Quake

November 15, 2014
This final installment in the Pulse trilogy starts up only moments after the ending of Tremor (2013), and the action never lets up.Faith Daniels is sure of only a few things in life: that she loves Dylan Gilmore, that they are both virtually indestructible due to their dual pulses, which protect them while giving them superpowers, and that they're in a fight against an evil genius who thinks the only way to save humanity is to destroy millions of people. Representing all that is left of the rebellion, along with friend Hawk and military bodyguard Clooger, they head for a mountain refuge to take stock and come up with a strategy that will vanquish Wade and Clara Quinn, siblings who also have two pulses, and their father, Hotspur Chance. But they don't have much of a chance to strategize, as the Quinns invade all too soon, taking out some of their slender forces and kidnapping Dylan's half sister, Jade, in the process. It's an all-or-nothing battle now, and the fate of the entire Western State rests in their hands. Carman keeps the action moving at all times, allowing well-timed breaks for his solid, likable characters to contemplate the difference between right and might, as well as mind over matter. An engaging end to a well-developed arc. (Dystopian romance. 13-16)

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April 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-Carman continues the high octane action in this final installment of the fast-paced sci-fi series. Super-powered teens Faith and Dylan are caught in the middle of earth-shattering conflict with the evil twins, Clara and Wade. Twists and turns ensue as they rush to save the world, combining their powers to create a Quake to end all quakes. Fans will enjoy every second of this pulsating page-turner.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2015
Grades 7-12 Volume 3 of Carman's Pulse trilogy finds the earth in terrible jeopardy. Evil-genius Hotspur Chance, the smartest man in the world, has plans to eliminate millions of people in the West State, and Faith and Dylan are the only ones who can stop him. Both teens are second pulses: they are able to move almost anything with the power of their minds, including themselves (which means they can fly). In addition, they can deflect all thingsdon't bother trying to shoot them; the bullets simply bounce off. Unfortunately, the evil twins Wade and Clara, who are working for Chance, have similar powers and are determined to stop our heroes. Can they? Blood will be shed, mayhem will be visited, and disbelief will be necessarily suspended before that question is answered. Style is not Carman's strong suit, but the plot is the focus here, and, though burdened by exposition at the outset, Quake soon picks up speed and will hold readers' attention to its satisfactory ending.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Carman's best-selling history should make this trilogy finale a hit even without the expected promo boost.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2015
In the dystopian trilogy's conclusion, Faith and Dylan (Pulse; Tremor) learn that villainous Hotspur is planning to devastate the States. But to reach him they will have to finally defeat their telekinetic rivals and Hotspur's protectors, Clara and Wade. A predictable plot, superficial characters, and a neatly wrapped-up ending don't detract from the intense action series fans have come to expect.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)