Unleashed

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Unleashed, the romantic, high-stakes sequel to New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's Uninvited, is perfect for fans of such favorites as James Patterson's Confessions of a Murder Suspect.

Davy has spent the last few months trying to come to terms with the fact that she tested positive for the kill gene HTS (also known as Homicidal Tendency Syndrome). She swore she would not let it change her, and that her DNA did not define her . . . but then she killed a man.

Now on the run, Davy must decide whether she'll be ruled by the kill gene, or if she'll follow her heart and fight for her right to live free. But with her own potential for violence laying right beneath the surface, Davy doesn't even know if she can trust herself.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 8 Up-Davy and her friends are back in this sequel to Uninvited (HarperCollins, 2014). Since receiving her diagnosis of Homicidal Tendency Syndrome, Davy's life has changed dramatically. As government policies about treatment of those in possession of the "kill gene" continue to evolve, her position in society becomes increasingly untenable. Her initial attempt to escape to Mexico is unsuccessful and she is separated from her friends (and boyfriend, Sean). She is rescued by a group of resistance fighters and quickly develops feelings for Caden. There is infighting within the resistance cell, but Davy is torn between staying with Caden and attempting to reach Mexico and Sean. Everything wraps up neatly and quickly. Readers will miss Sean and be confused by Davy's quick change of heart toward Caden. More sophisticated readers of dystopian fiction may question why the book didn't delve deeper into the concept of a "kill gene," instead of simply accepting it as a plot point. However, fans of the first installment will likely enjoy this and the subsequent volume. Purchase where Uninvited and other romantic dystopian titles have been popular.-Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

In this concluding sequel to Uninvited (2014), Davy is separated from Sean, Sabine, and Gil while trying to flee the Agency into Mexico, where havens exist for carriers of homicidal tendency syndrome. While the others make it across the border, Davy is rescued by a well-organized rebel group, led by charismatic Caden and disgruntled Marcus. Unsurprisingly, Caden finds Davy fascinating, and Marcus thinks she is an Agency spy. Davy avoids Marcus' interrogation attempts, while Caden's dedication to helping others penetrates her mistrust. The higher body count (Davy is forced to kill several times) and numerous brushes with capture or death provide fast-paced thrills, though Davy appears lucky, not skilled, and her internal narrative is often focused on feeling sorry for herself. This novel succeeds more as a romance than an action or dystopia novel. Her heated relationship with Caden might throw off Sean's fans, but Jordan does a credible job. The country's implosion into violent protests and the resulting political negotiations between the president and the resistance happen offscreen, providing for a happy, if oversimplified, ending.--Hutley, Krista Copyright 2015 Booklist

Horn Book Review

Injured and separated from her friends in their escape to Mexico, Davy (Uninvited) is rescued by Caden, a fellow Homicidal Tendency Syndrome carrier. Recovering in a resistance cell, Davy must keep her guard up if she wants to reunite with her friends, keep herself safe, and fight her growing feelings for Caden. A well-crafted, if low-stakes, dystopian novel awash in romance tropes. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

Davy's escaped from the government camp of Uninvited (2014), but she's on the run and still far from safe.At a safe house, Davy and her fellow escaped Homicidal Tendency Syndrome carriers wait to cross the border to Mexico, where they'll be out of reach of the U.S. government. But Davy can't stop thinking of the man she shot at the government training school, under the threat of love interest Sean's execution if she refused. Unable to separate thoughts of Sean from her victim, Davy's romantic feelings wane. The group's border crossing is a predictable disaster, and injured Davy is separated from her friendsbut luckily rescued by a new handsome boy! Teenage resistance leader Caden brings her to a secret Resistance compound for treatment, and the plot dramatically slows. The HTS program's history and its ongoing efforts are mainly told in epigraphs between chapterspress items, communication transcripts and the likeleaving the bulk of the text focused on the romantic storyline. Tiresome girl-on-girl hostility stemming from romantic rivalry runs rampant and motivates big decisions made by the female characters. The occasional action scenes are more compelling. The ending seems to conclude the storywell, the romantic story at leastbut readers may feel let down by the scant resolution of the HTS storyline and how so much of it passes off the page entirely. Only for romance fans. (Dystopian romance. 14-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.