The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2) by Lori M. Lee - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Amazon's Children's Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2)
Author: Lori M. Lee
Recent Release Date: March 10, 2015

Paul's Review of Gates of Thread and Stone #1

Synopsis: The walls of Ninurta keep its citizens safe.

Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within. Now, with a rebel force threatening the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever.

To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles to remind him what it means to be human. And she fears her brother, Reev, is involved with the rebels. With the two people she cares about most on opposite sides of a brewing war, Kai will do whatever it takes to bring peace. But she’s lost her power to manipulate the threads of time, and she learns that a civil war might be the beginning of something far worse that will crumble not only Ninurta’s walls but also the entire city.

In this thrilling sequel to Gates of Thread and Stone, Kai must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to lose to protect the only family she’s ever known. 

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Review: One of the trends in YA right now that I am loving is the blend of sci-fi and fantasy. This series is a perfect example of this genre mash-up. There are immortal godlike beings, mechanical animals powered by gem stones, and a world recovering from an apocalyptic event. 

I really enjoyed Gates of Thread and Stone, the first book in this series, but I was unimpressed by the way it ended. There was a lot of exposition, so many reveals. This sequel picks up right after that with all those revelations' effects taking place. In my opinion, this book did not suffer from the ills of the first's ending. 

I loved the Grays of the first book. The scouts in this book were even cooler! Magic metal cats that you ride! They are just one aspect of this world that I absolutely adore. The worldbuilding in this series is so interesting. This book really delves into some political and economic issues. In Vethe, the farmers are the upper class. Lee really put a lot of thought into the worldbuilding. 

There are so many great characters in this book, especially females in leadership roles. There are hints of a love triangle, but it makes complete sense within the story. I really liked Mason in this book. Avan is in an interesting place. I liked how it was handled. 

Overall, I liked this book even more than the first! I give it a 5/5. I highly recommend this series and if you read the first and were a little turned off by the exposition in the ending, you don't need to worry. Read this book! 


--PAUL