The Reckoning by Marisa Noelle – Review

• Title: The Reckoning (The Unadjusteds Book 3)
• Author: Marisa Noelle
• Publisher: Question Books on May 6, 2021
• Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian
• Pages: 416
• Formats Available: Paperback & Digital
• Rating: 5/5

Trigger Warnings: Violence, Murder, Death from Childbirth

Many thanks to Marisa Noelle and Zooloo’s Book Tours for providing me with an ARC copy of The Reckoning with a request for an honest review.

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The Reckoning Blurb

The final instalment of The Unadjusteds trilogy…

THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER.

A NEW NEMESIS HAS AWOKEN.

Sinister visions of an evil entity with looming yellow eyes haunt Silver’s dreams, threatening to destroy the new world she and her friends have created. The terrifying omens push Silver to experiment with her abilities, but awaken a burgeoning thirst for more power.

As Silver walks a fine line between good and evil, her friends become wary of her intimidating abilities. She finds understanding in a sympathetic newcomer, but their deepening friendship drives an even deeper wedge between Silver and her suspicious friends.

Tragedy strikes during preparations for the final stand, bringing a terrible choice. Grief drives Silver toward reckless actions that may doom the final battle. Can she repair the relationships with her friends and control her powers before her vision becomes reality?

Provided by Zooloo’s Book Tours for Tour Use

My Review

Marisa Noelle is a master of the dystopian landscape. The third novel in the Unadjusteds series knocked my socks off. Much like the first novel, I couldn’t get enough and read both Rise of the Altereds and The Reckoning over two days. It took me through all the highs and lows you expect in a great series.

In this volume, it’s been five months since the great battle of Earl’s mountain. Everyone in Central City lives as though nothing will ever threaten them again. However, there is still danger close by. A being with glowing yellow eyes is on the horizon, and it is up to the Mission Team to conquer this new force. Everyone will not survive…or will they?

I loved Silver Melody from the very beginning. She is everything you need in a good heroine. But, in The Reckoning, she becomes something I’m not sure I like very much. She lets power get to her, with the help of an unstable Eli. She trusts him when no one else does, and pays the price. Matt also got on my nerves by trying to control Silver. It is only natural that their relationship suffers.

I enjoyed the new setting of Central City. The old city is in ruins while the citizens now reside in a camp of sorts where you can smell the freshly tilled soil. The fields of wheat and corn make for a calming setting where you can feel at peace. The visual picture of the camp went a long way in enabling me to enjoy the story through the chaos of Silver and Matt.

Even though I spent most of the book being angry at Silver and Matt, the writing had me caught up in my emotions. For me, this is the mark of a remarkable novel. Marisa made me angry, then she made me cry, and finally, I felt joy. I had a fantastic time reading this series. So, it is my pleasure to award The Reckoning a full 5 out of 5 stars.

In my review of The Unadjusteds, I stated that Silver’s story compares well with Katniss and Tris. I still feel this way and recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good dystopian thrill ride. The Unadjusteds brings something new and fresh to the table that you can’t find just anywhere.

Read my Review of The Unadjusteds (Book 1)

About the Author – Marisa Noelle

Marisa Noelle is the writer of middle grade & young adult novels in the genres of science-fiction, fantasy & mental health including The Shadow Keepers, The Unadjusteds Trilogy (The Unadjusteds, The Rise of the Altereds, & The Reckoning), and The Mermaid Chronicles – Secrets of the Deep. 

She is a mentor for the Write Mentor program that helps aspiring MG & YA authors. With dual citizenship, Marisa has lived on both sides of the Atlantic and uses settings in both the USA and UK as inspiration for her novels. 

When she’s not writing or reading or watching movies, she enjoys swimming. In the pool she likes to imagine she could be a mermaid and become part of some of her make-believe words. Despite being an avid bookworm from the time she could hold a book, being an author came as a bit of a surprise to her as she was a bit of a science geek at school. She lives in Woking, UK with her husband and three children.

Author Contact Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads