Book Review...Outsider (The Outsider Chronicles Book 3) by Kayti Nika Raet

Surrounded by hunger and degradation, the city of Cherai is a sparkling, opulent metropolis, a dazzling centerpiece in humanity's fight against Slithers and acid rain. And at its heart, keeping everything shining and bright, are the Grey-Men, an oppressed workforce, drugged into submission.

But not for long.

Upon escaping her fate as a Grey-man, Niko is determined to free the whole lot, liberating all from their bondage. Together with Ben, Songhay and the Gemini Gang, they plan to take control of the city. To do that they must control the one thing no one can live without.

Water.

It only takes four days to die of thirst.

I got a lot to say about this one, because I LOVED it!

The likes and dislikes: ~The guys; oh, they made me smile! ("Weird girls are sexy." - My fangirl problems began kicking in around here...again.) ~The pieces of history were awesome; very thorough, without making it feel like you need to take notes to keep up. ~Bear with me through this one, but this is why Raet is an effing amazing author! I won't point this out...ever...but this is worth mentioning. As someone who believes sexuality is fluid, reading this is like having a dream world coming to life. Because the way Raet has written it into the books go barely noticed - which is a great thing, because it is totally NORMAL. What amazes and inspires me with Raet's work, is how she already goes and takes on the challenge of writing amazing diversity (which there is a great lack of) and goes and throws sexuality in, so beautifully, that for me it forms a connection with the characters like few other books can. With all that said, scary Slithers and acid rain apart, this world is way cooler than our own. ~Seeing what 'they' say about what Ben did (having read Pale and Crimson I was so sad and I punched a pillow to relief some stress. ~A few scenes made me feel SO good and I awkwardly smiled at my e-reader WAY TOO MUCH! Loved it! ~Another fangirl problem that causes conspiracy theories to develop...the Slither's 'dead white skin' reminds me of the MRG after drying...? ~Ben's show!!! Eeep! ~CH6...AHHHHHHHH! *happy dances* ~The Slithers thing...(read the books to find out)...Oh my fucking Gaia! With that said, I know I shouldn't be caring about them, but I'm getting a Warm Bodies vibe and I loved that movie, so to tie in with Ben's issue...there may be hope...I hope...*silently sobbing* ~I am fascinated by how Raet had made simple things, we know, seem like news to Niko and others, which gives the story this extra element that makes you realise this is not our world, yet still holds the core. The fact about lizards losing their tails for example, it is common knowledge to us, but not to Niko, yet it shows the brilliance of different situations that ties it to our world and that...that is a H-BALLS amazing example of how simplicity can lead to great, relatable writing. ~Alice meeting Songhay...oh gosh! I was all but strangling my pillow, while she was strangling Niko's arm! Boy is charming! ~I'm literally halfway through when I realise Niko has a different name in each book so far and somehow that is so awesome as it shows an odd development and 'personal character search'...or I'm looking way too into it. #fangirlproblem ~The card game scene...so cute and funny! ~The great thing about these books are that you think...'well, that is likely going to happen', but it doesn't. Instead you're thrown into this direction heading so far away from what you thought, it has your spinning in such a good way, you start thinking...'that was a good ending', but then it wasn't the end and you need to hold the fuck on, because these awesome bastard twists sneak up on you like crazy! ~This got intense! Stressed my ass off...I mean exam final stress is bad, but this was torturous and I loved it way too much! ~The people of Cherai (Mrs. King) have a very primitive way of dealing, which is scary, because the Outside is supposed to be a bad place, yet I think it is still safer in some ways. ~Not to sound like an insensitive bitch, but Songhay can be damn lucky Slithers exist! *awkward chuckle* ~The best thing I noted about Outsider was that is has a little slowdown regarding the death and gore you get with Niko and Harm, but it serves a great purpose. It doesn't slow down anything but the reader. You get this ease, this idea, that maybe this world isn't so bad with the Greenery and all, so that simpler - in this series' case - things like the rain, become a 'so what the Greenery is protected', that when the shit does hits the fan, you're whiplashed right back into the simple things of...'Oh, the rain and the Slithers...RUN!'. ~I don't know if I mentioned this in a previous review, bit I loved that these books show how humans will definitely be enemies, regardless of the fact that you'd like to imagine standing together would be a better option. ~'I think it's Malik'...I love him still and those words killed my soul!

Notes on characters: Niko - Why can't she be real?! It is so hard being in love with someone who doesn't exist! Ben - His med kit 'move' and sweetness is too much for my corruptible soul. I'm beyond saving! Can we make Ben real while we are at it to make Niko real? Songhay - Add him as well...Please? Eva - Is sweet and so damn cool. Jared - He is growing up so fast! Roosevelt - Still utterly witty. Alice - She is full of it, but I found her sweet and I love that she 'wants something different'. Mrs. King - *read in a tone that shows loathing* I HATE HER! SO...can we all make a deal to not speak of it and kill her? Like legit, the woman sucks! She needs a 'moerse' SA-style KLAP!