Elites of Eden

In this sequel to Children of Eden, Yarrow attends an elite boarding school meant only for top citizens. She and her best friend, Pearl, rule the school with a vicious, vapid hand. Drugs and all-night parties abound. However, a chain of events force Yarrow to remember she is actually Rowan, a second-born child who has people waiting for her to escape. Rowan does her best to assist those hiding from the evil governing forces of Eden, but it all ends in seeming disaster, setting up the third book. This predictable, clichéd sequel will not thrill any but the most loyal fans of the first installment. The protagonist too often oscillates between weepiness, helplessness, and indecision and the competence and self-assuredness of a trained operative in a spy novel. The language is an off-putting blend of teen speak and invented swear words. There is even a cackling villainess who reveals the full menacing plot of those in charge right before she tries to kill off the main character. Overall, this is a melodramatic story about a society waiting out ecological disaster with a HAL-like machine in charge.