Blackout

Annum Guard, Book 2

By: Meredith McCardle

Narrated by: Amy McFadden

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Seventeen-year-old Amanda Obermann (code name: Iris) has more on her mind than usual. As a member of a covert government organization called the Annum Guard, which travels through time to keep history on track, Iris has been getting some particularly stressful assignments. Plus Jane Bonner, the guard's iron-fisted new leader, seems determined to make life as hard as possible. Thankfully Iris has Abe (code name: Blue), her boyfriend and fellow guardian, who listens to her vent - and helps her cope with her mentally ill mother's increasingly erratic behavior.

When guardians start to disappear on their assignments, Iris makes a terrifying discovery: a "blackout" squad is targeting anyone who gets in the way of a corrupt force that's selling out both the Annum Guard's missions and guardian lives. Together Iris and Blue must go undercover to untangle the guard's elaborate web of secrets and lies. But when Iris discovers that the terrible truth may involve her own father, a former guardian undone by his own greed, she must decide how much she's willing to risk to rescue her friends...and how dangerous the consequences will be for all of humanity.

A thrilling time-traveling adventure that spans from Abraham Lincoln's assassination to the Cuban Missile Crisis and back to the present day, this pulse-pounding sequel to The Eighth Guardian reveals that playing with time can turn into a deadly game.

©2015 Meredith McCardle (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

OMG

Big cliff hanger. Can't wait for next book. Awesome story . The narrator is great too. I look for books she's done

Much Worse Than The First.

A 10 billion dollar device allowing time travel is put into the hands of a 17year old girl who knows nothing about history. Amanda is supposed to go on time travel missions to "tweak" history. She never studies for her missions, she knows no history and she has no common sense at all. In 1975 she asks where the Ronald Reagan airport is. In 1928 she tears the sleeves off her 1800's dress to fit in because apparently they didn't wear sleeves in the 20's right? Being chased through the White House she can't escape by jumping forward because she would still be in the White House. So she runs until she sees someone she knows to ask for help. After getting the person killed she jumps back 300 years to before the White House was built. If she had done it 5 mins sooner she wouldn't have destroyed so many lives. Because of her arrogance and lack of sense she refuses to take others who actually know what they are doing with her.
Her final fatal moronic move kills one of the most important people In her life and erases the existence of another. And then the book ends.

A thrillful ride though time and back...

What did you love best about Blackout?

4 Stars

A thrilling, twisted plot, with deception and corruption fueling the vengeance through time and back, with determined heroines ready to fight to the end for the truth, with betrayals and shocking revelations that will shake this world to the very core... BLACKOUT is a sequel not to be missed!!

BLACKOUT was a much anticipated sequel for me after the ending of THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN! I LOVED book one and was ecstatic to get back into this complicated world. I really enjoyed BLACKOUT, and was so SHOCKED at the way it ended. Man, that cliffhanger almost killed me!! It was absolute torture not knowing what will happen next. If it's one thing that Meredith McCardle knows how to write, it's thrilling, heart-pounding anticipation to keep you reading or wanting to read more!! Well done McCardle!!

One issue that I did have with BLACKOUT though, was the slow pacing. Sometimes I can look past it, and lately with some books I even enjoyed the slower pace and thicker world development. But in BLACKOUT, that was not the case. It felt like it was almost halfway through until something really stated happening. And after LOVING THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN, I had really high expectations of BLACKOUT, maybe even to a little to high.

BUT... BLACKOUT still turned out to be pretty awesome nevertheless. I REALLY enjoy this world setting, and traveling back in time, and the characters were awesome. But my feelings for the love interest Abe, still has not increased much. But it really wasn't a big issue for me at all. But Iris was a great heroine: Strong, determined, smart, skillful, and prepared to go to any lengths to save her friends and the people in danger of the corruption.

THE PLOT

Amanda Obermann, code name Iris was recruited into Annum Guard—a secret organization that travels back in time to change the course of history and shape their world for a better tomorrow. But when corruption and betrayals sent the guard spiraling out of control, Iris realized the hard way that playing with time can become a deadly game...

After the take-down of Alpha and his corruption within Annum Guard, Iris is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and rebuild a new life in the guard with her longtime boyfriend, and love of her life Abe. But where everything is suppose to be coming together and mending, it's falling apart in shreds. And Iris isn't sure what to do about righting all the wrongs that are unfolding before her eyes at lightning speed. But when members of the guard start going missing, they all become targets to be next, including Abe, the one thing keeping her sane in all this insanity...

Iris must unravel the web of deception and corruption that was left in the wake of Alpha's destruction. But where to start and who to trust becomes the key factor in taking down this unknown person named XP who happens to be the leader behind of it all. And knowing that any member of her team could be taken on any mission at anytime makes it even more frightening. But Iris is no rookie at dealing with shady people, and now that their playing with the ones she loves, theirs no ending to where she'd go and do to save the people she loves, even if she has to travel back to where it all started, alone...

But as Iris uncovers hidden secrets years in the making, she realizes just how deep she's gotten herself in, and just how dangerous uncovering these hidden secrets really are. But most importantly, before it's all said and done she may be the last one standing, if she makes it out alive...

Overall, BLACKOUT turned out to be a pretty good sequel, though I did enjoy it's predecessor more, but by the end I was hooked and totally shocked with the ending!! I think anyone who enjoys time travel with action and adventure, mystery and corruption, thrills and strong heroine's will definitely enjoy this trip back in time to uncover America's hidden secrets...;) I will be eagerly anticipating book three, and if it's anything like the first two books I'm sure I'll definitely enjoy it!!

NOTE: I received an ARC from Skyscape/Amazon for reviewing purposes! All opinions express are my own and are not influenced in any way!

Young girls think they are important

I would like to hear the same story from Abe's perspective. It would be a lot less whiney I think.