STRIKE

The assigned kills from Hit (2015) may be over, but the danger still intensifies in this capitalist dystopia.

After faking her own death in the first novel, Patsy Klein, along with her boyfriend, Wyatt, and her dog, Matty, seek shelter and a way to wreak revenge on Valor National Bank with the anti-government anarchy cell, Citizens for Freedom. Along the way, they add more like-minded teens to their fold. When the extremist CFF leader, Leon, begins sending them on assignments to “kill bad guys and blow shit up,” Patsy realizes that the CFF’s disregard for life is just as great as Valor’s and that there’s no “freedom” to walk away from their terrorist tactics. In another movie-ready plot, guns and action continue to speak louder than words in the Wild West atmosphere. As Patsy and her new rebel friends make plans to take out Leon’s organization, the teen also learns more about her missing father. While some steamy scenes with Wyatt are still in the mix, the focus is more on solving family mysteries and her related connections to both Valor and the Citizens for Freedom. And because doing what’s right sometimes comes with a high price, moral dilemmas abound alongside the thrills. The cast is not notably diverse.

Avoiding the “middle book” syndrome of many series, this sequel is sure to be a hit with previous fans.