In the dark and stunning sequel to  The Initial Insult,  award-winning author Mindy McGinnis concludes this suspenseful YA duology as long-held family secrets finally come to light . . . changing Amontillado forevermore. Perfect for fans of Truly Devious and Sadie ! Tress Montor murdered Felicity Turnado—but she might not have to live with the guilt for long. With an infected arm held together by duct tape, the panther who clawed her open on the loose, and the whole town on the hunt for the lost homecoming queen, the odds are stacked against Tress. As her mind slides deeper into delirium, Tress is haunted by the growing sound of Felicity’s heartbeat pulsing from the “best friend” charm around her fevered neck. Ribbit Usher has been a punchline his whole life—from his nickname to his latest turn as the unwitting star of a humiliating viral video. In the past he’s willingly played the fool, but now it’s time to fulfill his destiny. That means saving the girl, so that Felicity can take her place at his side and Ribbit can exact revenge on all who have done him wrong—which includes his cousin, Tress. Ribbit is held by a pact he made with his mother long ago, a pact that must be delivered upon in four days. With time ticking down and an enemy she considers a friend lurking in the shadows, Tress’s grip on reality is failing. Can she keep both mind and body together long enough to finally find out what happened to her parents? * Junior Library Guild selection * A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Title * A Kirkus Best Book of the Year * Gr 9 Up-The town of Amontillado is r­eeling. Felicity Turnado is missing. Kermit "­Ribbit" Usher has gone viral, after partygoers recorded his drunken shenanigans and livestreamed them. Tress Montor is the only one who knows the truth of last night-that she murdered Felicity-but she's determined to keep the secret for the rest of her life. Which might not be that long, considering she is currently bleeding out due to being attacked by the panther that got loose from the Amontillado Animal Sanctuary. As Tress fights for her life against infection-and the guilt over what she has done-Ribbit is busy exacting twofold revenge: against the classmates who've ruined his life, and a revenge 18 years in the making against his own family. The second book of McGinnis's latest duology picks up hours after The Initial Insult, with alternating perspectives between Tress and Ribbit and verse chapters from the perspective of Rue the orangutan. McGinnis continues drawing inspiration from the works of Edgar Allen Poe, this time more heavily from "The Tell-tale Heart" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." Suspension of disbelief is required a little more this time around-part of the plot revolves around characters willingly setting themselves on fire, with a teacher's permission-but it all serves to­ deliver a sequel that is just as thrilling and dark, if not as cohesive, as its predecessor. VERDICT A serviceable ending to a dark and twisted tale. Definitely hand over to readers of the first book.-Tyler Hixsonα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Praise for The Initial Insult : "McGinnis draws heavily upon the works of Edgar Allan Poe to deliver a gripping modern retelling of “The Cask of Amontillado.” Tress and ­Felicity are expertly fleshed out. Their linked tragedy and trauma is expressed in prose that is by turns gritty and heart-rending, and they join a lineup of strong, flawed, and intriguing McGinnis main characters. The story ends in a cliff-hanger, which heightens anticipation for the second installment. Well-versed Poe fans will gobble this up, but the heartache, revenge, and ­anger that ooze from these pages should ­entice any reader." - School Library Journal (starred review) "An intricate, duology-opening story of mystery and revenge by McGinnis with significant nods to Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre work. An engaging tale." - Publishers Weekly “If Edgar Allan Poe came back to write the scariest high school murder story ever, it probably wouldn’t be half as good as Mindy McGinnis’s  The Initial Insult . You must read this book!”  - James Patterson "McGinnis pulls out all the stops for this darkly thrilling conclusion to her Poe-inspired duology . . . McGinnis shrewdly blends familiar, and not-so-familiar, Poe tales into an addictive gothic horror story for older teens. Fans of the first volume will not be disappointed." - Booklist Online "The overall effect this time ups the mystery, intensity, and horror (emphasis on the latter!), with a satisfying ending delivering answers about ongoing family questions and clashes. Masterfully modernizing the gothic horror genre, McGinnis outdoes herself." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "A sequel that is just as thrilling and dark, if not as cohesive, as its predecessor. Definitely hand over to readers of the first book." - School Library Journal "The el