Shadows of the League

Ruby, now a trained operative for the Children's League, is haunted by her past and the choices she's made. She's thrust into a dangerous mission to extract a mysterious prisoner, only to discover the League's methods are as ruthless as those she once fled. The League's underground world is a maze of secrets, manipulation, and violence, where Ruby's psychic powers are both weapon and curse. As she navigates the League's hierarchy, she's forced to question her own loyalty and the true cost of survival. The shadow of her lost love, Liam, lingers, and Ruby's sense of self is fractured by the roles she must play. The League's promise of safety is a lie, and Ruby is caught between being a tool for their cause and a girl desperate to reclaim her agency.

Prisoner in the Dark

On a high-stakes rescue mission, Ruby and her team infiltrate a government bunker to extract "Prisoner 27." The operation is chaotic and violent, and Ruby's psychic abilities are pushed to their limits. When the prisoner is revealed to be Liam, the boy she once loved and erased herself from, Ruby is shaken to her core. The reunion is fraught with pain and confusion, as Liam doesn't remember her, and Ruby is forced to hide her heartbreak behind the mask of a League operative. The mission's success is hollow, and Ruby is left questioning the League's motives and her own place within their ranks.

New Team, Old Wounds

Back at League headquarters, Ruby is assigned to a new team of young operatives: Vida, Jude, and Nico. Each is marked by trauma and distrust, and Ruby's presence as an Orange—one of the most feared psychic types—makes her an outsider. The team's dynamic is tense, with Vida openly hostile and Jude desperate for connection. Ruby's leadership is resented, and her attempts to bond are met with suspicion. The League's training is brutal, designed to break down individuality and foster obedience. Ruby's memories of Thurmond, the camp she escaped, haunt her, and she struggles to reconcile her past with the violence and manipulation she's now expected to wield.

The Cost of Loyalty

Ruby is forced to use her powers to interrogate a suspected traitor, plunging into the woman's mind to extract information. The experience is dehumanizing, both for Ruby and her victim, and she's left shaken by the ease with which she can violate another's mind. The League's leader, Alban, praises her effectiveness, but Ruby feels the weight of her actions. The line between right and wrong blurs, and Ruby fears she's becoming the very thing she once despised. The League's cause is righteous in name only, and Ruby's loyalty is tested as she's asked to do ever darker things in the name of survival.

Secrets Beneath the Surface

Ruby uncovers evidence of a plot within the League to "reduce the freak population"—a euphemism for orchestrating the deaths of psychic kids on missions. The revelation is chilling, and Ruby realizes that not all of the League's agents are allies. The organization is fractured, with some seeking to use the kids as expendable weapons. Ruby's sense of safety is shattered, and she becomes determined to protect her team, even as she's forced to play along with the League's deadly games. The cost of loyalty is steep, and Ruby must decide how far she's willing to go to keep her friends alive.

The Mission Unravels

On a mission to Boston, Ruby is forced to choose between following orders and saving a teammate. Her decision to disobey leads to chaos, and the fallout is severe. The League's trust in her is shaken, and Ruby is left to grapple with the consequences of her actions. The mission's failure exposes the fragility of the League's structure and the dangers of blind obedience. Ruby's relationships with her team are strained, and she's forced to confront the reality that survival may require sacrificing her own morals.

Betrayal in the Ranks

The death of a teammate, Blake, reveals the depths of the League's corruption. Ruby and her friends discover evidence that Blake was deliberately sent to his death by agents seeking to cull the psychic population. The revelation is devastating, and Ruby is consumed by guilt and rage. The League's promise of safety is exposed as a lie, and Ruby's trust in the organization is irreparably damaged. The team is fractured by grief, and Ruby is forced to take on the burden of leadership, vowing to protect her friends at any cost.

The Return of Ghosts

Ruby's journey leads her to a reunion with Chubs, her old friend from Thurmond. The joy of reunion is tempered by the pain of the past and the secrets Ruby still keeps. Chubs has survived against all odds, but the scars of their separation run deep. Together, they search for Liam, following a trail of clues that leads them through a landscape scarred by loss and betrayal. The ghosts of Thurmond and East River haunt them, and Ruby is forced to confront the choices that have defined her.

Reunion and Regret

Ruby and Chubs finally find Liam, but he is a shadow of the boy she loved—sick, broken, and still without his memories of her. The reunion is bittersweet, as Ruby is forced to care for him while hiding the truth of their past. The weight of her decision to erase herself from his mind is crushing, and Ruby is tormented by regret. The team is reunited, but the bonds between them are fragile, strained by secrets and the trauma they've endured. The hope of healing is distant, and Ruby is left wondering if love can survive the scars of memory.

The Price of Power

Ruby's powers grow stronger, and she's forced to confront the darkness within herself. The temptation to use her abilities for control and revenge is ever-present, and Ruby fears becoming like the Oranges who abused their power. A confrontation with a Red—a firestarter—forces Ruby to the edge of her control, and she's left shaken by the violence she's capable of. The line between justice and vengeance blurs, and Ruby must decide what kind of person she wants to be. The cost of power is steep, and Ruby is haunted by the fear that she's becoming a monster.

The Red Inferno

In a brutal fight orchestrated by a false Slip Kid, Ruby and Vida are forced to battle a Red, a boy whose mind has been shattered by government experimentation. The fight is savage, and Ruby is pushed to the brink of her abilities. She's forced to use her powers to subdue the Red, but the cost is high—she witnesses the boy's agony and is left with the knowledge that mercy is sometimes impossible. The experience leaves Ruby scarred, and she's forced to reckon with the reality that survival in this world often means making impossible choices.

The Slip Kid's Lie

The Slip Kid, once a symbol of hope for psychic kids, is revealed to be a fraud—a petty tyrant exploiting the vulnerable. Ruby and her friends expose his lies and free the kids under his control, but the victory is hollow. The promise of sanctuary is a myth, and the world remains hostile and dangerous. The team is left searching for a new path, clinging to the hope that they can build something better. The legend of the Slip Kid is dead, and Ruby is left to forge her own destiny.

The Warehouse of Despair

The team's journey leads them to a warehouse filled with foreign aid—food and medicine meant for the suffering, hoarded by those in power. The discovery is a lifeline, but it comes at a cost. A violent confrontation leaves Ruby wounded, and the team is forced to flee. The hope of a cure for IAAN, the disease that created the psychic generation, is tantalizingly close, but the forces arrayed against them are relentless. The warehouse is a symbol of both hope and despair, a reminder of what's been lost and what's still possible.

The Edge of Control

Ruby's psychic abilities reach new heights, and she's forced to confront the darkness within herself. In a moment of rage, she uses her powers to torture and nearly kill Rob, the agent who betrayed her. The experience is intoxicating and terrifying, and Ruby is left shaken by the realization of what she's capable of. The line between hero and monster is razor-thin, and Ruby fears she's becoming the very thing she once fought against. The struggle for control is both internal and external, and Ruby's greatest enemy may be herself.

The Fall of Trust

The League's headquarters is attacked, and the fragile safety Ruby and her friends have found is shattered. The city burns, and the team is forced to flee through underground tunnels as the world above collapses. In the chaos, Jude is lost, and the team is left reeling from the weight of his absence. The loss is devastating, and Ruby is consumed by guilt and grief. The world is more dangerous than ever, and the hope of sanctuary is gone. The fall of trust is complete, and Ruby is left to pick up the pieces.

The Last Operation

The survivors of the League's destruction are forced to make a desperate escape through the ruins of Los Angeles. The world is in chaos, and the future is uncertain. Ruby is haunted by the loss of Jude and the knowledge that safety is an illusion. The team is fractured, and the bonds between them are tested by grief and fear. The search for meaning in the face of loss is ongoing, and Ruby is left to wonder if hope is still possible in a world so broken.

The Tunnel's End

The team emerges from the tunnels into a world transformed by violence and destruction. The city is in ruins, and the survivors are left to pick through the wreckage of their lives. The loss of Jude is a wound that will not heal, and Ruby is forced to confront the reality that not everyone can be saved. The world is hostile, but the survivors cling to each other, determined to find a way forward. The tunnel's end is not a new beginning, but a continuation of the struggle for survival.

The City Burns

In the aftermath of the attack, the truth about IAAN and the possibility of a cure is revealed. Clancy, the president's son, is exposed as a manipulator and destroyer, having burned the only known research that could have saved the psychic generation. The hope of a cure is ashes, and the survivors are left to grapple with the knowledge that their suffering was not inevitable. The city burns, and the cost of truth is measured in lives lost and futures stolen. Ruby is left to pick up the pieces, determined to fight for a better world.

The Cure and the Ashes

In the final reckoning, Ruby is left with the knowledge that a cure for IAAN once existed, but was destroyed by those who feared change. The survivors are scattered, and the world is in chaos, but the possibility of a better future remains. Ruby's journey has been one of loss and pain, but also of growth and resilience. The ashes of the old world are fertile ground for something new, and Ruby is determined to fight for a future where hope is possible. The story ends with the promise that even in the darkest times, the light of resistance can never be fully extinguished.

Characters

Ruby Daly

Ruby is the heart of the story—a girl marked by trauma, loss, and the burden of extraordinary psychic power. Once a frightened child in a government camp, she's now a weapon for the Children's League, forced to use her mind to manipulate, interrogate, and sometimes destroy. Ruby's journey is one of self-discovery and moral reckoning; she is constantly at war with her own abilities, terrified of becoming a monster like the Oranges who abused their power. Her relationships are fraught with guilt and longing, especially with Liam, whose memories of her she erased to save him. Ruby's leadership is reluctant but fierce, and her loyalty to her friends is unwavering. She is defined by her empathy, her capacity for love, and her refusal to surrender to the darkness within her.

Liam Stewart

Liam is Ruby's anchor and the embodiment of hope in a broken world. Once a leader of runaways, he is captured and broken by the system, his memories of Ruby stolen for his own protection. Liam's journey is one of survival and the search for meaning; he is driven by a deep sense of justice and a desire to protect those he loves. His relationship with Ruby is the emotional core of the story, marked by longing, regret, and the hope of redemption. Liam's moral clarity is both his strength and his vulnerability, and he serves as a reminder of what is worth fighting for in a world that has lost its way.

Chubs (Charles Meriwether)

Chubs is the voice of reason and skepticism, a survivor who has learned to trust only those who have earned it. His reunion with Ruby is bittersweet, marked by the scars of their separation and the pain of loss. Chubs is fiercely intelligent and resourceful, using his skills to navigate the dangers of the world and protect his friends. His loyalty is hard-won but unbreakable, and he serves as a grounding force for the team. Chubs's journey is one of healing and the search for belonging, and his friendship with Ruby and Liam is a testament to the power of chosen family.

Vida Bautista

Vida is a Blue with a sharp tongue and a sharper edge, using aggression to mask her vulnerability. She is fiercely loyal to Cate, her mentor, and is driven by a need to prove herself in a world that has always seen her as expendable. Vida's relationship with Ruby is antagonistic but ultimately transformative; the two push each other to confront their fears and grow beyond their pain. Vida's strength is both physical and emotional, and her journey is one of learning to trust and be trusted. She is a survivor, a fighter, and a friend.

Jude

Jude is the team's conscience—a Yellow with a boundless capacity for hope and kindness. He is the glue that holds the group together, always seeking connection and meaning in a world that offers little of either. Jude's innocence is both his greatest strength and his undoing; his death is a devastating blow that shatters the team and forces Ruby to confront the true cost of survival. Jude's legacy is one of love and light, a reminder of what is lost when innocence is sacrificed to violence.

Nico

Nico is a Green whose mind is both his greatest asset and his prison. Scarred by experimentation and manipulation, he is drawn to Clancy's charisma and becomes an unwitting pawn in a larger game. Nico's journey is one of betrayal and redemption, as he struggles to break free from the influence of those who would use him. His relationship with Ruby and the team is fraught with mistrust, but ultimately he seeks belonging and forgiveness. Nico embodies the dangers of unchecked power and the possibility of healing.

Cate Conner

Cate is Ruby's Minder and the closest thing to a mother she has left. She is torn between her loyalty to the League and her love for the kids under her care. Cate's relationship with Ruby is complex, marked by secrets, lies, and genuine affection. She is a survivor of her own traumas, and her choices are driven by a desire to protect those she loves, even at great personal cost. Cate's journey is one of sacrifice and the search for redemption, and her influence on Ruby is profound.

Cole Stewart

Cole is Liam's older brother, a deep-cover agent whose own psychic abilities are a closely guarded secret. He is charismatic, ruthless, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. Cole's relationship with Ruby is marked by mutual respect and a shared understanding of the burdens they carry. He is a survivor of the system, using his position to protect his brother and further the cause of the League. Cole's pragmatism is both his strength and his weakness, and his secrets threaten to unravel everything he's built.

Clancy Gray

Clancy is the president's son and the most powerful Orange, capable of bending minds to his will. He is both a victim and a perpetrator, shaped by a mother who sought to cure him and a father who used him as a tool. Clancy's relationship with Ruby is fraught with manipulation, betrayal, and a twisted kind of kinship. He is driven by a need for control and a fear of vulnerability, and his actions have devastating consequences for everyone around him. Clancy is a cautionary tale of power without empathy, and his downfall is both tragic and necessary.

Alban

Alban is the founder of the Children's League, a man driven by guilt and a desire to expose the truth about the camps. His vision is corrupted by the realities of power, and he is ultimately betrayed by those he trusted. Alban's relationship with Ruby is paternal but distant, and his inability to protect the kids under his care is his greatest failure. Alban's journey is one of disillusionment and loss, a reminder that good intentions are not enough in a world built on violence.

Plot Devices

Duality of Power and Corruption

The narrative structure of Never Fade is built around the duality of power—how psychic abilities can be used for both liberation and oppression. Ruby's journey is a constant negotiation between using her powers for good and the temptation to abuse them. The League, ostensibly a force for justice, is revealed to be as corrupt and dangerous as the system it opposes. Betrayal, manipulation, and moral compromise are recurring motifs, and the story uses foreshadowing—such as Ruby's fear of becoming a monster—to build tension and explore the consequences of unchecked power. The use of memory, both as a weapon and a wound, is central, with Ruby's erasure of herself from Liam's mind serving as a catalyst for much of the emotional conflict. The plot is driven by secrets, shifting alliances, and the constant threat of violence, with the narrative structure mirroring Ruby's internal struggle for control.

Analysis

Never Fade is a harrowing exploration of trauma, power, and the search for hope in a world that has been systematically broken. Alexandra Bracken's narrative is unflinching in its portrayal of the costs of survival—both physical and moral. The story interrogates the nature of loyalty, the dangers of blind obedience, and the ways in which systems of power corrupt even the most well-intentioned. Ruby's journey is emblematic of the struggle to retain one's humanity in the face of dehumanizing violence; her psychic abilities are both a metaphor for and a literal manifestation of the ways trauma can shape and distort identity. The novel's emotional arc is one of loss and resilience, with the death of Jude serving as a devastating reminder of what is at stake. Yet, even in the ashes of defeat, the story insists on the possibility of change—of building something better from the ruins. Never Fade is ultimately a call to resist the easy answers of violence and control, and to fight for a future where hope, love, and agency are possible, even in the darkest of times.

Last updated: October 26, 2025