If you loved the first book you are going to love this one even more! We are back right into the mix of everything with Tara. More crazy things and more power are thrown around left and right and she has decided to confront everything head on and come out fighting to win this! The book is so fast paced and we learn even more about Tara as we grow to love her more. I don't want to give any spoilers but you willl not be able to put this book down as tara learns about being a New Blood and how her and her allies will bring down the Prezedant.

I'll be honest, I still didn't like Tara. But there were a lot more redeeming points that kept this book in my good graces. For one, I really liked the involvement of the different secondary characters; they weren't just filler, they actually had a role to play and they had different personalities. I also liked that the author took the time to explain more of the backstory of how things came to be and who the Prezedant is. It helped make the story more cohesive and enjoyable. Just like the first novel, the story was fast-paced with lots of action that kept it an interesting journey. I think I quite liked this novel, in comparison to its prequel. I would recommend this trilogy to pre-teen/teens who like science fiction.

Wow, this book really kicked things up a notch! In the sequel to Awaken, Tara finds herself struggling to find where she stands in this war against the Prezedant. While she pledges her loyalty to the rebels, not all of them are convinced. Mack pushes her to think about more than just her circle from Rivercross and start to see the larger picture–to see how the Prezedant’s power affects everyone.

In the meantime, Jax makes a reappearance and starts to awaken new feelings in Tara that she’s not too sure what to do with. Especially when she can’t even tell if they’re real for him as well or not. Compared to the last book there are more hints of romance in this one, but there was a good balance between that and the main story.

Overall the pacing was very good in this book, I think probably a little more than in the last one. The story definitely moved along and there was a sense of growing tension as events brought Tara closer to the Prezedant.

We also had the opportunity to learn more about Tara’s past regarding her parents. The way the book ended especially, however, was kinda surprising in that I want to know more. Ahhh! I just want to know how Tara’s powers are going to evolve now that she’s really serious about fighting the Prezedant, and how meeting some new characters are going to change things for her and her group.

I recommend this book if you like dystopian novels and fantasy or sci-fi because it’s almost got a little bit of those in it as well when it comes to the new bloods. Can’t wait to see where Bryan takes this in the next novel.

This series just keeps getting better! I love all the main characters and their relationships. It has everything! Love, hate, humor, and fear. This is a unique take on the appocolypse! It stats out how most apocolyptic books do but the way they have to fix the problem is unlike any other apocolyptic book i have read! The story keeps you engaged throughout! I deffinitly reccomend this series!

This second installment starts off interesting enough with Tara learning how to continue being an asset to the rebellion against the Prezedant. I liked the first book, and this one was just as fast-paced and action-packed. I also liked that there was a little more romance and that she was aware there was anything going on where a certain guy was concerned. Tara definitely came off more as a coming-of-age MC with the things she was tasked to do, the feelings that came with it and the decisions that she had and wanted, in the end, to be hers. And hers alone.

She's a total hard-head that doesn't let anyone tell her different. At times it was annoying but then I remember that she's so young and inexperienced with life that after a while, it slowly turned into something endearing when you thought of her as a person learning and growing. The action was nice, and the suspense was pretty up there because I kept wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. Overall, a pretty entertaining read I'd recommend to young readers that enjoy the slightly darker themes of Dystopian novels.

The first in the series was really good so I high hopes for the sequel and Michelle Bryan somehow managed to make it even better than first. There is just more of everything to the point you feel like you aren’t reading a book but have been pulled into an action movie! I felt like I was rushing headlong through the river rapids because I was exploding so fast through this book. You just keep turning page after page as Bryan pushes you through a rollercoaster of adventure.

I got to be reminded all over that it’s not just her writing style I love but her characters as well who she writes to the point you have to remember these aren’t real people. And her dialogue! It’s quirky, fun and most importantly realistic. It’s what makes her characters feel like friends you’re joining on their thrill ride to something better. She writes these beautifully complex characters that evolve to show different sides of their personalities as they have to adapt to the changes in their lives.

I can’t wait for the third one because she’s proven to have the talent needed to write a good series that draws you in and keeps you coming back for more.

Ascension by Michelle Bryon is a teens ya read.
A shining city promises death. Tara must go there anyway.

In this thrilling sequel to Awaken, Tara must choose between the impossible. She knows she isn’t the person everyone wants her to be; wants nothing to do with the rebellion and strange powers that are as likely to kill her friends as her enemies. But the Prezedant has Ben, her only remaining kin. She made a promise to save him. A promise she can only keep if she tries anyway.

When they finally reach the seat of the Prezedant’s power, a masquerade ball becomes the perfect stage to set in motion a plan to save Ben. It will begin and end there in a battle against the tyrant and a daring escape that will shake the world.

It will shake Tara, too, as she learns truths that change everything she had believed about herself.
OMG I absolutely love this series. Tara is still my favourite character.
As I read this it felt like I was there with them. Can't wait for next part. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.