Keep in mind that this is the sequel in a series that needs to be read in order. The events from the first book trigger what happens in this story and all the drama between the characters has been building. While the first half of the story was slow, setting up what was going to happen, the second half was an action packed mess of battles and loss. This is the supernatural dystopian series that you have been looking for, think X-men meets The Hunger Games.

I loved how An Outcast and an Ally was told through four different perspectives this time, instead of just Lai and Jay views. This time we get to see inside all team mates, so Al and Erik are main characters as well. I loved getting to see what motivated them and what they really wanted (not just what mind reader Lai picked up in their heads!) and I feel like they are just as important in the story as Lai and Jay have been since the beginning. I loved the messy dynamic between the four, watching over the course of the two books as four complete strangers begrudgingly became teammates and then a family- with the bickering and loyalty and all. And while there was a few different romantic relationships that played out in the series, I think the overall friendship was a much deeper bond.

I am pretty sure that this is the end of the journey for this rag-tag team of rebellion fighters. This book wrapped up the story nicely, not leaving any loose ends to make me unhappy. Keep in mind that this was full of heartache and possible death, so it is not an easy read but I am glad I took the journey with Lai and her group. I think this series is the perfect choice for fans of all things dystopian with rebellions, characters with supernatural abilities and who love found families in stories.

Some time has past since the end of A Soldier and a Liar and we find the four friends still together but fraught with tension. They must decide what to do even as each struggles internally with what they should do. In this book, we are given insights into all 4 friends as chapters alternate between all 4 POVs.

As was seen in the first book, Lai is a strong independent young woman, but she's even stronger in this one as we see her break but only to surface stronger than before. Jay's chapters were to me the weakest in this book as he seems only to serve as a little helper (even if his actual role in the Order wasn't that little) and some sort of romantic interest (I found this even slightly lacking; yes, I wish there was a bit more spark).

Erik's & Al's struggles, however, were soul searching ones. All Erik wanted was to regain his memory yet finding out about his past self made him doubt whether that should be his priority in life. While Al's purpose in life was to avenge her parents, she was derailed by what she actually found out and after all that she and the Order has been through, she begins to question what's truly important in life?

An Outcast and An Ally is a novel about fighting for justice; it is filled with broken pasts, betrayals, but best of all, friendships and what that means. It is YA dystopian with characters who aren't overwhelmed with anger and who aren't afraid to think for themselves. It is a fascinating world despite the twists of betrayals for if one or two are willing to change, there is always hope.

Thank you Swoon Reads and Xpresso Tours for including me in this blog tour & ecopy of book in exchange of my honest thoughts

You'll definitely want to read the first book in the series before you read this one. It's not a stand-alone and jumps right in to the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.