Published: September 24, 2013
This second novel in Gena Showalter’s YA series, The White Rabbit Chronicles, was just so much more gripping than the first novel. I was taken on an emotional roller coaster which was surprising since it is a novel for teenagers essentially. But the book sunk its claws into me and would not let go. Which was a problem since I was at a conference and needed to focus on it. But seriously Cole and Ali ripped out my heart and I could not focus on my real life.
Again the book is only from Ali’s perspective which was very annoying this time around. Ali is recovering from the battle that ends the last book and when she is recovered she finds out that two new slayers have joined their group, Gavin and Veronica. Veronica is another of Cole’s ex-girlfriends and Gavin is essentially a slut. But what brings on the drama is that Gavin and Ali have a vision whereas Cole and Ali have not had one in ages. This a type of hell for them especially since the visions are of Ali and Gavin in bed together. Only Cole is also keeping secrets and is moving away from Ali. So essentially, Cole breaks up with Ali and it is heart wrenching. The whole scene and the following parts of the book are just so heart breaking. They are meant to be together yet Cole doesn’t trust Ali enough to put all of his faith in her.
To top all of this off Ali was bit so many times that the zombie toxin in her has caused her to have a split spirit. One is a Zombie Ali or Z.A. The only person that believes her is Cole but only after he sees what she does. Because of her loss of control she is kicked out of the Ankh’s house and her and her grandmother are essentially on their own now. Through all of this Cole has never stopped caring about her even though he is acting like a grade A douche-purse. And Gavin is around trying to make the visions come true. Veronica is sabotaging any chance of Ali and Cole getting back together. And Ali is just flat out trying to survive.
Honestly, the struggle between Ali and Cole would have been even more heart breaking if we could have seen Cole’s point of view. Ali’s is necessary to the story line but throughout the book we see that Cole has made a mistake and that mistake has put everyone in danger. He also realizes that he needs Ali but she has been too hurt to accept him back on face value alone. I really think this series would have a made a stupendous romance series for adults. The sexual tension is ridiculous and if Gena would have made them older I think the whole thing would have been totally awesome. Even without that this book was fabulous. I wanted to just keep reading it even though I was sick with worry about what would come next. Yes, I’m one of those readers. If it’s a really good book it can affect me physically which probably isn’t healthy but I digress. On to the third book!
—“Fear of spiders is arachnophobia, and fear of tight spaces is claustrophobia, but fear of Ali Bell is just called logic.” -Cole, pg. 422—
—“There used to be a street named Ali Bell, but it was changed because nobody crosses Ali Bell and lives. True story.” -Kat, pg. 422—
bookishlyromantic.com 