Review: Meridian (Arclight, #2) by Josin L. McQuien

Meridian by Josin L. McQuien

Series: Arclight, #2
Release Date: May 27^th 2014
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Format: eGalley
Pages: 458
Genre: Young Adult – Science Fiction, Dystopia
Source: Edelweiss
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Marina thought that she had solved all of the Arclight’s mysteries. She had found her own history—that she was one of the Fade, that she never should have been human. She knows that the Fade who surround the Arclight don’t want to be the humans' enemies at all. She knows that the leader of those inside the Arc, Honoria Whit, never told the whole truth. But there is so much more that Marina is just discovering. There are more survivors out there. Only Marina—and her friends, all of whom have connections to the Fade they'd never known about—can lead her people to them. But there are also darker dangers, things that even the Fade fear. And Marina slowly realizes she may never have been “cured,” after all. The sequel to Arclight, Meridian is an intense, action-packed page-turner about the lines we draw between right and wrong, light and dark . . . and the way nothing is ever that black and white.

*This is a review of the second book and it may contain spoilers.*

This book starts off where the first one left off. When I started the book I thought I remembered most of the first one but I quickly figured out that wasn’t true. There was a bit of a recap in the beginning but this is the one time that I wish there would have been a little more. I would recommend reading this second book close to when you read the first one to avoid this problem.

The chapters are between Tobin and Marina. Tobin has been having awful nightmares he thinks are associated with his healing at the end of the first book. Something is definitely not right with him. Marina on the other hand has quit taking her inhaler and is going on the two month mark for that. She still bleeds, and acts like a human, but Cherish is making herself stronger as time goes on.

The village currently has a sort of peace going on with the Fade and has allowed those that were lost to come back, including Tobin’s father. Marina seems to be the person right in the middle of everything, considering she started it all anyway. They still do their nightly rounds and have fixed the lights for the most part but they are pretty much uneventful. One person that has not been seen since the end of the first book is Rue, which made me sad. I am definitely one that is rooting for Rue. I would so rather see a story with him and Cherish than with Tobin.

The first half of the book is actually sort of slow, boring, and nothing really seems to happen. The second half gets better, action wise, so I would recommend pushing through if you aren’t enjoying it at the start. Overall though, not a lot happens. One thing you do get is a lot of back story with the older group of people which was something I enjoyed reading.  I believe this is now going to be a trilogy, even though it started out as a stand-alone. If this is true then this book seems to fall prey to the “second book syndrome”. I’m not sure how I would like to see the trilogy end but I’m hoping it gets better. There is nothing worse than starting out with a great first book and then going straight downhill.

I do really like McQuein’s writing even though this book wasn’t the best. There were definitely a few times I found myself marking quotes, which I NEVER do. (I would quote one here if my rabbit didn’t chew up my tablet charger.)

Am I going to continue with the series? Yes. Only because I really enjoyed the first one and I would like to see how it ends (or if she randomly decides to go with Rue!)

My Rating:

3.5/5 Stars

*This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.