The Fallout, by Kristy Acevedo, is the sequel to The Warning and picks up where the first book left off. Having chosen to escape through the mysterious doorways to a new Earth, Alexandra and her friends must now navigate this unfamiliar world. While some aspects of life seem better, a dark secret lurks beneath the surface, forcing them to question their choices and fight for survival. Alexandra grapples with the cost of survival and the sacrifices made. Keep in mind, The Fallout is the second book in a series, so it's recommended to start with The Warning for a full understanding of the characters and the situation.

They chose survival...but at what cost? A fast-paced, empowering YA dystopian novel for anyone who's ever felt betrayed, then came back stronger. The sequel to The Warning.

This was a great follow-up to the first book. Alex is still her anxious self. I think k the author does a wonderful job portraying the realities of this illness. True to its dystopian storyline, factions are formed, people are betrayed and the group is on the brink.of war. It's a straight forward dystopian novel and fans of this genre will enjoy the book.

Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebooksfire for giving me the opportunity to review The Fallout.

This is a phenomenal and fast alternative future where "aliens" come to save the people of earth from their pending doom. It shows how people live with a countdown to the end of time. Families reconnecting, families falling apart, people living with a deadline and a choice to stay or leave to an unknown world. But is it all real?

3.5/5 stars! This is the second book in the Holo duology. I enjoyed the first book in this series so I was excited to read this book. This is a dystopian story and it elicits similar reactions to when I first read Divergent. What I mean by that, is that when you first read the series (especially as a younger reader), it seems very exciting and thrilling. But if you go back or read it when you are older, there is a lack of pacing within the story and a few plot holes that can be frustrating. Overall, I don't think the story brought that much new to the genre, but it was still an enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

What a sold follow-up/conclusion to The Warning, which I found and loved just a few months ago! If you have little patience, like me, you'll be thrilled to know that this is a nice, neat, wrapped up duology that will leave you entertained and satisfied. I was so excited to jump back into the world (well- whichever world we jump into with Alexandra, that is) after finding the first book to be quite exciting. We pick up right where book one leaves off, and waste no time getting to know the world in which Alex now finds herself.

Alex finds herself among some new folks, and her friends and family nowhere in sight. She'll have to navigate the world around her and integrate if she has any hopes of tracking them down, so it is a challenge from the start. Alex obviously has a lot of information to pass on, but she wants to be sure she does it right- because the fate of humanity could hang in the balance. The story is incredibly high stakes, and also quite emotional, considering what everyone has left behind. I am keeping this purposefully vague in case people haven't read the first book yet and want to know if starting the series is worth it, and I say unequivocally that it is.

I was wholly satisfied by this installment, and was intrigued with the world, and how our characters were going to navigate through it. I loved that Alex had to handle this massively huge situation while also dealing with debilitating panic attacks, and while trying to figure out friendships, romantic relationships, family drama, and all the other aspects of every day life.

Bottom Line: A solid conclusion that built an exciting and intriguing world, while being a fully satisfying ending for the characters I'd come to love.

I got an ARC of the first book, The Warning, from the publisher earlier this year and really enjoyed it. This sequel was just as original in many ways as the first book was. I loved all the different science fiction aspects to it. But at times the amount of the technology was a bit overwhelming, and I could probably have used a little more explanation or more examples of it being used. I was kept on the edge of my seat with this, wondering what was really going on with the world they had all been brought to, and if they might be able to get back to their own Earth. There was some time travel in a way, even as they said it was impossible, but that also meant there was some alternate universe types of things.

There were a few glimpses into what might be the aliens or whoever had come to take them, with some spaceships when they thought they were on a planet, and not finding the vances when they tried to locate them either. So I was also left with some questions and wondering exactly how some pieces of the puzzle fit. Personally I would like or it at least seemed like we needed more of a third book to wrap a lot of the things up and that is why I only gave 4 stars, even though it had me turning pages, on my e-reader, as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen next.

I know this is labeled as YA but I agree with some very established author that say that YA is not a thing. Either a book applies to adults and young adults or it is not a novel for anyone it young children. This book is to dichotomous. It has no awareness of nuance.

I think part of why both of these books bothered me so much is that they seem to be coming from a place of privilege and entitlement without ever really acknowledging it. Alex (and everyone else we meet) has a very black and white way of thinking about the situation, with zero nuance or room for error. And I guess maybe it's not meant to be read this way, since <spoiler>SIDEKICK says they completed their mission to save Alex,</spoiler> but by <spoiler>returning to our Earth with the technology instead of destroying it, and creating a new "meritocracy," are they not just the beginning of the cycle they've just worked so hard to end?</spoiler>

Idk, overall there was just an awful lot about this duology that didn't work for me. Both books could have been improved greatly if some of the pacing issues were worked out. In both, not a whole lot happened for 75-80% (just so much wheel-spinning), only for an "explosive conclusion" that goes exactly nowhere.

Bleh.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Fallout releases September 5, 2023

3.5

<i>“Umbra means the darkest part of a shadow cast on a planet during a solar eclipse. We represent the importance of a shadow in understanding and investigating the light. Holograms are nothing but glorified light.”</I>

An utterly mind-bending and thought provoking conclusion to the story that began in the first half of this duology, called <I>The Warning</I>.

As Alexandra was the last to travel through the vertex in her city, we see how she deals with being the sole proprietor to the critical information that the catastrophic comet that was predicted by holograms from a futuristic world, was in fact a hoax and that the state of Earth is fine.

We see the stages of integration into a new world, the assimilation, complacency, and emergence of rebellious organizations.

Solbilua-8 is a place where everyone can be treated as equals (or so they say), with equal rations and a way of living that would truly be night and day from the burdens (financial, poverty, etc.) and burn-out that a lot of individuals faced on Earth.
But to live a life free of work, there needs to be contribution in the form of death. Meaning, when you die, your neural pathways would be used to become a biohologram instead of AI technology in order to sustain this planet for future generations.

The world building was so fascinating to read, and a lot of it was reminiscent to The Sims, with how easily they could modify their clothes or living spaces by their bandwidth devices.

Something I can’t quite wrap my head around is the fact that as part of their integration, humans were sterilized (no periods, no pregnancies, no way to populate), and all of their imperfections like bad eyesight, allergies, etc. were reversed. Yet, why did Alex still suffer from having anxiety and panic attacks?
It makes sense in the grand scheme of things in order to propel the narrative of having an unstable character, especially in trying to convince everyone else that the comet was fake, but it doesn’t quite line up with all the other actions that were dispensed.

Katherine as a character was the most compelling factor, but I almost wish the paradox/mobius of her was explored more.
What happened 100 years ago when she encountered the vances? It was obviously significant enough for them to create a monument of her.

I was also hoping for an epilogue or some sort of closure with a reaction from those that stayed on Earth.

cw: anxiety, panic attacks, attempted suicide, physical violence, death, prescription withdrawal

I was a bit critical of the first book in this duology ("The Warning"), but this follow up was stronger. Again, a great premise with a fresh spin on the alien invasion concept. "The Fallout" answers the question, "So what was on the otherside of that intergalactic vertex?" Treachery, deceit, and a dystopia hiding under a thin veneer of eutopia. This book is strongest when it focuses on Alex's struggle with anxiety - an issue many teens and adults can relate to. I appreciate our author's firm belief that a person can struggle with their mental health and still be a strong person who stands up for the right thing.

"The Fallout" was weakest in its trying to explain the scientific mumbo jumbo surrounding spacetime, nano-whatevers, laser guns, etc. It was sometimes difficult to maintain focus as our hero scientists provided page-after-page of exposition.

Not a perfect duology but a nice exploration of issues around teen mental health and how we choose to perceive eutopia.

I loved this book! The futuristic utopia story has been done to death but this was new and entertaining. She writes so well; just enough depth to know the scene but not so much that you get bored of descriptions. I loved Alex/River and her band of motley friends and family kept me over the moon! She was relatable and honest, nuanced and thoughtful. I can’t wait to see more from this incredible author!

It is rather tricky reviewing Fallout without heading straight into spoiler territory, as book one The Warning finished with a massive cliff-hanger. Thankfully both books have been published only a few months apart and are rereleases from a few years ago, originally called Contribute (Holo). These were both terrific novels and I am surprised they never crossed my radar first time around, but a rerelease from Sourcebooks Fire, who are putting out some great stuff, is most welcome. We reviewed The Warning in the July issue and said: “weird portals start appearing all over the world and a hologram of a humanoid appears, claiming that a giant comet is going to hit and destroy the Earth in 4393 hours. However, the portal provides a way to escape to another dimension (several hundred years in the future) where humankind can survive and prosper. Do we trust the hologram’s advice? That is part of the fun of the book, all of what lies behind the hologram/portal is kept completely shrouded for book two. And when NASA later confirm that the comet is real, it looks like the world really will end in six months and people (by the million) begin to voluntary walk through the portals.”

Fallout picks up exactly where The Warning finished with main character Alexandra Lucas, who suffers from severe anxiety attacks, finding herself isolated from her family and making the biggest decision of her life and deciding whether to go through the vortex as the comet hurtles towards earth. Like with its predecessor Fallout has a fascinating countdown which impacts all the characters, but it did not grab the attention in the same way as the comet hurtling towards earth in book one did. This was a fascinating sequel, even if it did not hit the same sweet spots as The Warning, it was endlessly inventive and moves from being a dystopian end-of-the-world thriller into hard science fiction with hologram technology providing a utopia. But when does a utopia become a dystopia? With Alexandra finding herself at the centre of a rebellion and the fight to same both her own humanity and the future of the human race. Although I enjoyed Fallout I doubt it will have the same universal appeal of The Warning as the level of science fiction in this sequel is significantly higher than the threat of a comet destroying the earth. AGE RANGE 13+

Amazing sequel! Alex really waits for the day when she can return to earth and her family. She knows that there was no apocalypse on earth, the holograms lied. But on the new planet everything is so easy. No one has to work, press a button and your room decor can be changed. Food is delivered automatically. No need for doctors, no one gets sick. What’s the catch? If they want to continue to enjoy the luxuries, they will have to contribute their brain after death. The brain will supply more power to their network. They have 30 days to decide. And if they decide not to contribute? Well, read the book and see what happens. You will enjoy it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Kristy Acevedo for the honor of reading this book!

I loved reading the second book in Kristy Acevedo duology. The Fallout had everything you needed to wrap up the series but still left you wanting more. I loved how Alexandra grew as a character while reading both books. She began to believe in herself and fight for what she believed in even when she was against the odds. This book shows that even one person can make a difference and have a impact on something bigger. I love how Alexandra has anxiety. Even though her anxiety can be a pain to deal with at times it makes her who she is. We even see that it actually helps her when finding solutions to things. I loved seeing a main character stuggle with a mental illness but still be the hero. I would love for there to be a book three made to read more about what the future holds for Alexandra, her friends and family.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Following the huge twist at the end of book 1, I was hoping for great things from this book but I was left a little disappointed.

It was fine, don't get me wrong, but it fell back on a lot of tropes:
- Teenage girl finds herself having to save the world, despite her reluctance - Anyone rememver Katniss or Triss?
- Teenage girl so hopelessly in love that she can't function without her boyfriend - Bella Swan, is that you?

I did enjoy the Sci-fi references and there was a fair amount of tension with a few twists but I don't know if I'll bother with book 3.

The fallout is a sequel to the warning. Both of which are re-releases of earlier books under a new imprint.

This book was ok, I had trouble connecting with it. I did enjoy it though

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this review copy.

I live thrillers and this was no exception

Alex is the one person who knows the truth, a truth that will change everything: the holograms lied. Holo technology lets her customize everything from her clothes to her surroundings, the new planet is amazing. But she can't let it distract her from searching for her boyfriend, best friend, and brother. They need to know what happened. Because there's a rebellion brewing, and every utopia has a breaking point. What price must they all pay to survive?

The only thing that kept me going on this book was the need to know what is happening. Not only did it drag on and on - with lots of tech talk, but it then rushed the only part that felt really necessary. Basically, the whole story goes The new planet is super cool, we don't need to work and everything is free. So let's blow some shit up and fight these people to get back to Earth where we will all suffer BECAUSE MOST OF THE WORLD LEFT THROUGH PORTALS. And then we lived happily ever after.

Things that went wrong;
- Alex's anxiety: It wasn't necessary, it wasn't representative. Just cure it.
- Dominick and his toxic behaviour: This isn't love - this is a giant red flag.
- Unnecessary tech talk: It was used as a word filler.
- Obligatory deaths: Character deaths mean more when we care for them. Unfortunately with how much was going on and how many random characters we had to follow, the reader didn't get a chance at connecting with anyone other than the obnoxious FMC.

Things I liked:
- Doctor Who references.

This is the follow up to The Warning (previously Consider), previously known as 'Contribute' and is being rereleased under the new title The Fallout on September 5th, 2023. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Fire, Kristy Acevedo and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The Fallout was a fantastic follow up to "The Warning", and I actually liked it even more than the first book with the stronger sci-fi/space vibes! Ms. Acevedo will be on my watchlist for upcoming novels! A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Just not as good as the first one! I got lost I. The sci fi with this one, with it all being set in space. I missed the mystery and earth world building of the first book, and this one hiya didn’t hook me as much.

After jumping through the vertex at the end of The Warning, Alex now has to navigate this strange new world while figuring out how to expose the deceit and whom to trust. I was on the edge of my seat at times and just enthralled by the world that has been created. Very imaginative yet frightening easy to believe it could happen. Alex is such an empathetic character. I felt all her anxiety and loss throughout. Would definitely read more in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.