Early Review: Two Weeks' Notice by Rachel Caine
Two Weeks' Notice by Rachel Caine
Revivalist #2
After dying and being revived with the experimental drug Returne, Bryn Davis is theoretically free to live her unlife—with regular doses to keep her going. But Bryn knows that the government has every intention of keeping a tight lid on Pharmadene’s life-altering discovery, no matter the cost.
And when some of the members of a support group for Returne addicts suddenly disappear, Bryn begins to wonder if the government is methodically removing a threat to their security, or if some unknown enemy has decided to run the zombies into the ground…
Life or rather unlife hasn't been easy for Bryn Davis in the past year, but since being killed and revived by a drug called Returne, she's been making the best of it as she can. She's moved on as best she can as she runs her funeral home and the occasional job for the government in exchange for the daily shot that continues her existence. But when her latest assignment reveals that several other Returne have gone missing, Bryn can't help wondering if the Feds have decided keeping Returne quiet wasn't worth the hassle anymore and have chosen to end the program. Permanently.
The conspiracy and paranoia are stepped up an incredible notch in Two Weeks' Notice. Now that the government has a major hand in Pharmadene the threat against Bryn seems to have doubled. Sure, the government claims to be completely running the show, but Bryn knows that an organization as secret and corrupted as Pharmadene doesn't easily disappear. Especially since one of the drug's creators is still on the run and out of the government's grasp. Either way, there is still only a limited supply of the Returne drug that she and the other revived are dependent on, and it is only a matter of time before the government starts to decide that maintaining their afterlife isn't worth the security risk. In fact I almost can't believe that Bryn and the rest of her allies haven't become just as insane about security as their scientist friend, Manny. If I were them, I would have long ago begged sufferance from him (and bribed with a lot of money), and hunkered down with him in his current stronghold. Then again, I just don't quite have the strength of will Bryn does, so I have to thank goodness that this is only fiction and not a reality. Especially as there also was another player added into the game that led to a shocking turn of events that I can't talk about without spoiling things. But suffice it to say that your head will be spinning once that plot thread is revealed. Even now, I am still in shock as I cannot believe the direction things are heading, but I'm sure the next book will be one heck of a ride because of it.
I really admire Bryn's character as she is both incredibly strong, but also isn't afraid of opening herself to others. Granted, she has had to adapt to some pretty horrible changes in her life which have left her much more sarcastic and hard. She also has this lone ranger mentality when it comes to trouble, but her reasoning for this is rather noble as she wants to keep the ones she cares about out of danger since they are much more vulnerable than she is, at least physically. On the emotional front however, Joe and Pat seem to have it together a whole lot more than Bryn and have become her steady rocks of support no matter how hard she may try and push them away for their own safety. Add in the rest of the supporting cast, and you have a small army willing to do anything and everything for one another, which makes them very dangerous to the wrong people. Love and loyalty more than anything can be the fiercest motivators, something their opponents will quickly learn.
My first thought upon finishing Two Weeks' Notice was rather incoherent, but it was something along the lines of "Holy bleeping bleep, that was bleeping insane!" It's not that the ending was an extreme cliffhanger, but more that the intensity of the book crept up on me so much that I hadn't realized just how sucked in I was until I finished. I looked up and realized hours had gone by without me noticing at all. I absolutely loved the first book, and had high hopes for this one as well, but wasn't sure how it could possibly top the series opener. Not only did Two Weeks' Notice top Working Stiff, but it completely blew it out of the water earning this series a place on my all time favorites list of Urban Fantasies. From the incredible cast of characters, to the fierce action and incredibly high stakes Two Weeks' Notice is one heck of a read and a must buy!
(Received a copy from the publisher)
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