Settling (Solid #2) by Shelley Workinger Review

Settling (Solid #2) by Shelley Workinger
Series Website
★★★★☆
Release Date: July 4, 2011
Age: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal
Format: e-book
Source: author
Buy it: Kindle, Paperback, Nook

At the beginning of the summer, Clio Kaid was one of a hundred teens brought to a secret Army installation. But it was no ordinary camp and they weren’t ordinary kids… Picking up where “Solid” left off, Clio and her friends realize that they aren’t ready to go home; they’re determined to stay on campus and continue their journey of self- discovery. But someone doesn’t feel the same way and will do anything to drive them away – even kill. Friendships will be tested, abilities will evolve, and more secrets will come out as the teens race to stop the killer before he sets his sights on one of them…

Settling is the second book in the Solid series by Shelley Workinger. It's a young adult science fiction story about teens with special abilities they acquire from chromosomal mutation before birth. I do not recommend reading this book, or this review, before reading book 1, Solid. I loved Solid, the characters, the dramatic plot, everything about it. When I was asked to read and review book 2 I was, and still am, thrilled.

The reader is once again trapped in the Army camp that Clio and her friends came to, to find out the extent and magnitude of their abilities and better understand them. Every fun and amazing character is present, plus some new ones. Settling begins with everyone getting back into life following all the events of Solid. All of the kids have been given jobs based on their abilities and are all acting, or trying to act, like normal teens again.

On the surface everything seems to be going great. Jack and Clio make up the resident cute couple, Miranda is still a pain, Bliss is still sweet, Garrett is still as arrogant as ever, and together they create a close circle. Things are looking up, until someone at the camp comes up dead and everyone is a suspect. Then things begin to shift in all sorts of ways. As more incidents occur propelling the story into a crime scene, some relationships begin to get rocky.

Settling also introduces us into a bunch of new characters. A great personality that adds to the all around atmosphere of the book was Trudy, who has taken over for Janet. While her part in Settling is small, she's kind of a mother hen; warm and dependable. I really liked her. We are also introduced to Graham, who is cute and not much older than Clio, they work together trying to figure out a curriculum that will keep everyone together for the school year. And we have 2 new students aboard, Rae and Xavier who add some more diversity to an already populated camp. I will say in the who's the hottest of the group, Xavier has my vote!

So, I obviously loved the book why 4 stars? It's really 4.5-4.75 stars and it's only because I didn't find the beginning of the book to be very eventful. It's more of a build up to the middle and end of the book, which was phenomenal and definitely not what I expected. When I finished the story and put it down I had all these emotions running through me; I was upset that it was over, happy that there's another book coming, and going over what happened in my head all at once. The world of Solid, as we know it, is completely changed. Shelley knows how to write a series that will keep readers coming back book after book. Book three will certainly be a new experience and I can't wait!

It's an amazing series, I can't stress that enough, read it! Look for book 3, Sound, coming soon!