something filled with bandits and the such. I did not expect it to be a prison.

The pages just flew by. I did not want to put it down. I didn't realize how traumatized Amy was after book one until I started reading In the End. We're introduced to a lot of questionable and down right wicked characters (and not wicked in a good way) but Jacks balanced them out very well. I love Jacks. 

I was forever guessing and wondering who Amy could trust at Fort Black, if anyone. Even towards the end, I doubted those who'd been her allies with her from the moment they met. This, combined with the setting, made for a very creepy book. Seriously, Miss Lunetta is amazing. 

Then there's New Hope. If you think you know everything about it and what really happened, you're wrong. I didn't expect there to be more info but surprise! We have some more interesting and condemning evidence about Dr. Reynolds.

I never really liked Rice all that much and this book pretty much solidifies my disdain for him. Rice is good but ultimately, I feel like he's a coward, and expected him to betray them at some point. Of course, he promised to protect Baby and did a crappy job of it so no points for him. Poor, poor, Baby. I'd say I can't believe what they did to her, but... I can.

In short... In the End is creepy and a wonderful end to this duology.

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