Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Waverly and Kieran are finally reunited on the Empyrean. Kieran has led the boys safely up to this point, and now that the girls are back, their mission seems slightly less impossible: to chase down the New Horizon, and save their parents from the enemy ship. But nothing is truly as it seems…Kieran’s leadership methods have raised Seth’s hackles— and Waverly’s suspicions. Is this really her fiancé? The handsome, loving boy she was torn from just a short time before? More and more, she finds her thoughts aligned with Seth’s. But if Seth is Kieran’s Enemy No. 1, what does that make her?
In one night, a strange explosion rocks the Empyrean—shooting them off course and delaying their pursuit of the New Horizon—and Seth is mysteriously released from the brig. Seth is the most obvious suspect for the explosion, and Waverly the most obvious suspect for releasing him. As the tension reaches a boiling point, will Seth be able to find the true culprit before Kieran locks them both away—or worse? Will Waverly follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? With the balance of power precarious and the clock ticking, every decision counts… every step brings them closer to a new beginning, or a sudden end...

Goodreads Summary

Parents and children remain separated in the beginning of Spark.  Waverly is loathed for her decision to save the children at the expense of leaving the parents behind.  She endures bullying throughout the story.  The bullying is taken to the extreme; if it were me, I'd be done with the lot of them, but that isn't Waverly.  Relationships are shifting in this novel.  Waverly literally wavers between Seth and Kieran.  Seth does not think Kieran is behaving normally and Kieran remains eerily distrustful of almost everyone. 

The plot remains similar to the first book.  At the end of the day, everyone wants to get their parents back and Waverly wants to figure out the mystery behind Kieran's odd behavior as well as Anne Mather's promise of peace.  The characters have changed a lot in this novel.  Waverly is indecisive and very quiet, she doesn't seem as strong as she was in the first novel.  Anne is as deceptive as ever, impossible to trust and the true evil villain.  Ironically, Seth emerges as a leader.  He has a quiet strength about him and seems to have matured.  Kieran has regressed.  He and Waverly do not see eye to eye and there is tension between them.  The other characters are great supporting characters, but not as memorable. 

Overall, this novel was as good as the first.  There were a few things I could have done without.  Waverly's character wasn't strong, Kieran annoyed me more than a few times, and it always felt like there should be more action than there actually was.  There were good points as well.  I loved reading the differing points of views, Seth's stronger character, and the cliffhanger ending.  This book is recommended to young adult/teen characters.

3 1/2 Stars


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