Fragments (Partials Sequence, 2)

Title: Fragments (Partials #2)Author: Dan WellsRating: 4.5 StarsMy ReviewMy Love for KiraDespite that Fragments is indeed, fragmented, it's central focus on Kira made me very happy. I love her single-mindedness about her purpose. She is a lone believer in distinct right and wrong answers in a world that has given up completely on that possibility. Of course, she is forced to face her own "thin grey line" in the most vivid way possible in her confrontation with Dr. Vale, who saves human babies' lives at the expense of essentially killing 10 partials.I loved the opening when Kira was living as Jane of the Jungle of New York. Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for a strong female lead, but Kira's abandonment of Marcus so she could find Samm didn't bother me at all...because she wasn't just looking for Samm in some simple love triangle, she was looking for herself, and for answers.I'm sure some people will disbelieve the idea that anyone would follow Kira across a toxic wasteland in search of answers. In fact, many might find the things Kira does and accomplishes implausible given that she's just a young woman. Why is she so sure she's going to save the world? And why are the others willing to follow her? And to that I say,"Why the heck NOT?" Someone has to save the world...why not Kira? Because she's just a girl in the world? What a load of malarkey.You can never underestimate people based on their outside. Heroes don't all look like superheroes. Did people see a young Gandhi and say,"Now there is the man who will lead us?" What about Einstein? Or Margaret Thatcher? Or Marie Curie? Or the millions of young men and women who risk their lives to protect us every day? Do they look the part? Are they old enough to make a difference?If we all sat back and waited for Superman to arrive every time the world turned sour, we'd still be waiting, spinning on our lemon in the cosmos. That's why Kira is everything I love in an underdog. Sure the odds are against her, but she stands up and says,"Why not me? Why can't I be the one to save the world?" And Samm has the smarts and supportiveness to recognize leadership and say "Yeah, why not Kira?"That's the tricky thing about leadership. People always assume its about being the most skilled or most experienced, and those qualities are nice, don't get me wrong. But I'd say the biggest characteristic of leaders is persistence. If Kira doesn't know how to do something she finds someone who does. If she have an answer that she needs, she will crawl over glass to get to it. If there's anything a human can do to approach Superman status, it's being willing to be that brave and that persistent. And I love Kira for that.VillainsThough it can be really hard to figure out who actually qualifies as a villain, I have to say I enjoy Well's villains. I find them complicated (heck the entire world is complicated) and believable. Faced with the circumstances Wells presents...what would you do?PremiseWe don't know all the answers, but thankfully, Wells gave us MANY in this book. I love that! I am totally down with complicated plots BUT BUT BUT...I can't stand when an author keep introducing new layers of complication without offering any explanation and it gets harder and harder to believe and THEN on top of that when it comes time to explain this epic tale there is either no explanation or a pat "tied up in a bow" that actually leaves a kabillion things unanswered. As if we just won't notice that you made a bunch of crap up, SAID it had a purpose, and then quietly never addressed it again... I reviewed an entire very popular trilogy that did this and I ended up taking my reviews down because they were so scathing.Thankfully, Fragments is not like that at all. I think Wells is doing a great job of doling out enough answers along with the new questions to keep us hungry for more like baby birds. I know I'm looking forward to the next in this series.Too Much?I went back and looked at my review of Partials and I'd felt it took a long time to get going. Early reviewers of Fragments said the same but I felt like it picked up pretty quickly and then just expanded so much that you never got a break in the increasingly chaotic action. Rather than feeling like a "bridge" book where nothing much happens, everything (almost ;)) happens in this book.The action is great, the augmentations of the Partials is great, the messedupness (yes, that is a word in my world) and ick factor are great (seriously, the grimness of RM, the Partial expiration...great and gross and impactful); I like my post-apocalyptics with some good freaky deaky to make you think...That, I think, is what gave it a somewhat exhausting feel. There are a lot of POVs and people's circumstances and allegiances sometimes shift quickly. And there are so many factions: Voice, Grid, Partial Company D and B, ultimately independent warriors like Delarosa and Heron, and the different members of the Trust. (I like that Wells seems to prefer his female characters on the saucy side.) At times it was all a little boggling. Plus, so much action takes place. People go all over the freaking place! Keeping the mental war map in my mind got tough at times.That's the only reason I'm giving it 4.5 instead of 5 stars. For me, the fact that it was hard to keep up with and I feel like I need a full-reread of several sections made it a little bit more work than I was ready to commit. Just BARELY though. I'm re-reading those sections as I type because I did enjoy it a great deal.MarcusI couldn't complete this review without at least touching on Marcus. Marcus is sort of long suffering. He seemed like a bit of a weenie in book one and then he "Mans up" in this one and that still doesn't bring him closer to Kira. It's no secret to anyone, including Marcus, that she has feelings for Samm, but given that she still thinks of him as part machine and herself as mostly human, it's understandable that she wouldn't just throw herself at him. She's not that kind of gal anyway. Still, Marcus kind of deserves more than he's getting from Kira. We'll see what happens...I believe the love triangle is fading away but it might just be getting started.Sigh-FiI'm too much of a science-fiction lover NOT to make it a point with regards to these books. Wells had done his research. The science is so intense that it probably overwhelms some readers at times, but it's so darned pointed and frightening that I just LOVE it. Anything about science gone amok in the wrong hands is a winner as far as I'm concerned. But if you read my blog regularly, you already knew that. If you share my geektastic-ness, then you probably feel the same way.In conclusion, I recommend this book to anyone who really enjoyed Partials and to anyone who enjoys vivid, interesting, science-fiction-based apocalpytics...like moi. :)

I cannot rave enough about Dan Wells's Partials, a book that seamlessly got everything right with such flawless execution. The protagonist and the supporting cast were superbly illustrated, the world-building was just as phenomenal as it was horrifying, and the plot was sublimely paced and featured one of the most thought-provoking science-fiction romps I've seen in recent memory. It was a book that had seemingly no flaws and I eagerly awaited the sequel Fragments. While I can't say it strikes that exact same level of greatness, it's still a worthy sequel and another piece of contemplative fiction from an author of the highest caliber.Like its predecessor, Fragments benefits from an intelligent plot that's leaps and bounds above those typically featured in young adult fiction. There's isn't a pointlessly evil antagonist to confront, or yet another totalitarian regime needing to be toppled by a charismatic young hero who just wants to stick it to the man. The Partials Sequence strikes an interesting middle grounds between young adult fiction and a mature novel in the manner it embracing very adult themes. It makes the reader contemplate greater issues such as humanism, mortality, sociology, and the cycle of war. The aforementioned villains are nowhere to be found, in their place are various factions of individuals merely trying to ensure the survival of their race by any means necessary. The book forces the reader to contemplate the value of one's own humanity in the face of extinction, and the moral conundrum regarding whether or not it's worth preserving, or if surviving is meaningless if we lose our very soul in the process. Its questions such as these that separates Partials and Fragments from the typical "good vs. evil" archetype you'd likely find in a young adult novel. Serious props need to be given to Wells for writing a novel that's both exciting and intellectual, ensuring the series appeals to both adults and teenagers alike.I've read quite a few reviews associating these books with the oversaturated dystopia sub-genre. With respect to their opinions, I must disagree with these claims. While you can certainly find inherent tenets of totalitarianism, these books simply aren't dystopia fiction. This isn't the tale of an oppressive world order, but rather the old one just barely holding on by the skin of its teeth. The actions and sociological views depicted in the Partials Sequence are meant to insure the survival of one's own species in the years to come; whether or not the reader agrees with each approach is up to their personal interpretation. This inherent moral ambiguity also contributes to the most compelling post-apocalyptic scenario I've ever seen. It's special in that it's not just another excuse to have people running around with guns, ala Mad Max, but a literary setting that's used masterfully to truly immerse the reader into a shocking vision of the future and the horror of a sentient species on the brink of total extinction. Couple this with the philosophical inquiries regarding society, humanity, and morally vague actions of characters and you have the most brilliantly realized apocalypse I've ever seen. Hopefully Hollywood will take notice and properly adapt it to the big screen.However, the one area that holds Fragments back from reaching the same level of excellence as its predecessor is in Wells handles his characters this time around. Partials introduced a memorable heroine and a very endearing cast of characters, that attributed a great deal of camaraderie, and thus its humanity. While the characters are still likable and interesting, the interactions are severally toned down in juxtaposition with Partials. Fragments forgoes the strong linear narrative of the past in the favor of two adjacent ones that follow different characters while occasionally showcasing another plot-thread. Kira Walker is depicted traveling the North American wasteland with fellow partials Samm and Heron. While this is still compelling, the emotionally sedated Samm and the ice queen Heron failed to elicit the same emotional investment as characters like Xochi, Jayden, and Madison. I'm also surprised Wells didn't place more emphasis on Madison's newborn child, an odd choice given that it was the central crux of the previous book. Aside from Kira's story arc, the remainder of the book's length is given to Marcus. This dual narrative has the added benefit of showcasing a much broader scope of the story and the world at large. However, the separation of most of the key characters or their under-utilization gave Fragments less personality than Partials.That one gripe aside, Fragments is an excellent follow up to Partials. It treats the reader like an adult by portraying an apocalypse with just as much substance as explosions; I'm definitely looking forward to how the series will end. At this rate, the Partial Sequence is on track to become one of my favorite science-fiction series of all time.

Grandson loves it

Fab copy

C'est une bonne suite au premier livre, mais il est un peu lent par moments. L'accent est dans certaines parties trop mis sur les descriptions qui n'apportent pas forcément des éléments importants à l'histoire.

Normalerweise wirkt der 2. Band einer Trilogie eher wie eine trockene, zähe Überbrückungsphase, in der man nötige Information einquetschet, bevor man zum heißen Finale übergehen kann.Auch hier werden jede Menge Fragen beantwortet, aber gleichzeitig genauso viele neue kreiert, dass man gar nicht aufhören kann zu lesen. Spannung pur, wenn man den Faden nicht verliert (ich gebe zu, ich muss das Buch vermutlich noch ein 2. Mal lesen, um alles zu verstehen)In diesem Band wird die Sichtweise gewechselt. Meistens sehen wir natürlich Kiras, 2-mal die von Samm, was ich persönlich sehr aufschlussreich fand und regelmäßig die von Marcus. Ich kann Marcus' Charakter nicht leiden, deswegen hab ich das meistens übersprungen, aber es hilft, den Überblick über die komplette Welt von Kira zu bekommen, warum was wann und wie passiert ist.Wunderbar fand ich auch die Konflikte zwischen Sam, Heron und Kira. Die Charaktere ecken an ohne Ende und letzten Endes versteht man alle Sichtweisen. Durchweg wird eine subtile Spannung zwischen Sam und Kira eingeflochten und Herons Charakter gewinnt nach und nach an Tiefe. Auch Nebencharakteren widmet sich Wells, sodass man immer eine kleine Einsicht in deren Welt, Sicht und Vergangenheit bekommt, was letzten Endes de Geschichte noch weiter abrundet.Allgemein das komplette Szenario, die Welt in der sich Kira befindet, ist der Wahnsinn. Ziemlich gut durchdacht, fantastisch und irgendwie doch so realistisch. Dan Wells plottet gerne mit einer 7-point structure, wie effektiv die Methode ist, wird in diesem Band sehr deutlich (wer selber schreibt, sollte das unbedingt selber mal ausprobieren ;) )Mich freut es auch, dass einem die Welt nicht kaputt gemacht wird wie beispielsweise in Divergent, sodass man gefrustet zurückgelassen wird und dass die Charaktere alle ein wenig eigensinnig sind, man sich aber nicht völlig unverständlich von ihnen verabschieden muss (3. Band The Mace Runner)Kurzgefasst:Eine sehr gelungene Fortsetzung der Partials-Serie, die Welt hat mich einfach gefressen, man möchte unbedingt wissen, wie es mit allen Charakteren weitergeht und die restlichen Fragen bezüglich Partials/ RM beantwortet haben. Die 600 Seiten kloppt man in einer Session durch, bis man merkt, dass man vergessen hat zu essen und es bereits mitten in der Nacht ist und dann ärgert man sich, dass man den 3. Band noch nicht bestellt hat. Seid klüger als ich, macht das vorher.

****SPOILERS CONTAINED IN THIS REVIEW****Fragments is the follow up to Partials and finds Kira out on her own looking for answers after she found a photo with Nandita, her father and her as a little girl outside a ParaGen building. On the back of the photo is a message - Find the Trust. Who is the Trust and what do they have to with Nandita and her father? Were they a part of this? And how did she know Nandita before the Break? She needs answers. So this is what Kira sets out to find.Along the way she meets Afa who, before the break, was the IT Director at ParaGen and has collected information about the company, the Partials, RM and the Trust among other things. Unfortunately Afa has been alone since the break and seems to have gone slightly mad having only small moments of lucidity where Kira can get useful information from him. She also meets back up with Sam and Heron and they join forces to travel, first to Chicago and then through the wastelands to Denver to find the answers she's looking for.In between their travels we get to see what's happening back on Long Island since Kira left. The human settlement is invaded by Dr Morgan - who it seems is more than meets the eye - looking for Kira. Dr Morgan believes that Kira holds the key to the Partials expiry date which is fast approaching for all of them. Marcus, Kira's boyfriend, ends up fighting in the war between the humans and Partials and comes up with an idea after he finds out that there are separate factions within the Partials that disagree with the methods that Dr Morgan seems to be employing. Can they join together to defeat Dr Morgan?This part of the trilogy is a race to find the answer to RM - although Kira knows that there is a cure there is no way to replicate it - and to the Partials expiry date. Kira finds herself torn between two worlds and loyalties as she realizes that she herself is a Partial (although a newer model than the others and very different). Should she think of herself as human still as this is all that she has known, or should she start to side with the Partials. She struggles with this throughout the book and finds herself wanting to save everyone. She wants all to survive and live in harmony together instead of fighting and warring with each other and looking for ways to get rid of the other side.The story makes you think about the work that was done in order to create the Partials in the first place. Just because we can do something does it mean that we should? Obviously this kind of technology isn't real but should we be trying to accomplish and work towards some of things that they were able to do in the future? Maybe, maybe not. It raises some interesting moral dilemmas.The growing relationship between her and Sam was lovely to read. Kira is confused over her feelings and Sam, being a Partial, does not know how to express or show emotions. He trusts Kira implicitly and would do anything for her. It takes a shock from someone else to finally verbalize his feelings but is it too late?This book answered a lot of questions but also raised some more - as all good series should. I cannot wait to read the final chapter and am desperate to see how both parties can get what they need and save the world. Will Sam & Kira find their way to each other? I hope so!!