Bedlam by Susanna StromMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Kyle Goes To Boise
I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.
This is the third book in a continuing series. This book deals with a separate couple from the first two books, but the story follows immediately after the second book and deals with a character who is in the first two books.
Kyle is MacKenzie’s ex-boyfriend who came back to Portland to be with her after their friends died en route to Boise. In the first two books, he was a bit spoilt and used to being the golden boy of his family, school and college. Essentially he was a good guy, but totally out of touch with reality. During the course of the first two books, he learnt about the real world and was put in some very difficult situations that forced him to become more ruthless and much stronger mentally and emotionally. It’s still left him with nightmares, but he’s a better man for it.
After reaching Valhalla, Kyle decides he needs to return to Boise to see what happened to his family. He returns home to find a dead family and after burying them plans to return back to Valhalla. When he spots lights moving around in his best friend’s house he finds his best friend’s little sister, Sunny.
Sunny is the last person in her gated community left. She tries to remain hidden at night and during the days she is a scavenger for HAVEN the hub where the survivors pool resources and get help. She’s particularly close to Mrs B, a woman in her 80s who’s very fond of Jaffa cakes (something close to my British heart). When she meets Kyle again and he tries to get her to come back to Valhalla, she decides to show her teenage crush the people she helps every day. Torn between their conflicting desires and a determined need to stay together they spend time getting to know each other again.
This book brings more people into the story. It develops the plot, adding conflict and a bigger enemy to defeat. It also introduces new allies and people who become family. As in the previous books, there is violence and death. It also doesn’t shy away from the emotional and mental consequences of taking a life. I appreciate this in a dystopian novel which often skirts over the impact of being forced to act in a way contrary to morals from the time before civilisation disintegrates.
There are a lot of moving parts to the plot for this series and this book brings different ingredients to the storyline, with new people and different approaches to handling the changes in the world. As with the previous books the story is gripping. It’s got drama, passion and love for family, friends and lovers. It’s a great book and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one.
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