Review: Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott

Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood #2) by Victoria Scott (Feb. 24, 2015)
320 pages
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: The Library.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Rating:

Goodreads Summary: What would you do to save someone you love?

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.

+ Add to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

On the cover of Salt & Stone there is a blurb that pretty much sums up the book in its entirety. I have never seen one so true before. "Mind-blowingly intense." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

After reading the very first page of the book I knew this one was going to be crazy. "That's the thing about life: When you're dealt a crappy situation, you think to yourself, at least it can't get any worse than this. And then life slaps you upside the head for being naive. ~ pg. 4

Once again Victoria Scott managed to write an amazingly stressful, in a glorious way, quick paced action packed story. There were many OMG Moments, several nail biting moments, a hand full of laughing out loud moments, and there were even a few sighing with happiness moments. I just want you to know what awesomeness you are in for when (notice I say when and not if) you pick up this book and read it.

The wonderful writing is just another reason as to why you will read this book. "They are not the good guys. They are the monster under the bed, a slippery shadow in the corner at midnight. They are the thing you didn't think to fear until it was too late." ~ pg. 38

Now let's get to the important stuff. The pandoras (we get new and old), especially Madox (he is too adorable for words), still managed to delight me, surprise me, make me giggle, and make me oh so envious of the characters in the story because they get to have pandoras and I don't. We get to see Tella grow as a character and I loved that! She really starts to become more independent and even more determined to win the race. For those of you that liked her just how she was in the first book, don't worry, she still sometimes reminisces and wonders about fashion and stuff too. She doesn't lose that part of herself. So what about Guy? He also struggled with some personal stuff and really learned more about himself on this deathly race. I like Guy a lot and I really like how both Guy and Tella challenge each other in ways they probably didn't even realize they should be challenged in. I did however wish there was MORE in the ways of Guy and Tell's interactions.

Salt & Stone was beyond intense and I loved every single stressful second of it. Read this series if you haven't yet. They are quick action packed reads that will keep you on the edge of your seat. To put it simply, Salt & Stone is so very good!

Salt & Stone was a darn near perfect sequel to Fire & Flood. I so very hope that the publisher decides to take on the third book. If there is no third book I will cry. No joke. I will ugly cry. Here is my review of the first book, Fire & Flood.