Rage Within by Jeyn Roberts

Posted September 14, 2012 | 21 Comments

Rage Within by Jeyn RobertsRage Within
Author: Jeyn Roberts
Series: Dark Inside #2
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
Format: eARC
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher

Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael have survived the first wave of the apocalypse that wiped out most of the world’s population, and turned many of the rest into murderous Baggers. Now, they’re hiding out in an abandoned house in Vancouver with a ragtag group of surviving teens, and trying to figure out their next move.

Aries is trying to lead, but it’s hard to be a leader when there are no easy answers, and every move feels wrong. Clementine is desperate to find her brother Heath, but it’s impossible to know where he’d be, even if he is still alive. Michael is still haunted by the memories of his actions during his harrowing struggle to survive. And Mason is struggling with something far worse: the fear that he may be a danger to his friends.

As the Baggers begin to create a new world order, Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael will have to trust and rely on each other in order to survive.

 

Why?!  Why did the book have to end?!

This  series is like crack for me.  I crave the next book, I’m on an unbelievable high while reading it, I crash and get depressed when I finish it, and then the cycle starts all over.  This can’t be healthy.  I don’t care, though.  I NEED more!  Rage Within was my number one most anticipated book of 2012.  Oh boy, was it worth the agony of waiting.

Okay, so I’ve wrote and rewrote this review a number of times, but it never seemed right.  I want to tell you so much, yet I don’t want to spoil anything.  I could seriously talk for days about this book, and how amazingly effed up it is.  Days later I still often think about it.  I’m even reluctant to start a new book because I don’t want to lose the feelings I have from Rage Within.  That sounds weird, but it’s true.

Rage Within starts three weeks before the apocalypse, giving a glimpse into some of the incidents that led up to the earthquakes.  It’s a small section, but it still has quite an impact.  Then the book jumps back to three months after the apocalypse, where the remaining “normal” people are trying to survive, and avoid being killed by Baggers.  Rage Within wasn’t as creepy as Dark Inside, but it was still high on the creep-o-meter.   It’s starting to get harder to tell who to trust in the new world, and the Baggers are getting organized.  They are just as psycho as ever, but it was interesting to get a little more insight on them and their agenda.

The majority of the story is still told from the perspectives of Aries, Clementine, Mason, Michael, and the Nothing.  I know I said this about Dark Inside, but it goes for this book, too… this is how alternating point-of-views should be done. Roberts does an excellent job with this, and I’m even more appreciative of her skills after reading too many books that just don’t pull it off well.

In addition to the five main characters mentioned above, there are some new secondary characters introduced in this book.  The one that really steals the show is Raj, a hilarious chemistry student.  He comes across as a little annoying at first, but it doesn’t take long to completely adore the guy.  Not to mention his chemistry knowledge comes in quite handy.  Of course, there are losses.  Lots of losses.  That’s one of the great things about this series, no one is safe in the new world, and that takes a major toll on peoples’ psyche.

Overall, I can’t recommend this series enough.  It will suck you in and never let go. And now, I have to deal with the withdrawals and cravings for the next book.

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21 responses to “Rage Within by Jeyn Roberts”

  2. Cheles Bells

    So, I had a fabulous little post-apocalyptic book picked out to read next week… but now I’m considering changing it to Dark Inside and then Rage Within. This series sounds like exactly what I’m craving right now and might help ease my withdrawal symptoms from The Walking Dead. I love this fabulous review – I found myself getting all giddy right along with you!!!

    Cheles Bells recently posted: Weekend Reads
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  5. Heidi

    what the hell is lots of loses? You mean losses per chance my dear? Don’t be confusing me….sounds like you are a drug addict raging inside for your next fix…..could you please tell me once again if you liked this book or not because I can’t tell from your review….

    Heidi recently posted: Friday Forecast September 16-22
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    • Christy

      Dammit, Heidi… I’m just going to make you proofread my posts from now on. Maybe I should at least double check them before I actually post them. I’m afraid to go look at my old ones.

      I LOVED IT!!

      Reply
  11. Becky

    Wow, I feel like I need to read this just because you feel so strongly about it lol. I do love a good post apocalyptic novel, too. Thanks for the great review!

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