BOOK REVIEW: The Infinite Sea

"When you look death in the eye and death blinks first, nothing seems impossible."

DETAILS

The Infinite Sea (The 5th Wave #2)

by Rick Yancey

Published by Putnam, 2014

Read my thoughts on The 5th Wave here

Description: How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race. 

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

RATING

3/5

I like it

A GLIMPSE

I was quite surprised to see how thin this book was! I was expecting a 500 page read but instead I got a 300 page one. We still get the changing POVs separated by pages of black, and I didn't realize how much I've missed Yancey's writing style until I read another of his books. We get alternating 1st person point of view, and he maneuvered it so perfectly! The characters' thoughts are well constructed. It was very entertaining to read. It was very interesting, as if listening in on a lecture. By going through their minds, I learned so much!

However, The Infinite Sea bored me after I got to the 200th page. The pacing went into a halt. It was like beginning to read the book again, where you find yourself still grasping and adapting into the story and the characters. It would have worked if I'm into that sort of thing - a break after the climax, almost like a pause. But I didn't like it. I was annoyed. My adrenaline was crushed. I was bored. It could have been the prologue of the third book. But that's just it! If we take out the last 100 pages of The Infinite Sea, we'd be left out with only 200. Not enough for a book... moreover to a much anticipated sequel to an amazing book that is The 5th Wave. Given the limited opportunity, The Infinite Sea didn't offer that much "wow"scenes. Of course there were a few here and there, but generally, I can't seem to love this book as much as I've loved ad devoured over The 5th Wave.

WHY READ THIS BOOK

Read this book if you're read the first book - The 5th Wave. I'm sure you'd want to do that. But I would recommend waiting for the 3rd book to be released and then marathon it to the ending instead. Because seriously, you didn't miss so much on The Infinite Sea. Most of what you get is contemplating whether to stay or run... or according to Yancey's own words... die or die later. One second you get the characters wanting to run away, and the next they're planning to stay.

If you loved Stephanie Meyer's The Host, you may want to read The 5th Wave. Driven by the same concept, The 5th Wave stood beyond my top reads of 2013. Well written, entertaining, mind-blowing, and just plain interesting. Definitely worth the read!

A PLUNGE

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

The Infinite Sea is less thrilling than The 5th Wave, but it held one remarkably wow moment for me. It was the scene during the climax- before we shipped POV and everything went on pause- when Evan revealed to Cassie his plan to end it all. It was the moment I've been longing for since I began to read the book. Evan's speech before Cassie took over was just heartbreaking, knowing he might die... this time for real. It was just perfect. Not just that very moment, but the plan itself - to let Evan take care of Grace (introductions later), so she can rendezvous to her safe house. And by the time the aliens mothership retrieve Grace from her safe house, Cassie would there to exterminate them. It was just... PERFECT!

But then here's the catch: Evan can die. I wasn't worried about this before because Evan's character has been introduced as indestructible. He's a Silencer anyway or one of them if you didn't catch the Silencer part. He won't die. But this time, he can. Why? Because apparently he's a robot and there's something mechanical in him than can crash when he over exerts himself. 

Here's my confusion: I didn't know it works that way. And it didn't make sense. I have always thought this being human and not of Evan Walker is the same as human is body but mind is alien kind of thing. Apparently not. The entire thing is mechanical, because it can malfunction. And Evan did. And viola now he's human. What? Please explain further how this entire process happened. I thought it was just inserting into brain and shit while the body was asleep, but given this mechanical concept, there must be something surgical. Of course, there was no mention of any of this even the word mechanical per se. But that's the point. I need more backstory on this. 

Here's another. If Evan's already human, how the hell did he survive the bombing and reunite with Cassie in the end?

On the other hand though, let me introduce you to two new characters: Grace and Razor. Grace is a new enemy introduced to us when Evan woke up. Apparently they have a history together. Now that is just interesting! I certainly loved her existence in the book. I may need confirmation though if she's dead or not. 

Then we have Razor, one of Vosch's guards who was introduced to us when Ringer was taken in by Vosch. Now he is a complicated character indeed, who poses threat into the Ben+Ringer love team we've all entertained in our heads. Oh no. Poor Parish.

Oh and poor Poundcake.

No wonder we get his backstory. It almost always either of the three: the author plans to kill him, or he gets to play a major part, or we get to introduce to a new character involved with the guy. I was thinking his long lost brother... but maybe not. And it would seem impossible now because he's dead... and a hero at that. A salute to you Poundcake!

A little side thought: Maybe Razor is the long lost brother? Highly unlikely.

Speaking of brothers, Cassie's brother, Nugget or Sam, sort of annoyed me in this book. I remember crying over their separation on The 5th Wave and admired their connection throughout the first book. But this time, I feel disconnection between the two. How can a kid pick his colleague over his sister? Maybe a grownup will, but Sam's a kid, and I thought their bond was so much more. He'd rather be with Zombie or Ben rather than be with his sister, after everything Cassie endured to rescue him thus keeping her promise. Annoying brat.

So I guess that's it, I cannot think of anything else to talk about... because, well, like I said, there's not much that happened in this book. Nothing left to talk about.