Razorland #3
Ann Aguirre
Young Adult/Dystopian
432 pages
Feiwel & Friends
Available October 29th
Source: ARC from publisher for review
THE STORY
The horde is coming.
Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.
Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.
This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.
MY THOUGHTS
Horde concludes the Razorland trilogy in a frenzy of claws and teeth, but in between the deep lacerations and the brutal blows delivered to our hearts Ms. Aguirre beautifully infuses the warmth of friendship and first love, filling each emotional slice and tear the Freaks make with just enough light to fight off their darkness. Horde takes us on more of a journey than the previous two books, Deuce and Fade constantly in motion as they seek to build an army capable of meeting the Freaks head on, but instead of being a slow build to a final epic battle, we’re given a more painfully realistic setup wherein minor and major battles (both mental and physical) are fought throughout to keep our breath escaping our lips in short pants. The pacing is beautifully executed, blood and death chilling our blood while love and family heats it again, leaving us exhausted and emotionally depleted by the end, but also so very hopeful.
Deuce has been an extraordinary young woman from the beginning, her mental and physical toughness accompanied by a sweet vulnerability when it comes to dealing with relationships and feelings of any kind. In Horde she’s at the top of her game as a fighter and leader, but the true beauty of her lies in her weaknesses just as much as it does her strengths, and the devoted effort she makes to be both emotionally and physically demonstrative to those she cares for is as much a joy to experience as her battlefield successes. In the darkness of the underground enclave she was a warrior only–her life dedicated to a single purpose–but the woman at the end of Horde is a striking combination qualities, too large and full of life to fit in any one neatly labeled box.
Fade has our hearts in a vise for a good portion of this book, the lingering effects of the abuse he endured in Outpost present and accounted for, and we can’t help but flinch or wince with him whenever someone makes physical contact. He’s been such a force to be reckoned with in these books that it’s a special kind of torture to see him brought so low, but through his obvious pain the fire that’s always burned so brightly in him shines, and we have the pleasure of watching him fight his way free of the fears paralyzing his mind to find Deuce waiting patiently for him on the other side. The two of them together are an extraordinary and unforgettable pair, one destined for the favorites shelf to be read and enjoyed again and again.
Overall, Horde is an emotionally-charged and action-packed finale, showing us with more than just Deuce how one person can inspire change and rewrite what was sure to be a dark and bleak history, both humbling us and sparking in us a renewed desire to bring forth our own change, however small it may seem in the grand scheme of things.
Rating: 4/5
Find Ann:
Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon
Ann is a part of the Fierce Reads Tour (along with the amazing Leigh Bardugo, Gennifer Albin, and Jessica Brody), so be sure and check HERE to see if they're coming to a stop near you!
Ann is a part of the Fierce Reads Tour (along with the amazing Leigh Bardugo, Gennifer Albin, and Jessica Brody), so be sure and check HERE to see if they're coming to a stop near you!
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HORDE BOOK TRAILER
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GIVEAWAY
Thanks to the always outstanding team at Macmillan, I have paperback copies of both Enclave and Outpost to give away today, as well as a hardcover copy of Horde. To enter, please just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Be sure and check out all the remaining stops on the tour for more interviews, reviews, guest posts and chances to win!
Monday 10/14
Tuesday 10/15
Wednesday 10/16
Thursday 10/17
Friday 10/18
Monday 10/21
Tuesday 10/22
Wednesday 10/23
Thursday 10/24
Friday 10/25
Adventures of a Book Junkie
I still haven't read this series so I can't name a character from the series, but I think I'd like to have Rose from Vampire Academy with me. She's super tough.
ReplyDeleteShe would definitely be a good one to have. As would Dimitri:)
DeleteI soooo wanna read book 1
ReplyDeleteDO IT! I love this series:)
Delete"the woman at the end of Horde is a striking combination qualities, too large and full of life to fit in any one neatly labeled box."
ReplyDeleteYes, I love this about Deuce! She is both complex and complete as a character, and everything about her is so well thought-out, her circumstances always taken into account. I adored all three books, but Horde was still my favorite, mature and well structured, perfectly paced and so beautifully written. I love those small sentences that Ann just randomly throws in that always manage to teach me something about life and about myself. :)
Such a beautifully written review, Jenny! You make the rest of us look bad.
Noooooo! You write stunning reviews Maja. Whenever I read the Bone Season, I'm just going to link to your review and say "THIS". :) I so enjoy everything Ann writes, and I can't wait to get my hands on whatever comes next!
DeleteI wasn't a fan of Enclave, but I'm still glad this trilogy ended strong for you, Jenny. I think conclusions are always the trickiest to write, only because it's difficult to satisfy everyone, but I'm glad you were. Wonderful review, dear!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely did! The pacing I thought was fantastic, I was so glad it wasn't this crazy slow build that lead to an action packed end. Instead it was action all the way through:)
DeleteDamn I need to get to read this series somehow. I have heard such amazing things about it and it's really high time to discover it. Deuce sounds like a great characters and it seems to me that I'll enjoy this beautiful writing. Great review Jenny :)
ReplyDeleteI adore Deuce Tanja! Ann writes such brilliant and layered characters, they amaze me every time:)
DeleteSon of giraffe shifter! I'd kinda forgotten about this series. Thanks for reminding me, Jenny! Now I've got Outpost on my library list, since that's where I left off. :D
ReplyDeleteYou. Are. Welcome. Now you can read Outpost and Horde together and life will be awesome:)
DeleteAhh! I'm so excited to hear that you loved this book as much as Heidi, Jenny. I need to get to the second book asap. It seems like this series finished with a bang which is always awesome with a finale.
ReplyDeleteDeuce and Fade sound like they have gone through a lot, but hopefully, they got their HEA in this one. I'm looking forward to reading this one.
Lovely review, Jenny!
Deuce and Fade go through SO much Nick, but I just love that they come out stronger for it. And there's no angst between them, I don't think either of them is capable of being angsty, there's just a lot of emotional vulnerability and I love it:)
DeleteI'd like to have Katniss with me. Long range fighter so they never get close!
ReplyDeleteI still need to read the second book in this series even though I've owned it forever. (Okay, not forever.)
Oooo yes! Good thought Liviania, she would be a huge asset for Deuce and Fade in this book!
DeleteConfession: I'm too much of a chicken to read this series. Zombies creep me out and your first sentence of clashing of teeth and claws made me shiver, Jenny! I do have teens who love this series and thanks to your reviews I can pretend to squee (and come off genuine, I think) right along with them.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Rummanah! I absolute HATE zombies, I don't like to read anything with them, but this series is more suspenseful than scary, and I think you'll find the Freaks fascinating. Especially in this last book:)
DeleteI am so relieved to know this series ended as well as it did, sadly that doesn't always seem to be happening these days.
ReplyDeleteGreat review Jenny, I really look forward to starting this trilogy!
I hope you give it a try Ali, I'm a huge fan:) Clearly.
DeleteThanks so much for this lovely review. I hope everyone else enjoys the finale as much as you did.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Ann! You know I've loved this series from the beginning and couldn't get my hands on this last book fast enough:)
DeleteHe is very intimidating and could do a lot of Freak damage I think. GOOD CHOICE FELICIA!
ReplyDeleteI love the way this book ended! I love this series in general! Hmm, can I have Bones or Vald on my side when it comes to facing freaks? I fight with those two HAWT boys anyday! LOL
ReplyDeleteI think Four from Divergent would be an excellent companion!! I am SO bloody eager to read Horde. I just adore this series!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Katsa from Graceling! She's badass like no other :)
ReplyDeleteI've never read this series! There's just so many books to try and get to. But if you loved it so much, then I know I will as well! Fabulous review, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI cannot WAIT for this book to come out. I'm super excited to see what kind of development we get from the Freaks :D Though if I could take anyone with me to face a Freak in combat, I would love to take Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead) with me! He knows a thing or two about taking those kind of monsters down.
ReplyDeleteI recently just got bitten by this series, btw, and wrote a review for it here that I would love everyone to check out
I still need to read that second book before I get to this one. Usually I'm disappointed in ending books, but it doesn't look like I'll be disappointed here. I'm a bit nervous for these characters especially since you talked about the torture Fade went through. MUST have these books!
ReplyDeleteBtw, who would I have with me? I'm not sure. Buffy TVS? LOL Someone badass because I'm not. LOL
Oh, the first book is quite a short one so I'm surprised this is such a beast. 400+ pages is quite a lot. You've spammed us quite a lot with this series in your Sunday Six (? Well.. you know, that Danny's creation) meme and I remember reading your review for book #2 so I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed this final installment ;) I'm actually more of a "continuous" battle girl in books than having all of the events to build up to a big epic battle so I'm all for this book it seems. Deuce has been an intriguing character for me from ever since I read about her from your previous reviews. I think she seems like a force to be reckoned with. AHHH. You basically just sold another series on me, girl!!!
ReplyDeleteDaryl Dixon. Period. End of story. =)
ReplyDeleteA character's only as good as her weaknesses and Deuce has them in spades (heh. See what I did there?). Which makes her a beyond-awesome characters. I can't wait to see how this end!
ReplyDeleteI am equal parts excited and terrified for Horde. THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN! I CAN FEEL IT!
ReplyDeleteAs for what fictional character I'd like with me: The Shobster. The Shobster could DESTROY anything that crosses its path with it's shark teeth and lobster hand. *nods* I stand by my choice.
I'm way excited to read this, but terrified as well. I can't wait to see where things end up!
ReplyDeleteI've only read book 1 but it was aaaaawesome :) Thanks for sharing! I'd love to get caught up. I'd have to say that I'd love to have Kate Daniels with me fighting freaks! She's kick*ss with a sword :)
ReplyDeleteEric Northman from The Sookie Stackhouse series!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
I adore your review Jenny! "In the darkness of the underground enclave she was a warrior only–her life dedicated to a single purpose–but the woman at the end of Horde is a striking combination qualities, too large and full of life to fit in any one neatly labeled box." This so beautifully describes why I love Deuce. She will always be on my favorite YA heroines list. So glad you loved this one too! :-)
ReplyDeleteGosh, I don't know! I haven't read this series yet. Hmmm. I'll have to read it and report back! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh man so excited to get my hands on it! I've read some of the preview on Amazon to sate my hunger, but it only made it worse!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have convinced me that I need to read this series! I love how you talk about Deuce's strength as a fighter vs her vulnerability about human emotions and love. That combination is definitely appealing. Also, when you say this couple is one of your favorite, that makes me even more interested. I'm always looking for a new couple to swoon over, especially when their love is fought for over time. Hopefully I can find time to read through these soon and we can discuss them!
ReplyDeleteI'd take Perry from Under the Never Sky.
ReplyDeleteI'd want Kate Daniels with me. She is good with a sword, knows power words and can control the undead.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. Thanks for the giveaway.
Superman
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this series.
ReplyDelete