Review: I quite enjoyed Fuse! I definitely think it was a great continuation of the story brought forth in Pure. I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow more in this book. At the end of Pure, a lot happened, including Partridge and Pressia's mother dying, finding a number of mysterious "black boxes" and the formula that could potentially save the wretches and make them Pure or whole again. In the beginning of Fuse, the group is split up. Partridge and Lyda are under the protection of "the mothers" and Pressia, Bradwell and El Capitan are together at OSR headquarters, though they go out a number of times to deal with issues with the Dome.
A lot of the story revolves around Pressia and Bradwell figuring out whats in the "black boxes," specifically, one in particular nicknamed Fignan. While the other boxes found mostly have general information about the world before the Detonations, Fignan is different. He is pretty much locked until given a certain password of sorts. The password is the names of the secret group Pressia's mother and father and Partridges father were a part of. It is also where his mother and one of Bradwells family friends hid the clues to finding the formula that could cure the Wretches. Step by step they figure out the clues to the location of the formula. It all boils down to Partridges father's obsession with numbers, the swan, domes, and the constellation Cygnus. What they find? They find out the formula might be hidden at Newgrange, in Ireland, which then leaves them to figure out how to get there! In case you didn't know or didn't figure it out until this book, they are near Washington D.C. This leads to another example of Willux's obsession with sentimental stuff. During this time Pressia and Bradwell also grow much closer. Bradwell pretty much falls for her hard throughout the book, but Pressia is incredibly resistant to loving him in any way because she loses everyone she loves.
Pressia also learns more about herself. She is starting to regain some of her suppressed memories from before the detonations. One thing is as simple as counting in Japanese.
Partridge and Lyda also go through a lot and grow a lot. They are not allowed to touch or be alone together with the mothers, but that doesn't stop them from loving each other just the same. Lyda spends time learning to hunt and use weapons. Partridge draws maps of the dome in hopes of getting them to Pressia, El Capitan and Bradwell to use one day. They are hidden away for their own protection from the special forces sent by the dome to bring them back. Partridge fight some internal battles throughout the book. Lyda, by constantly going back and forth about whether she wants to go back to the dome with Partridge if he turns himself over, or whether she wants to stay on the outside with the mothers, even if it could mean losing Partridge. She chooses to stay free on the outside. Partridge fights with himself regarding going back in and facing his father, and what he'll do if he does. He does eventually give himself up and goes back in the dome. But he has the biggest internal conflict about whether to trust his father to pass on the power, or to kill him like many suggested to prevent him from ever doing his evil deeds again. Eventually he makes a decision, but it takes a lot of information about his father to come to it. However, one sweet moment came when Partridge and Lyda had a moment alone before Partridge turned himself in.
I also really liked the growth in El Capitan. He went from this awful OSR leader using people for live targets to a genuinely likable guy. He also stopped treating his brother badly and ended up having a fantastic ally in him once he decided to trust him!
The thing I hated about this book. Iralene. I hear she is even more annoying in Burn, but I already don't like her here. I glossed over every section with her in it. Not a fan.
A few surprising things, finding out Willux hid an airship nearby the dome. Definitely never saw an airship coming. Finding one of the seven (regarding the swan, the secret group) at Newgrange. Finding out Pressia's grandfather isn't actually dead, and where he's found! This one was definitely shocking to me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I think more than I like Pure.
5 Stars!
