Outside In (Inside) [Paperback]

The plot was very nearly as awesome as the first book, Inside Out.

There is a couple of twists, which was nice. If you were watching my updates on Goodreads, you probably know that I now consider myself psychic as I predicted what was going to happen before it happened. Then again, does that mean that the twists were rather obvious? I'll let you be the judge of that one.

The ending left me wanting more, I wish I could have seen more of what was going to happen after the events in this book ended. Is there going to be another book? Because this did seem like the end, unfortunately.

The ending did seem slightly rushed, and it did seem like the author just wanted to put a lid on this story. However, I may well be wrong, as this may not be the end of the series *crosses fingers*

As with the first book, Trella was a brilliant female lead. I have not got much to say about her to be honest with you, as she stayed pretty much the same throughout the course of the book. Being the evil person that I am, I did love watching her struggle with her new role in this society.

As for Riley... I wanted more Riley, darn it! He really wasn't in this novel as much as I expected him to be, and I was a bit disappointed. But, when he was in it, he was just as amazing as he was in the first book.

Jacy is also a character I wanted to see more of - but that's mainly due to the slight crush I seemed to develop for him in the first book. He's badass. Yup. And I do still think he and Trella should get together. This is one love triangle I would be supporting.

The antagonists - not to reveal any spoilers - were very interestingly done. I loved reading about them, and then finally meeting them after reading about them for so long was just mind-blowing!

As usual, Snyder's writing style leaves nothing to be desired. Truly splendid, it really is!

Overall, a strong 4.5 out of 5 stars for this novel, and I just wish I didn't have to leave Trella's world just yet.

Recommended!

First of all, let me just say there are some series that it would be okay-ish to read out of order. This is NOT one of them. Be careful even reading reviews on this one before you've read book one lest you see something you're not supposed to. I've kept my review spoiler free as usual, but just be careful out there peeps!

I wasn't sure Maria V. Snyder could keep my attention in the second part as well as she did in the first one. The desperate need to know what was going on in book one was a very strong driving force. But I needn't have worried, the plot in this second instalment was just as compelling as the first, and had a big Oh My Gosh moment to rival the reveal of Gateway in INSIDE OUT.

There was a little more time devoted to Trella's personal relationships which I was very happy about. Especially with Riley and Dr. Lamont. The tentative relationships she started with both characters are tested to the limit in this book. I felt slightly indignant on Trella's behalf at one point though. One of the other characters was being a little too hard on her, expecting her to know what to do simply because of her actions in book one. They were putting too much pressure on her and expecting her to- no, DEMANDING that she carry way too much weight on her young shoulders. It was very interesting to read through but gave me heartburn along the way.

"Nothing says you care for me better than offering to torture my enemies."

He grinned. "No sense doing things halfhearted. And to think, some girls have to endure listening to poetry."

There are a few grumblings here and there about a possible book three. It would certainly fit with MVS's previous series if it became a trilogy, but on the other hand, I feel like it could end perfectly fine here.

A great follow up- 4 Stars!

I have read both of Maria V. Snyder's previous series and have found them to be entertaining, engaging and addictive for their own individual reasons. So it was with high hopes that I started Outside In.
Firstly I should point out that I was bought this as a present from someone who knew I loved Snyder's previous work. Secondly, that I did not know this was the second in the series.

It begins with an introduction to the ship which is the place where the human race now exists, spinning across space with layer after layer of living compartments inside it and even more unexplored levels. The revolution is at an end, the dictators have been overthrown and we enter the world of Inside at the point of committees and paperwork, where practical solutions to the aftermath of social disruption are being discussed. And Trella, the heroine of the hour, the instigator of the revolt, the leader of the force of sheep, wants nothing to do with it.
Having set her fellow Insiders on the right path and removed the power crazed Travas and Pop Cops from the equation, she only wants to be allowed to continue her exploration of the spaces above the living levels that have been found and return to relative anonymity. But after a couple of homemade bombs start to make life not only difficult but downright dangerous for those Inside, it seems as though Trella won't have much choice in the matter. Especially not now there is the offer of a solution, but it's a solution that no one ever thought possible.

I managed to read the majority of the book and not miss having not read the first one so on this point I applaud Snyder for being able to write a standalone novel in part of a series; an ability I have found few books to possess. Also, the wonderfully original story line is a trait I am coming to link synonymously with Maria Snyder's work. That said I was bitterly disappointed in the book as a whole.

If you're picking up this series to read because you have previously read the Yelena Zaltana Poison Study (Book 1 in The Study Trilogy) (MIRA) or the Opal Cowan Storm Glass (Opal Cowan Trilogy - Book 1) (MIRA) series as I have done then unfortunately you will not find the same flowing description and dialogue in these books. The adolescent first person description is probably very true to the main character of Trella but by the second chapter I was sick of the slang and spoon fed description in the book. The characters themselves seemed very two dimensional and their back stories almost forced to fit the mould needed to make their motives credible. Perhaps it was the previously encountered controlled and stoic Valek that ruins Riley for me or the barely suppressed maternal flutterings of Iris that destroyed any empathy I could feel for Doctor Lamont, but whatever it was I could not bring myself to feel enough for the characters to care about their outcome. Sure by the end of the book, I wanted it to end well but unfortunately, more than that, I just wanted it to end.

I am almost ashamed to write this review because it wasn't a bad book; it wasn't even a poor book. It had all the ingredients to be a very good Sci-Fi / Fantasy and the author with the talent and imagination to carry it off. Maybe I was expecting too much, maybe I have only myself to blame. Maybe the first of Snyder's books spoilt me into expecting too much, but for whatever the reason I have been left very much wanting at the end Outside In and it had left me thoroughly disappointed and slightly concerned about what is next to come.