"Cured" Has The Answer For What Ails YA Dystopia

Cured (Stung, #2) Title:  Cured
(Stung #2)
Author:  Bethany Wiggins
Format:  ERC
Length:  336 pages
Publisher:  Walker Children's Publishing
Rating:  5 Stars

Now that Fiona Tarsis and her twin brother, Jonah, are no longer beasts, they set out to find their mother, with the help of Bowen and a former neighbor, Jacqui. Heading for a safe settlement rumored to be in Wyoming, they plan to spread the cure along the way--until they are attacked by raiders. Luckily, they find a new ally in Kevin, who saves them and leads them to safety in his underground shelter. But the more they get to know Kevin, the more they suspect he has ties to the raiders. He also seems to know too many details about Jacqui and her family—details that could endanger them all. For the raiders will do anything they can to destroy the cure that would bring an end to their way of life. Bethany Wiggins’s reimagining of our world after an environmental catastrophe won’t fail to stun readers.  -Goodreads

My Thoughts

Jacqui Bloom, was a story waiting to be told from Stung, and boy, what an amazing story she turned out to be.
The strong willful and haunted Jack/Jacqui shines quite brightly as the central character of Cured.  If anyone who has read its predecessor has any qualms about a story being able to hold its own in light of the fabulousness that is Stung, and Fiona, Bowen, and Jonah; please rest assured that Jacqui fills the bill in spades.
Now that Fiona and Bowen have manged to find not only the cure, but both love and stability; they are once again called to risk their lives to help friend Jacqui Bloom, in her quest to find both her long lost brother and mother, and locate a hidden settlement of uninfected in Wyoming.  Just to sweeten the pot for Fiona, there are rumors that her mother may be found there as well.

This book does what readers love.  It uses emotionality to draw the reader into both the story and its players, and couples that with the plot twists and nonstop action needed to keep them enthralled.
Bethany Wiggins is second to none in her ability to build suspense within her books, without making it obvious that  she is doing so.
She is able to do this with a greater ease in Jacqui's case, because unlike Fiona, Jacqui has a past from which the reader can gather the threads of familiarity needed to weave a bond.

Add to that the fact that she is unsure of herself as woman, of her quest, and the man to whom she gives her heart...and WOW!

Speaking of Kevin.  What a mystery to be solved in that one.  He is an enigma right until the very END.
There are even reappearances of a kinder, gentler, and more human Jonah and the still evil ex-mayor.

This is an awesome end to a wonderful duology; tied with the most gorgeous "happily ever after bow".

 

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