Janelle's Reviews > Pretties

C’mon second book slump! While Uglies was as good a read for me as it was a decade ago, the same could not be said for Pretties. Given the title and events of the last novel, it’s fairly obvious from the get-go that this story is going to follow (view spoiler)[Tally after receiving the surgery and convincing her to take the cure and find the New Smoke (hide spoiler)]. However, it just isn’t as action packed as I remembered.

Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of fun adventures, chases, plots, and a lot more in the way of Special Circumstances, but the book feels like it’s dragging its heels compared to the revelations of the first one. Though the world grows exponentially and Tally (view spoiler)[spends time in the wilderness with a tribe and pulls tricks with the Crims (hide spoiler)] I spent a long time waiting for her to do something.

That being said…….HOLY CLIFFHANGER BATMAN. My utterly shite retention for books and film/tv plots means that I’ve forgotten 95% of the story in this universe, clinging only to the bare bones. That meant that while I vaguely knew what would unfold in this text, I’ve completely blocked out characters and story arcs and got shivers at that mic drop ending!

Another interesting facet of re-reading this a decade later - and suffering through the proliferation of YA and dystopian fiction in the meantime - is seeing the love triangle through new eyes. In this book I was cringing my way through the interactions between Tally and her ~*love interest*~ owing to their complete lack of chemistry, but I remember absolutely living for the angst and drama back in the day! These days I’m finding more enjoyment in how utterly flawed and selfish Tally is, and how she so willingly hurts Shea or her love interest(s) to get ahead.

Overall: Meh. Total victim of second book slump, so thank god it was a quick read! The love interest is dull as hell, but I’m finding so much enjoyment in exploring the new bounds of this world and watching Tally shred her relationships when it suits her. Bring on the next book!