Series Recap: Partials by Dan Wells

Reading Order:

Isolation (Book 0.5, Published on August 28, 2012)
Partials (Book 1, Published on February 28, 2012)
Fragments (Book 2, Published on February 26, 2013)
Ruins (Book 3, Published on March 4, 2014)

Click the titles to check out my reviews.

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Synopsis Recap:

Partials Sequence is set in a post-apocalyptic America which is nearly destroyed by the RM virus. Humans are struggling to survive even though they're slowly dying away. Kira, a young medic, is trying to find a cure. She captures a Partial in order to so. As time passes, she finds more than just the cure. She finds something deeper. Something about the connection between Partials, humans, the virus, and the world before. Something about her past, as well. In this series Kira will set out for a journey in order to uncover all the truth and work to make peace between Partials and humans -- for peace, and survival.

Isolation is a prequel of the series. It takes us back to the world before, in the period of the Isolation War. Heron is a Theta model of Partial, and her job is to infiltrate the enemy's base. But what she learn is not just tactics of the enemies. It hints about how the world in Partials is made and also the consequences in Fragments.

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Thoughts recap:

Partials is a pretty nice book if the finding-the-cure progress isn't so slow. So much more can happen in this book. But the concept is great. The better part is that we won't notice something's wrong or something's really interesting until Kira finds out about it. The author keeps the clues well-hidden. It might be the best start of a series, but it certain does its job to make us curious.

Fragments has a similar problem. It's more fast-paced than Partials. But still, if there are more action scenes, the book will be a whole lot more interesting. Though there are really good parts. A lot is uncovered in this book and the ending sets an uncertainty of how the sequel will turn out to be. Sure, it has its flaws, but Fragments is a lot better than Partials.

Ruins keeps you in the dark until the last minute. You won't know if humans and Partials survive until the very last chapter. Potential threats are found in unexpected site, and unexpected allies are made. It's pretty damn thrilling from the first chapter of the book. The only flaw about this book is that there are a lot of things left out in the book. (Spoiler! Don't read this part if you don't want to be spoiled) Such as the failsafe in Kira (because I really want to see that becoming a potential threat) and the Partial faction Morgan is leading (End of spoiler). Still, it's a really nice ending of a dystopian story.

Isolation is pretty different. For some reason I really like that companion novella. Probably because I'm very curious about how the world was in the Isolation War. And how it leads to the utter destruction of mankind and Partials alike. I actually want a prequel series about legends in the world before (probably in the period of the Isolation War). A prequel novella will do, though.

Rating: 7.5/10
Do I recommend this series?: If you want to read it, just do so.

Short Story Review Sunday: Isolation by Dan Wells

Synopsis:

Two decades before the events of Partials, the world was locked in a different battle for survival: a global war for the last remaining oil reserves on the planet. It was for the Isolation War that the American government contracted the ParaGen Corporation to manufacture the Partials—our last hope in reclaiming energy independence from China. And it was on these fields of battle that the seeds of humanity's eventual destruction were sown.

Isolation takes us back to the front lines of this war, a time when mankind’s ambition far outstripped its foresight. Heron, a newly trained Partial soldier who specializes in infiltration, is sent on a mission deep behind enemy lines. What she discovers there has far-reaching implications—not only for the Isolation War, but for Partials and humans alike long after this war is over.

A powerful take of our world on the brink, Isolation gives readers a glimpse into the history from which Partials was born—as well as clues to where the Partials Sequence is heading next.

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Well, it's been nearly two months since I read Fragments. And now it's the lost tale of Partials Sequence. This will be anticipating if I haven't read Partials yet, because this brings us to the front lines of the Isolation War, and how the first thought of rebellion against the humans for Partials starts. It's a very enlightening read, and very, very well written. 

We also know more about the mysterious heroine in Fragments and part of Partials, Heron. She's more than just an espionage, and more than humans can ever control. We get to see more about her training as a spy in the Chinese army, and we get to see how she's clever enough to detect the whole secret behind the whole existence of Partials. 

God it is more dystopian than ever after I read Isolation. I love Isolation.

Rating: 9/10