Double Cross (The Disillusionists, #2) in Audiobook Junkies

Jun 12, 2017 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-5-stars, urban-fantasy, z-2017, z-2017-audiobook, 4-star-narration

Review originally posted at RabidReads.ca.

3.5 stars

This is the second installment of The Disillusionists series. Disillusionists are people who use their issues to help rehabilitate other people. The main character, Justine, is a hypochondriac. She uses that to ramp up the fear in other people. They use this to “reboot” the person they are trying to rehabilitate. In this book, Ez, has the power to get into people’s dreams and even control them when they’re sleeping.

Former police chief, now mayor Review originally posted at RabidReads.ca.

3.5 stars

This is the second installment of The Disillusionists series. Disillusionists are people who use their issues to help rehabilitate other people. The main character, Justine, is a hypochondriac. She uses that to ramp up the fear in other people. They use this to “reboot” the person they are trying to rehabilitate. In this book, Ez, has the power to get into people’s dreams and even control them when they’re sleeping.

Former police chief, now mayor, Otto Sanchez has gotten Packer and his group of Disillusionists to work on people he’s locked up behind barriers. Sanchez wants them rehabilitated before he’s willing to release them. He’s convinced that Ez was sending people out to cannibalize other people. However, it starts to look more and more like she was framed.

There is also a group of people killing the high-caps (people with special abilities, like Otto Sanchez’s ability to lock people behind forcefields). This group of serial killers are called “The Dorks”. Sanchez insists that killers can’t have cool names, but names that make them look weak. There is a list of names, similar to how they have names for hurricanes, that can be used. This is the best thing that Sanchez does in this book, at least in my opinion.

So, I really loved the mystery of this story. I loved how they not only learned more and more about Ez and her issues, but also the investigation into The Dorks. We also see Justine grow as a character, though it does take her a while to get there.

The part I hated the most about this book, the love triangle between Sterling Packard, Justine and Otto Sanchez. Love triangles are something that I can’t stand, but I was able to put my hatred aside for this story. I will be interested to see what happens in the next book.

The secondary characters continue to be great. Simon is someone that I really like. Shelby is another character I really like. She is so good for Justine. I even liked Ez.

Now, I will warn you, this book ends on a cliffhanger. Luckily, I don’t have to wait for the next book. I will be tackling it very soon. I can’t wait to see where The Disillusionists go from here. Some much came out in this book.

Narration
I really continue to enjoy the narration of this series. Rebecca Wisocky continues to do a great job with all the voices. I have to give her a big shoutout for the tone and pacing. When Justine starts to go into her panic, she starts talking faster and you can really hear that panic in her voice. Then when she comes down, the narrator goes back to a more normal pace. ...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Darcy rated it it was ok

Shelves: uf, 2011

This series is a little odd for me. I like them, but have a hard time reading it. Usually when I sit down to read a book I can read 100-200 pages at a time, but for some reason with these ones I can only handle about 50, so I find myself reading something else with it and keep switching back and forth.

I think part of that reason is Justine. I find at times I like her and at others she falls into the TSTL category. She really lives in an idealized world and expects those around her to conform to ...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Anne - Books of My Heart rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012

Wow. It is always a challenge to review without being a spoiler. The first book left me confused and unhappy. The heroine Justine is not too endearing; she seems a bit stupid to me. Her boss, Packard, I just love. She is attracted to him, but instead took up with the mayor, Otto. I don't know if it is my personal thing to sincerely not trust anyone in politics or religion or just what I read about Otto. I just don't like him. He makes me uncomfortable.

So in this book, she is with Otto and all k ...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, disillusionists-series, 2012-new-to-me-author

My Rating:4.5 stars: Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

I jumped into Double Cross immediately after finishing the first Disillusionists book, Mind Games. Note, this review contains SPOILERS from Book 1.

When we last left the gang, Packard was finally free of his restaurant prison and headed for some much deserved sunshine. Justine was looking forward to starting over and enjoying a romance with newly elected Mayor Otto Sanchez. Packard and his gang of Disillusionists are now working direct My Rating:4.5 stars: Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

I jumped into Double Cross immediately after finishing the first Disillusionists book, Mind Games. Note, this review contains SPOILERS from Book 1.

When we last left the gang, Packard was finally free of his restaurant prison and headed for some much deserved sunshine. Justine was looking forward to starting over and enjoying a romance with newly elected Mayor Otto Sanchez. Packard and his gang of Disillusionists are now working directly for Otto, rehabilitating Midcity’s most dangerous high caps (people with high-capacity brain powers - such as telekinesis).

The second book in Ms. Crane’s powerful trilogy meets and surpasses the intensity, suspense and action of the first book. Wow! First of all, the plot was extremely exciting... A group of terrorists dubbed “The Dorks” is attacking Midcity's high cap residents. This adds an element of immediate danger to our beloved Otto and Packard. In addition, the Disillusionists are working with a set of nefarious high caps, giving more tension and strain. But it’s fear that Justine will turn into a sleepwalking cannibalistic zombie-slave that puts the suspense over the edge!

Right from the start I wanted to cheer for Packard, but let’s face it... he’s such an ass. He knows exactly how to push Justine’s buttons. How to turn her on, how to give her hope, and how to crush her spirit. He doesn’t want to let Justine in, but their connection is stronger than ever, even with her secretly seeing Mayor Sanchez. The bottom line: Packard is ALL about freedom, and he’ll use anyone in anyway to stay free. This is made perfectly clear over and over again. Yet Justine (and this reader), keeps going back to Packard.

I felt Justine could be a bit dense at times, but I still love her. I mean Otto goes missing and she thinks his text to her isn’t quite right, yet she believes he’s off at a conference and just needs space. It’s that she constantly chooses to deliberately NOT believe what she knows in her heart to be true, and although it can be frustrating, it makes Justine endearing. Just like she continually sabotages things with Otto because in her heart she realizes they are there to comfort each other, but it’s not love.

I adore new character, Ez. She’s a high cap with the ability to enter into the sleeping mind of those she touches. It’s unclear if she is behind the cannibal sleepwalkers, and it’s an interesting twist. The fact that Justine and Packard are linked in dreams via Ez is a great plot device that enables Justine to learn more about Packard and Otto’s past.

Ms. Crane has amazing talent! She makes you constantly question what you know is right and true. Like Packard's affections for Justine and whether or not Ez is controlling sleepwalkers. As the secrets from Otto and Packard's past are revealed, more secrets come out that change the game.

Without giving spoilers, I have to say that near the end there is a wonderful scene between Packard and Justine. Packard is raw - the intensity of the scenes are amazing. And then I love him all over again! But be prepared... the ending was one of those "Nooooooooo!" moments. It’s not a cliffhanger, but rather something so significant that changes the entire game. And you know this can't be how it ends.

I couldn't put this book down. I was blown away by the writing, the energy, the plot and the humor. The entire cast of characters from Shelby to Simon support the story, making it rich with life. Ms. Crane is an expert at tugging me and my emotions from "one side" to the other. Events unfold at just the perfect pace. I lived this book through Justine’s eyes and was able to experience each of her emotions. Just. So. Good. ...more

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