Yeah, the third book's a no go. I can't read any more of this. It's dumb and poorly written. ( )

So, I actually wasn't sure I was going to read this book, the follow-up to McKay's The Farm. The first book in the trilogy had problem upon problem, and was far more frustrating than enjoyable for me. Yet, I'd been so sure that I'd like the series, I'd bought this book at the same time, and it looked like this book would focus on a different character (who was minor in the first book, but who I liked far more than the actual protagonist). In the end, I decided to give it a shot.

Up-front, I was disappointed because it turned out that the blurb was misleading--the book focused mostly on the protagonist who drove me crazy in the first book. Thankfully, it looks like she's out of commission for the third book--which, once again, I have no idea whether I'll bother with. The good news is that this book was, without a doubt, stronger than the first. There were still problems--the main character is whiny, self-absorbed, and melodramatic, and the characters all generally lean toward being melodramatic. The author also has a habit of repeating herself and inflating suspense in an incredibly awkward fashion, often making characters who are supposedly intelligent be so slow to realize something (which the reader realizes right away) that the text is just flat-out unbelievable.

It was a fast read, and the pacing was better than the first book. It also had fewer plot holes than the first book. BUT, was suffering through the first book worthwhile now that I've read this one? Not a chance. And while I'm a little bit curious about how the author handles the third book, which seems like it will have to finally focus on the characters I actually kind of like rather than the whiny creature she mostly focused on in books one and two, I have a feeling I'm setting myself for a frustrating disappointment if I bother signing up for book 3. So, we'll see.

No matter what, I absolutely do not recommend this series. The books needed more editing, both in relation to plot and character, and I honestly can't imagine a situation where I'd recommend them. ( )

In book one we met characters and fell in love with the adventure of a safe and friendly environment and a rebellion of epic proportions.

In book two the saga continues and the hits just keep on coming. Lily and Carter are together to lead the rebellion, but of course that doesn't last long. And knowing you have a gene that could potentially turn you into a crazy blood thirsty demon probably doesn't add any pressure, yea like that happens.

What we get in this book is a tale that is magical and wonderful and continues right where it left off. The world after, hard choices, big decisions and never knowing who you can trust. I cannot imagine how long I have to wait for book three, but it will be awesome this I know for sure! Good work Emily McKay! ( )

All right... it's going to be very hard to review this without giving away spoilers, but I'll do my best, however if you are planning to read the first book and have not done so yet, I'd probably recommend leaving this one for now and coming back to read this review later. So, here's your official warning:

***WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD***

The second book after The Farm begins just a few weeks after where the first book left off, with the main characters at the destination they were heading to. I appreciated beginning the book here, because it continued to maintain that sense of urgency and immediacy we developed in the first book -- and if I'm being honest, I have to think hard about where each book begins & ends, because they both blur together slightly. I think that's a good thing.

There are two aspects to this sequel that made it a win from my perspective. First, however, I will say this: while the book overall didn't quite demand as much emotional energy as the first book (not unusual for a sequel, once you've already learned about the world & world building), I wouldn't call it weak by any stretch -- there's danger, urgency, and death, and it doesn't really let up until the last page... except for Lily's "doesn't he like me?" thought processes. I found that there was a bit more mooning in this book, and while it did feel a bit annoying at times, it still didn't come anywhere close to what we see in other "apocalyptic" scenario YA novels. So, I think it gets a pass here.

Now, Thing #1 that makes me love this book: I should have mentioned it in the review of the first book, but it really stood out to me here so I think it's still worth mentioning. The teenagers in this series talk like teenagers, especially like teenagers who are fighting for their lives in the middle of a hellish scenario. They use -- *gasp* -- foul language... but it happens naturally and organically, and unlike other books that seem to censor teen speech, the author got it right here. She must have had teens to listen to, because I believed it and it sounded right. It also helps that the books are peppered with brief but effective pop-culture references (sadly, this will make the books slightly dated in a few years, but it works very, very well right now), as this makes the story also more believable and relatable. Despite the whole "tick" and "vampire" thing. Seriously! Heh.

And Thing #2... this is where the real spoiler sets in, so walk away now if you're still interested and haven't read the first one. Seriously! I'm warning you! Stop reading now! Okay, okay. At the end of The Farm, Mel's sacrifice gets more or less negated by Lily. We see this happen, but it doesn't entirely register that that's what her actions have done until we get to The Lair, but that's really what she did by forcing Sebastian to "turn" Mel. Hence, in this book, we get to read chapters from Mel's perspective again, but after she's been turned... now that she's dealing with the reality that she is no longer autistic. I found this fascinating, because it means her "normal" is no longer normal. The way she has existed for her whole life has been shifted, and the way she saw the world has dramatically changed -- and she didn't ask for it. And because who she was has been more or less erased, and autism is no longer her "normal", she clings to the patterns and behaviors she had while autistic. And that's an amazing thought to work through.

I'm not sure I'm explaining how profound a shift I think that would be for someone (because from her perspective, there was nothing wrong with herself in the first place, autism just was -- and to be "fixed" would be, I think, one of the most traumatic experiences a person could have), and as a reader, it really made me think and ask some hard questions. I'm not sure the author intended that, but it hit me hard and I really appreciate the author's attempt to work through this issue with her character. I've never seen this sort of thing before in a YA novel, and for that I applaud the author and am deeply appreciative of her efforts to incorporate this into a story filled with blood-sucking monsters.

Who would have thought...?! ( )

*This is the second book in The Farm series. This review will contain spoilers for The Farm but not for The Lair.

So after the nail-biting conclusion to The Farm, The Lair picks up with the newly made vampire, Mel. Mel has torn feelings after being made into a vampire, especially since it was at the hands of her sister. Also the transition into vampireism has cured (for lack of a better word) Mel's autism. So Mel has a lot to deal with emotionally. Plus she's stuck with Sebastian who isn't the most nurturing person in the world. However despite his flaws, he does seem to want Mel to succeed as a baby vamp.

Lily, Carter, and McKenna are at the compound. Everyone thinks that Lily is the abductura, the savior of humanity, which she isn't. Carter has a deep-seeded need to protect Lily at all cost, including at the peril of others. This causes a strain in their relationship because Carter knows he can't effectively lead the people this way. Then all becomes crystal clear to him when the compound is attacked while Carter and Lily were away on a mission gone wrong.

Afterward Lily and Carter know they have to go their separate ways. Lily decides to leave with McKenna, who wants to go to Canada where it will be safe for her and her baby. They tag along with one of Carter's old friends, Ely. Lily doesn't trust Ely and with good reason.

This is a great sequel to The Farm. Lily's character is growing on me, even though she still frustrates me at times. She has a resilience to live and protect those she loves. Once again McKay gives us Carter, Lily, and Mel's different points of view. This book still has a lot of action, intrigue, and plot twists. I especially enjoyed the second half. McKay left us with quite a cliffhanger and a strong desire to want to know what happens next.
Read more at http://www.2readornot2read.com/2013/11/review-lair-by-emily-mckay.html#FM9IoTooY... ( )