Salt & Stone Hardcover – February 24, 2015

Victoria Scott’s Fire & Flood series continues to surprise me at every turn. I love how it gets you thinking beyond the words on the page. There is an overarching theme in both Fire & Flood and in SALT & STONE of integrity and principles and loyalty and how high of a value you place on those things when faced with tough choices. Not easy questions for anyone, much less teenagers.In Salt & Stone, Tella, Guy and the members of their alliance are facing the last two legs of the Brimstone Bleed, knowing that each leg will get harder and harder as they get closer and closer to the single cure available to save a loved one. Tella is particularly struggling. She has strong feelings for Guy, but he doesn’t seem to have much confidence in her abilities. This makes Tella determined to prove her worth and think for herself. Meanwhile, she is also struggling to maintain her integrity as the contenders are constantly faced with choices designed to break you. Does she stay true to her friends and the pandoras, or does she look out for number one and do everything she can to save her brother’s life?Gah, Tella – this girl constantly amazes me. This girlie girl who loves glitter and chocolate and shoes is also the girl who made it through the jungle and the desert alive. This experience has changed her, though. How could it not? She has seen friends and enemies alike die. She has fallen in love, and is now faced with the possibility of it being unrequited. All these things have hardened Tella in some ways.The pandoras play a much bigger role in Salt & Stone than they did in Fire & Flood. It’s obvious they have feelings and thoughts just like the humans, which made them so much more important to me as the reader. To the race organizers, they are just as expendable as the humans are, which is absolutely infuriating. That they’ve made this race and created these creatures specifically for it, and are then able to dispose of them without a thought when their apparent usefulness has worn out is frustrating and just so… WRONG.It appears that Tell has the same feelings, because as contenders die, and their pandoras are left behind, Tella brings them into her fold and cares for them. When pandoras are treated badly by their contenders, Tella offers them kindness. She’s often chastised for this practice, but this is where her principles kick in. It’s just not in her to mistreat any creature, and she’s determined to not have this race turn her into someone who does. As it turns out, Tella’s big heart and unfailing loyalty have both benefits and drawbacks throughout the book.As in Fire & Flood, no one is safe in Salt & Stone. Characters die. Pandoras die. It wouldn’t be realistic if they didn’t. And, every time it happens, my heart broke. Seeing their deaths through Tella’s eyes was so sad. And, each time I found myself hoping that this death wouldn’t be the one to break her.Tella’s relationship with Guy is complicated. It’s obvious they care about each other a lot. But, Guy has no faith in her or her abilities. He’s of the opinion that she’s only made it this far because of him and his help. Tella resents him for that (and rightly so), and in an effort to prove herself, she makes a few mistakes. Tella’s also frustrated because Guy refuses to talk to her about what he wants or how he feels. She thinks she’s being strung along, and it sucks for her.I know that Victoria Scott has only been contracted by Scholastic for two books in this series. But, I am imploring the publisher to PLEASE sign her up to finish the series! Salt & Stone ends as if there will be a third book. The Brimstone Bleed comes to an end, but there are still SO. MANY . QUESTIONS. Tella’s and Guy’s story is not over, and it needs to be finished.

Are you ready "Fire & Flood" fans? Because "Salt & Stone" is here and is making a splash (pun intended)! If you thought the first book in this series was intense, well...you have no idea what intense means. "Salt and Stone" ups the intensity factor 1000-fold, and makes for an amazing sequel! Wonderfully written and chock full of action and exciting adventures, this installment packs a major punch. As the Brimstone Bleed continues onto the 3rd and 4th legs, the characters are put through challenges and danger like they have never known before. And the end...oh boy! Prepare yourself is all I'm going to say.While I loved Tella in the first book, the one thing that I wished more than anything was that she would stop depending on Guy so much. However, I understood her need for dependency on Guy as she wasn't prepared at all for the extremes and dangers she was going to face in the race. However, in this book, Tella steps up majorly, and realizes she is a strong, independent woman that can make her own decisions! While she does look to Guy in some instances, she takes charge and becomes a leader. I loved watching her grow over the course of the book, and realize that she has had the strength in her to excel all along. However, I do wish that this journey of Tella finding her independence didn't detract so much from her romance with Guy. She spent so much of her time trying to prove to Guy that she could lead and make good decisions for the group that their relationship went on the back burner. However, by the end of the book, I was more than happy with how their relationship progressed (and no it's not anything dirty haha...it's very sweet).The setting of the Brimstone Bleed just blew me away. Ms. Scott is extraordinarily creative, and I loved every single intense second! The heart-pounding moments are nonstop and you will be turning the pages quickly to see how everything will turn out. There was so much action and adventure, and the scenes were richly described that I felt like I was right there next to Tella and the gang experiencing every life-threatening, crazy moment. Ms. Scott has a great talent, and I can't wait to see where this series goes next!I highly recommend this book to fans of the first novel, and if you haven't started this series yet, read it now! If you like action, adventure, and survival-type books, this is for you. And the beauty of this book is that it can be enjoyed by all ages. The countdown to the next book is on, and I am dying to see how this series ends!Happy reading :)

Loved this book.read it in less than a day it was that good. It takes off exactly where book one ended and the author recaps what happen in book one for those of u who waited to read it so u are not dropped in the book clueless. Easy read with heartwarming and wrenching characters. Action packed fast read. Lot more animals and MYSTERY people. Great book! Would of gave it 5 stars but sometime the author would repeat things over and over about the main character that got annoying but ya good read hope u enjoy it as much as I did.can't wait for book 3!!!

it is an amazing book. Must read. The book is a adicting one and you wont leave it till you have finished it.

I cannot say how gutted I am to have just finished rereading this for the second time and it's only NOW that I've found out the publishers have not purchased the contract for the third book to end the trilogy!! Please people, BUY these books, read them and leave shining reviews like mine so that we can get Victoria a more than well deserved contract for the final book!When I began reading Fire & Flood series, I was dubious, very much so. As I said in my review for the first book, I thought it was going to be a rip-off watered down version of the Hunger Games, but boy! Was I wrong!! If you LIKED the Hunger Games, the Scorch Trials, or any other of the Dystopian series, then you HAVE to read these books. I'm not even joking.In Book 2, Tella's story continues of her fight to win the games and bring home the Cure for her brother; the one prize for that sole winner which will cure any disease. Tella has joined with a gang of other contenders who help each other along the way - despite the many quarrels and tense moments. And, of course, we meet again the Pandoras; scientifically designed animals who each have their own unique abilities, shapes and sizes. Every contender receives one pandora when they start out the trials although, not every story has a happy ending.There's one particularly poignant moment in this second book surround Tella, her strong, loyal and unflinching loyalty to her friends, and the Pandoras. I can't say enough - this series is so worth reading, and I'm really hoping that Victoria will be contracted for the third book, and also that this will develope into a movie series eventually! I am dying to see the Pandora's in action!

This was a book I could not put down after reading Fire and Flood, I had to know how the race ended

Tough fox reputation be damned.Surviving the first two deadly terrains wasn't easy for Tella, but the second two might prove to be even harder. With Cody still sick and over a month of the race remaining, Tella knows that she must carry on, all for the chance of winning the Cure. If she wants to save Cody then she must face the roaring ocean and the fierce mountains, while avoiding the devious traps set by the controllers of the race and the growing threat of the remaining contenders. One hundred and twenty-two began. Only sixty-four remain.A lot more is revealed in the second instalment of the Fire and Flood series, with Guy's reason of entering the race is unveiled and the story behind the Brimstone Bleed discovered, you get a much better idea of the story. I loved this book just as much as Fire and Flood AND I NEED THE THIRD BOOK TO COME OUT BUT I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE. I'm desperate, I really am. As in the first book, the characters are likeable and well developed, the plot is intricate and the tale gripping. I got through this in a couple of hours and then spent the next hour scouring the internet for even an inkling of when the third book will come out.I sort of wished that there had been a bit more romance, but otherwise I adored getting deeper into Victoria Scott's fantastic world of the Brimstone Bleed!

Great love the book