Horde by Ann Aguirre Review

Horde by Ann Aguirre
(Razorland, #3)
Release Date: October 29, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; 432 pages

The horde is coming.

Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.

Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.

This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.

If you have NOT read Enclave & Outpost, please read with caution. There are some spoilers that were unavoidable. Proceed with caution . . .

Endings suck, they really do. It's nice reading a book where it all comes together and the problem is solved but it's the journey of getting there that's hurts the most. There is loss; there is always great loss in any great book and this book has completely and utterly gutted me. With different emotions; one that's the strongest is of loss but also happiness, fulfillment, satisfaction and so many others I don't want to bore you by listing them. This book is filled with adventure, drama and tons of killing. I've never read another YA book with so much killing. But if you've read the previous two books this really should come as a surprise to you.

Thousands of Muties/Freaks formed together, making a horde, something greater than anything anyone's ever seen. It was only a matter of time before Salvation fell then the other communities around them. It was time to take a stand and who better than our fearless heroine, Deuce the Huntress. She is definitely among the top of my favorite YA heroines. She is so fierce, so brave, so intelligent and when she wants something she goes after it no matter what obstacles stand her way.

There is so much that happens in this book that I feared it would leave so many things just dangling there, not tied up all nice and pretty but while so much happened, there was plenty of time for a resolution. A few towns fall, a new town is talked about (one I really wish I lived), new characters are introduced and new bonds are made between the reader and those character (not to mention those characters with existing characters). Evolution has changed everything.

I don't even know how to put in to words how I felt about this book. I don't know how I can tell you exactly how I feel without telling you all this books secrets and we don't want that. So remember how Fade was taken by the horde and Deuce rescued him but it forever scarred him? Well, he's still scarred in Horde, which made me nervous because we like a Fade who doesn't mind Deuce touching him, right? It was gradual but he was working on this particular demon and that's one of the things I loved most about Deuce (one of many) during this book. She knew, whole hardheartedly, how she felt about Fade and was very loving and understanding. Basically, I'm here for you always and when you're okay, I'm still going to be here type of thing. She never wavered, never expected more than what he was willing to give and I admire her so much for that.

I especially love a Harry Potter reference thrown in this book by a new character who I freaking fell in love with. I could totally see him having his own story. I wished I would've marked it in the book because I chuckled; any book who puts a Harry Potter reference in there is a great thing. This character, his name is Morrow, and he's a bit of a writer and story teller. He has a way with words and he's a charmer. His other reference I'll let you figure out on your own.

Between all the violence, building up a romance, amazing supporting characters the one thing that matters most in this book is that Deuce stands up to do the impossible and is willing to risk her life to make a difference; to protect everyone else. Selfless is putting it mildly, how I'd describe Deuce. She is someone (and who cares that she's not real for a second, okay) to be looked up to by anyone of any age. Because she sets out to do the impossible and really, more of us need to set our minds to something and actually find a way to do it.

*highlight to view spoiler* STALKER!!! My heart - it's completely shattered. I loved him; probably more than I should've with all the horrible things he did in his life but I didn't care. He didn't know any better; that's what I tell myself. He died a hero and he died trying to make up to all the bad things he did to Tegan. No matter how you might have felt about Stalker you have to recognize he was truly a changed man and it's a shame he had to die. But on a completely different note, can I just say how flippin' excited I was to see Thimble and Stone?! I KNEW they'd make an appearance, or at least I really hoped they would but you never know. But man, I had a huge smile on my face and cheered out loud when Stone came running in to the scene. This helped my broken heart a little. *end spoiler*

I think this is a series that has gotten better as it's progressed. I enjoyed Enclave but I really enjoyed Outpost now I can say that I loved Horde. I also definitely recommend reading the novella, Endurance, before reading Horde. If you haven't read this series then you should really get on it; I've said it before and I'll say it again - if you're a fan of Hunger Games, I think this would be something you'd enjoy. If you wait until the end of October you can just breeze through the whole series with no waiting.