Review: "The Storm" by Virginia Bergin

DEADLY TO THE LAST DROP . Ninety-seven percent of the population is dead. And the killer rain keeps falling. Ruby's not sure she can make it on her own much longer. So when a chance encounter leads her to a camp with the last boy she may ever kiss (it's not easy to date during an apocalypse), Ruby gratefully accepts the army's protection. But safety comes with a price: If Ruby wants to stay, she must keep her eyes-and her mouth-shut. Except Ruby stumbles across a secret she can't possibly keep. Horrified, she flips out and fights back-only to make the most shocking discovery of all...

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I actually started reading this book, then realized part of the way in that it is a sequel.  Woops! Normally I wouldn't request a sequel unless I'd already read the first in the series, so I quickly signed out "The Rain" from my library and read that first.  And I quite liked it, enough that I was excited to see what would happen to Ruby Morris in "The Storm".  

Ruby is...I wasn't sure I was going to like her, to be honest, but over the course of the two books, she really grew on me.  She started off as a shallow, self absorbed, sarcastic and impulsive teen.  I could always tell she loved her family, even if she rarely got along with them, and she absolutely adored her group of friends, but once they're all dead due to the rain, she only has herself and her own wits to rely on to keep her alive.  Scary!

I really liked how the author was able to show Ruby's growth in this second book.  Ruby became a lot more mature and even sensible by having nobody to count on.  She found out the hard way not to trust anyone, and it was difficult to watch at times.  I can't say a lot about what happens, but if you like a lot of plot twists and turns, then you'll be loving this book!

And Darius?  What can I say about Darius Spratt?  Not your typical love interest, for sure, but he's got his charms.  I ended up falling for him almost as hard as Ruby did!

I'm not positive that this is the end of the series, but I'd be happy to read more books by Virginia Bergin either way.  I think she has a distinctive and authentic voice.  I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a unique, suspenseful, action-packed dystopian.  This is one I think my ten year old daughter would love, although I will make her wait to read it due to the violence and gore!

My rating: