Rating: 2 stars
Cover synopsis: The people of Ember are above ground, and they come across a town where they are welcomed, fed, and given places to sleep. But the town’s resources are limited and it isn’t long before resentment begins to grow between the two groups. When anonymous acts of vandalism push them toward violence, it’s up to Lina and Doon to discover who’s behind the vandalism and why, before it’s too late.
This is the 2nd book in the City of Ember series. And I just didn't enjoy it as much as the first. I thought the premise was interesting: How does a small town handle a population doubling overnight, and how will the people of Ember adjust to life above ground. But the execution of the premise was off.
The writing was flat. The foreshadowing was insultingly obvious. I didn't like or care about any of the characters -- even Lina and Doon became even more cardboard-cutout than they had been in the last book. And I found the storyline contrived and unlikely. I felt like the author came into this with a theme -- War Is Bad -- and twisted the characters around her moral to make them fit, instead of letting the characters take the story in a more natural direction. She created conflict and strife where it felt unnatural and contrived.
I probably won't venture on with the series.
