Rebecca Zanetti - Justice Ascending

Before surviving the Scorpius bacterium, Tace Justice was a good ole Texas cowboy who served his country and loved his mama. After Scorpius, the world became dark, dangerous, and deadly... and so did he. The Vanguard medic is stronger, faster, and smarter than before, but he's lost the line between right and wrong. His passion is absolute, and when he focuses it on one woman, there's no turning back for either of them.
Sami Steel has been fighting to survive right alongside Tace, convincing the Vanguard soldiers she's one of them. In truth, Sami is a former hacker turned government agent who worked at The Bunker, where scientists stored both contaminants and cures. Only she knows the location, and she's not telling. Yet when sexual fire explodes between her and Tace, she'll face even that hell again to save him.

Comment: Considering I was positively surprised by the previous installments in this Scorpius Syndrome series, I also felt like reading the following books and this is #3. I usually dislike apocalyptic scenarios because in my mind there could only be space for fighting and drama and the most negative side of humans but thankfully this series also focuses on good things like romance and friendships.

In this third story, the focus goes on to Tace Justice, the medic at the "facility" called Vanguard and where a large group of survivors of the infection have settled in.

Tate was a very nice and helpful man butt he bacteria affects different people in many different ways and Tace has noticed he has gotten more focused and cynical, with difficulty to absorb emotions. Except, though, in relation to fellow Vanguard soldier Sami Steel. someone he can't seem to let go of, even if there was nothing between them before. However, Tace fears his obsession with her is only another proof the virus is changing him and his feelings aren't rear. Or is the virus just an excuse for something he always wanted but never dared to go after?

Sami has secrets and one of those is how she really feels about Tace. But among so many problems and tasks, can she trust him with who she really is?

In terms of plot this story pretty much follows the same pattern the previous ones did: the main couple is attracted to one another, they feel their bond could only be temporary even while they fall in love and on the backstage there's a need to solve a problem, there are people to fight and people to help/save. It's not a very ingenious plot but I suppose it's what it is, knowing other situations would be way over the top, after the wiping of the population anyway.

What I liked the best on this story is also exactly the same I did in the other ones. The proximity of the characters who live together and the attempts they do to make it easier for weaker members to survive is commendable. The general atmosphere of difficulties and the fact they no longer have a solid government or a dependable lifestyle is quite harsh but they never lose hope and they try their best to do with what they manage to find. I like that there are enough elements in the stories to give us the idea of how hard it is to accomplish daily routines but it's not so desperate to the point of not showing them as good human beings. 

The romance in this book was consistent to what the characters were going through. They are friends, they have fought together and although their personalities are different, they still have enough in common to be a good match. I like to imagine, if this wasn't an apocalyptic sub genre, in a standard type romance novel, they would be as suitable too.

Sami has some secrets but when we discover them, things don't seem that dire to be honest and I can understand why she didn't come clean but it's not that bad.

Tace faces a possible personality change scenario but I'm glad to say although he does become more cynical and obsessed with certain details, he is still the same good person.

I think they were good together but in terms of relationship evolution, because they had known each other for a while, opposed to the previous two couples, who met in their respective books, I wasn't as thrilled with seeing them fall in love but it's all good in the end.

As any reader can imagine, it's the everyday situations the characters face that makes this interesting. I liked having glimpses of other characters, their possible romantic entanglements, there are secondary plots going on, some stronger than others, but they provide a good overall effect. I still can't understand if the series is meant to simply show case this dire scenario of an apocalyptic society or if there are plans to improve things, to solve them or even, maybe, to reveal others scenarios in other places, like is the problem of the world so bad everywhere? I do hope the author starts making a more obvious plan on what it is to come.

At the time, I'm looking for the next book. The couple that will be featured intrigues me and I have hopes things will progress faster in terms of plot too.

Grade: 8/10