Though I was screaming “BE NICE TO ZU” at everyone. Every character’s motivation made so much sense and was so clear in their actions. The deception was real and simultaneously fun and anxiety-inducing. I was a ball of nerves while Zu was figuring out what their deal was. The web of lies at the beginning was fascinating to unravel. The ways their relationships change over the book was so much fun. Roman was interesting and sympathetic and different from Alex Bracken’s other love interests, but I still loved him. Minor spoiler my instinct to ship Priya with a lady was not incorrectly placed. New friends! At first, I could tell that we were going to be shipping Roman and Zu but I wanted it to be Priya and Zu. They are all still overprotective and collaborative and wonderful.

With old friends, we got to see how Chubbs, Vida, Liam, and Ruby’s relationship with Zu and each other has grown and changed how they are able to have differences of opinions and still deeply love each other. We got to see what’s up with our old friends the Black Betty Gang + Vida (with sprinkles of Cate, Nico, Mia, Sam, and Lucas) and we got to meet new people to love, Roman and Priya.

We really get to see the ways in which she forms her new opinions and how exactly she decides to use her power and influence to shape the word into a better place for everyone (though I loved the name The Darkest Legacy so much I kind of wanted her to run with that title). Getting to go on this journey with Zu was amazing. Also, there are plenty of emotional punches and downtime to catch your breath. It is 500+ pages and every one is used well.

By the end, I felt like I had read multiple books, not because it was disjointed, it was a very cohesive experience, but because you go through so much on the book. We jump from one life-threatening situation to the next and every time the pace and stakes and danger is ratcheted up the perfect amount to keep you hooked. Alex Bracken was clearly working through her own reaction to the election, but the book does not read as a straight allegory and it does not bludgeon the reader with TRUMPPPP, it is just something that is present in the conflicts in the book. You can see a lot of this book as a reaction to America’s political climate at the moment. It fights against blind hope and trust and really hits home with the message that you must be active in society to keep those in power from abusing that power. Did I love the way In the Afterlight ended? Yes.ĭid the Darkest Legacy come in and make me love it too? Fuck yes.ĭid my first attempt at a review at a review get deleted? Yes, and I am mad about it.

Darkest minds the darkest legacy