Review: Lies

Author: Michael Grant
Pages: 447
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Library
Other titles in the series: Gone, Hunger
Synopsis:
It's been seven months since all the adults disappeared. Gone.
It happens in one night. A girl who died now walks among the living; Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach; and amid the flames and smoke, Sam sees the figure of the boy he fears the most: Drake. But Drake is dead. Sam and Caine defeated him along with the Darkness—or so they thought.

As Perdido Beach burns, battles rage: Astrid against the Town Council; the Human Crew versus the mutants; and Sam against Drake, who is back from the dead and ready to finish where he and Sam left off. And all the while deadly rumors are raging like the fire itself, spread by the prophetess Orsay and her companion, Nerezza. They say that death is a way to escape the FAYZ. Conditions are worse than ever and kids are desperate to get out. But are they desperate enough to believe that death will set them free?

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I could sum up my reaction to Lies in one word: addicted. Lies by Michael Grant is the kind of book that I never stopped thinking about, reading, or wishing to read for the whole two days it took to read it. It's the kind of book that screams "Read ME!" in my brain so loud that I can't do anything until it's done. No homework, no studying, no TV. All consuming.

**WARNING: SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES**

Lies is set a bit after Hunger and by now Perdido Beach has three little warring groups. There's what's left of the Coates kids, the Human Crew and the council. Kids are desperately hungry. They would do anything for food. The gaiaphage has a new plan. Sam is having a hard time dealing with being whipped from Drake. Brittney isn't in her tomb. There's a prophetess and kids start questioning once again what really happens on their 15th birthday. That's all just the tip of the iceberg. It's impossible to say all that's happening, because so much is. Everyone person has a story. It's simply amazing how well Michael Grant weaves all those little stories together to create the overall story arc we see now.

Lies explores our beloved characters even more. Many of the heroes make questionable choices and some of the villains make "good" choices. What I love is the range of morality; no one is simply good or bad, except the gaiaphage. It's disturbing but also weirdly readable to read of these poor kids living the the FAYZ. You can criticize them all you want, but how will anyone of us know what we would do if we were there? There are unmistakable leaders and also many followers. I would never want to live in that world, and I say that as the highest of praise.

As always, there are multiple point of views. This is the best and worst thing about the series. I love seeing the story develop, all the characters play an important role and I end up caring for everyone and see great depth in character, but I also develop favorite characters who I want to read of and sometimes the other POV's don't appeal to me as much. Since there are so many it takes a while to return to the ones I'm anxious for. Also, it takes a while for the overall story to move on because each character has a smaller story that must be told. What happens is that after finishing Lies, a pretty hefty looking book, I don't feel like I've read much. It may just be me but this is the Achilles's Heel of this series.

Overall, another great read to the series, Lies offers the same heart pounding, shocking, disturbing action as the others in the series. It again shows what would or could happen if humanity was desperate enough. It's terrifying and amazing, so I'm giving it 4 stars.

****