Specials is a little darker than the first two books in the series. Tally has been transformed into a member of Special Circumstances, someone who is ferocious and unmatched in battle (and a little confused about what side she's on).

One piece of this story that I don't like is the "Cutters," a group of futuristic teen law enforcement who cut their skin in order to feel "icy." While Westerfeld makes it clear that cutting is not a good idea, I simply don't like to see this habit glorified whatsoever in young adult literature.

While I enjoy Specials a little less than I do the first two books, it's still a good read and a brilliant end to a tale of some amazing characters. I'm a big fan of Scott Westerfeld's big imagination. Whenever teens ask me what to read, I'll always recommend these books.