Fugitive of Talionis

Talionis #2

by C.J. Milacci

They kidnapped her. Trained her. And now they’re hunting her.

After narrowly escaping the clutches of Talionis, Bria Averton and her friends thought they were finally free. But the dangers they face are far from over.

Hunted by Commander Ark and his forces, Bria and her companions must navigate treacherous terrain and evade capture at every turn, desperate to reach possible allies in Eryndale. As they struggle to survive on the run, they soon realize that their former captors will stop at nothing to apprehend them and bring them back to the city.

With their lives constantly on the line, Bria fights to keep her friends safe while battling her own fears and doubts about who to trust in their fight for survival. The danger is palpable, and the stakes are higher than ever.

One reality becomes clear: there’s a greater peril than being a recruit of Talionis. It’s being a fugitive.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Christian

Unknown Binding

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

C.J. Milacci is the award-winning author of the Talionis Series, and she seeks to take her readers on a grand adventure that begins with a single word. As a referee, she is always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She is passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance. Always willing to get real about hard issues, C.J. also enjoys the cheesiest of puns. She chats about writing, her faith, bubble tea, and other fun adventures online (@cjmilacci) and at cjmilacci.com.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, personally ⭐️ Christian Fiction - YA Dystopian

About this book:

“They kidnapped her. Trained her. And now they’re hunting her.
After narrowly escaping the clutches of Talionis, Bria Averton and her friends thought they were finally free. But the dangers they face are far from over.
Hunted by Commander Ark and his forces, Bria and her companions must navigate treacherous terrain and evade capture at every turn, desperate to reach possible allies in Eryndale. As they struggle to survive on the run, they soon realize that their former captors will stop at nothing to apprehend them and bring them back to the city.
With their lives constantly on the line, Bria fights to keep her friends safe while battling her own fears and doubts about who to trust in their fight for survival. The danger is palpable, and the stakes are higher than ever.
One reality becomes clear: there’s a greater peril than being a recruit of Talionis. It’s being a fugitive.”


Series: Book #2 in the “Talionis” series. Review of Book #1, Here!


Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are read, remembered, & thought over; Prayers & Thanking God; ’H’s are capital when referring to God and Jesus; Talks about God, trusting Him, & God loving us; Bria is “new to all this stuff about God” having “finally accepted” God’s forgiveness and salvation in Book #1, but thinks that it seems like “there’s always a cost when you stand up against evil in the way God says to” and Matthias agrees but says it’s worth it; Bria tries to hold on to Isaiah 41:10, but doesn’t know how to believe the Scripture about not being dismayed with everything falling apart; Bria isn’t sure how to trust God, but tries; Someone tells Bria that some demons they face of past events will war within them until the day they die and tells her that she had to rely on God for giving her strength; Bria prays and doesn’t feel an answer from God or feel like anything changes when she does, but keeps praying (at one point, she thinks “some kind of Christian I am” because she can’t find words to pray in a difficult situation and ask God for help); Mentions of God, Jesus, trusting Him, & having hope; Mentions of prayers & thanking God; Mentions of a Bible & Bible reading; A few mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of Christians; A couple mentions of a church camp; A couple mentions of a chapel; A mention of blessings; A mention of the afterlife;
*Note: A villain says there is no god; Bria thinks “we all have the potential for great evil”; Mentions of evil, evil people, & fighting against it/them; Mentions of a ghost story (a rumor); A couple mentions of training week called “Hell Week”.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘idiot’, a ‘ticked’, seven forms of ‘dumb’, and eight ‘stupid’s; A few mentions of curses (said, not written); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Bria lies once (because she needs what she said to be true); Lots of being chased/hunted down, being held at knife- and gun-point, being threatened, being tied-up, shooting and using knives, attacking/fighting, being hit, pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, & bad storms (up to semi-detailed); Grief & Guilt over those who have passed away (including for a sibling, up to semi-detailed); Saving someone from drowning (semi-detailed); A fire (up to semi-detailed); Seeing others be killed and nearly killed, shot, attacked, fighting, injured, bleeding, & in pain (including hearing someone being stabbed and losing a hand, up to semi-detailed); Seeing people die (on-page) and finding bodies (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Remembering deaths (including by drownings, up to semi-detailed); Remembering training exercises from Book #1 with destroying a building full of people, the explosion, & screams (Bria still feels as if seeing this is haunting her, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); While going through a place that has been destroyed, Bria steps on human bones (including a child’s skull, barely-above-not-detailed); Bria tells others about their loved ones’ deaths (and sees their grief, up to semi-detailed); Bria has nightmares & some PTSD and anxiety symptoms (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of deaths, how they happened (drownings and a gunshot), & grief (including Bria for her brother, someone else for a sibling, & parents for their teen; up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of towns being pillaged with bombs/fires, massacres, and a mass grave (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of all of the training that Bria and the others did in Book #1 (including fighting & going through Kill Zones where they could be shot, barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of children and teens being kidnapped to become soldiers (seen on-page); Many mentions of weapons, injuries, pain, blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of betrayal & hurt from betrayal; Mentions of people being killed by their superiors for failing a mission; Mentions of a planned war and assassination; Mentions of fights & fighting; Mentions of threats (including someone threatening to cut out another’s tongue and harming a child); Mentions of criminals & a bounty hunter; Mentions of bombs, fires, smoke, & places being destroyed; Mentions of a father abandoning his family & the daughter being unable to please her mother no matter how hard she tried; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of a tavern & alcohol; Mentions of tattoos; Mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of a husband murdering his wife; A few mentions of possible torture; A few mentions of stealing & stolen items; A couple mentions of potential suicide; A couple mentions of a kid being abandoned by his family; A couple mentions of nearly being attacked by dogs (Book #1); A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of bullies;
*Note: Bria’s friend, Nika, has hints implying she is from an unhappy and possibly abusive family.


Sexual Content- Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Tingles, Nearness, & Smelling (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Seeing a couple embrace & share a kiss (not-detailed); Bria feels disappointed when she thinks Matthias is going to embrace her, but does not; Nika teases Bria often about staring at Matthias and Bria refusing to admit to liking him; Mentions of dating & boyfriends/girlfriends; A few mentions of blushes; A mention of flirting; Light possible falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of butts.

-Bria Averton, age 17
1st person P.O.V. of Bria
432 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars

I had to laugh that at the very end of the book, there’s a link from the author with a quiz titled “would you survive as a fugitive?” Eh, no. Probably not. Especially not if it’s anything like what Bria and the group go through in this book.

The majority of this book is the characters trying to survive in the wilderness and stare at maps for 400+ pages, so I actually have very similar thoughts for this sequel that I had for the first book. It’s a lot of setting the stage for the action (which happens towards the very end of this book) and for the eventual take-down of the corrupt government later on in the series.

If I could just nit-pick a few very minor things: 1- It seems a little far-fetch about Ari being better at tech than the entire Talionis government. 2- I’m also pretty sure that Nika doesn’t remember Bria’s name because she’s constantly saying “girl” instead. I think that’s supposed to be a nod to Nika being African-American, but it was said a ton so it started to grate on my nerves a bit. 3- “Y’all” is misspelled as “ya’ll” approximately 10+ times according to my Kindle search of this book. As a Texan, I’m pretty sure my eye twitched every single time I saw it spelled wrong.

As far as content goes, it was similar to the first book and I have to appreciate that this series has—so far—been a lot cleaner than most dystopian series or books I’ve read. The fact there’s no sexual innuendos or sexual comments at all in 800+ pages so far has me quite pleased and wanting to show this series to other authors that think they have to include that kind of content. The bad guys in this series have no problem being bad enough guys that don’t have to threaten sexual assault on the main character to make the reader sweat in intense moments. There’s the normal fighting, killing, and self-defense that one would expect from this genre, but the details aren’t over-the-too and actually leave a good amount blank as far as bloody or fighting scenes—something that is making this series stand out in my eyes.



Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...




*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Candace Kade · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare that a second book in a series is better than the first.

But that's exactly what I found in Fugitive of Talionis! Action-packed, lovable cast of characters, higher stakes, more exploration of the world, what's not to love about this dystopian story? Also, can we just talk about the tech for a second? I was very impressed by Milacci's sci-fi tech and had fun reading about how the fugitives used it in their daring escape.

Ultimately, though, what makes us tear through the pages is our investment in Bria, the main character. There's so much to love about her and the heart behind the story.

I need book three!!!

[Ashley Schaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful continuation of Recruit of Talionis. I loved watching Bria and the team work through the various challenges they faced and Bria's continued growth as a character and believer was beautiful to see. The developing romance was done just right to balance the tension and felt like a natural progression from what we saw in book 1. The river boat and crew were probably my favorite part and I could read a whole book surrounding them. The climax left my breathless and I can't wait to see where book 3 takes Bria and the rest.

[Katriel Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

sooooo good!!! I knew that it would be a five star read even just a few chapters in. I could just keep raving on and on about this book, but I might spoil stuff! So put down your phone and pick up this amazing series! can't wait to read the next two books!
This next part is a spoiler, but some people might want to know that Shane and Ari are a thing in the book, and near the end Bria and Matthias end up together, but obviously it's a Christian book so there isn't anything bad.

[Elizabeth Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

How the characters, plot, world, and drive of this series has increased exceeds my mind.

As seems to be my nature, I have put off a review to let the book settle in my mind. And then forgot exactly why I loved it.

I could tell you it was the characters. Characters who are raw and real. Who make mistakes yet have the courage to fix them. Characters that are so intentionally crafted you aren’t sure who to trust and why you love them all so deeply.

Perhaps it was the secrets. The mysterious backstories that gave depth to minor characters. The way so much was unknown. The way intentions seemed to change.

Or maybe the plot and world. A continual climb into waters some authors can’t realistically write about. The way everything went right but suddenly it was wrong. How each page of this book kept flipping, seemingly of it’s own accord.


But if I were to tell you one this, it would be the faith. The faith that’s ever so present in this book. Bria grows in a slow process that couldn’t be more realistic. I’ve heard C.J. talk about her faith and how she desires to let it overflow in her work. And it doe. So I thank you C.J. for being willing to trust God in the extensive process of writing, editing, marketing, and the rest. Thank you for writing a book that seems a breath of fresh air.

[E.G. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t often read YA dystopian fiction, but I’m glad I read The Fugitive of Talionis. The character development and unique mood of the story kept me thinking about it even though my busy schedule prevented me from finishing it quickly like I wanted.

Bria is a strong female character with some serious inner turmoil. Her family history and recent experience in the rigorous training and near impossible escape of militant city of Talionis gives her character depth. The Fugitive of Talionis is book two in the Talionis Series. I didn’t read the first book of the series, but this one reads well on its own. The first third of the book is very internal for the main character, with self doubt and a lot of stealthy traveling for the escapees. The intense action catapults at around the 30% mark of the plot.

I’ve never read a dystopian with faith woven so authentically into the storyline. The vulnerability and uncertainty of the characters feels incredibly realistic within their circumstances. I also appreciated the minor characters and new characters that are introduced, and the dynamics between them all.

While the end does come to the expected “mission accomplished,” The Fugitive of Talionis does suffer from the dreaded YA series crazy frustrating cliffhanger to encourage purchase of the third book. I responded so frustratingly that my hair dresser (where I finished the book) asked me if I was okay and I had to explain.

I have added both the first and third books to my TBR because I want to better know these characters.

Overall, this story is a refreshing take on a dystopian story that teens with trauma, grief, and/or young faith will connect with. I give it four stars and look forward to reading more in the series.

I was given an ARC copy of The Fugitive of Talionis for an honest review.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow….what a story!!! This is such a good read—the questions of faith & trust the main character has is dealt with well….this author’s work is amazing!!!

Now I have to wait for book 3…..!!!

[taylor johnson !!! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED TO READ THE THIRD BOOK IMMEDIATELY

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bria has escaped from Talionis with her friends who have seen through the lies of the commander. They thought the amount of sabotage they had left in the city would give them a few days before their fellow soldiers were on their trail, but Talionis recovered faster than expected and they are hot on their heals and poisoning the locals against them. They were supposed to connect with the underground and make their way to Eryndale to raise an army to face Talionis, but with all the lies being told will anyone trust them enough to help them find the legendary secret city and defy Talionis?

Bria and her friends have leapt out of the frying pan and into the fire. True, they no longer face the daily training horrors of Talionis, but life on the run is not easy. There are dangers at every turn and it isn’t easy to know who they can trust. (They in essence are trying to find a futuristic dystopia version of the underground railroad, a string of people who can get them from safehouse to safehouse until they eventually reach Eryndale. And Demetrius Ark is furious over what they took on their way out and will stop at nothing to get them back; his minions are burning whole villages and holding child hostages in exchange for information from villages all over, so even very upright citizens may now be willing to turn them in for a beloved child.) They are also realizing how much Talionis’ training has changed them, they are figuring out interpersonal relationships, and Bria is learning more about her new relationship with God and what it means to trust Him, especially in crazy circumstances with people’s lives on the line with every decision she makes. I like how Ari, Nika, and Bria support each other as friends, they also each bring unique skills to the team that are vital to everyone’s survival. Ari especially gets to pull out some cool futuristic tech for them to use along the way. Matthias is a great friend, support, and spiritual advisor for Bria, and their relationship continues to develop in this book. Ari’s boyfriend Shane brings a lot of tension to the group, questioning anything anyone says to do. He really tests Bria’s leadership skills. Ari’s brother Bryson was the least developed of the group. He’s nice, but a little flat except when he gets injured. Granted, it is hard to fully develop 6 separate characters (plus others they meet along their journey) so it is hard to complain if 1 out of 6 is less developed. I devoured this book in one plane flight and now I’m eagerly hunting the internet for information about a book 3. I can’t wait to introduce this series to students at my school. I’ll be highly recommending it to the dystopia/survival/thriller fans. I like how it has great action, character building, gives you plot points that make you think about human rights issues and faith matters, and is exceptionally well-paced to balance all that.

Notes on content:
Language: None (it mentions people swear but doesn’t write out what they say)
Sexual content: Nothing beyond a kiss.
Violence: The Talionis forces hunting them are killing people who refuse to give them information about the fugitives, to the point of annihilating whole villages. There are some shot on page (more emotionally described than graphically) and Bria and friends find the carnage of wiped out villages (again, more suggested and described via emotional reactions than graphic descriptions of the carnage). A person is shot with an arrow, others suffer serious cuts, and another loses a hand. One person almost drowns.
Ethnic diversity: Bria’s friend group has a variety of skin tones. They meet people from a variety of futuristic versions of ethnic backgrounds.
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Bria is dealing with a lot of mental baggage from being kidnapped, forced through training, losing a brother in the past, being forced to leave people behind when they escaped, and having people in danger and killed because of her choices. She receives good advice from friends but she is slow embracing their advice, but she is in a healthier place by the end.

[Kathy Brasby · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 14-year-old grandson devoured Fugitive of Talionis in a weekend and his response was, “When’s the next book?” He had been checking with me for months to read this book after devouring Recruit of Talionis. (Probably in a weekend, too.) That should illustrate how both Talionis books connect with YA readers.

Fugitive of Talionis is long on tension and action, which appeals to YA readers, and short (like zero) on bad language and sexual content, which should appeal to YA readers’ parents and grandparents. The characters grow in courage, trust in friends, and faith in God. There’s a clear conflict between our heroes as the good guys and the Talionis as bad guys. The story doesn’t preach, though. It shows the conflict in powerful ways.

The back copy of Fugitive of Talionis sets the stage nicely: They kidnapped her. Trained her. And now they’re hunting her.

This is the story of Bria, a teenage girl who faces overwhelming and seemingly-hopeless situations–even when she manages to escape the powerful Talionis (they did the kidnapping and training.) I think we all breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the first book, Recruit of Talionis, when Bria and her friends brave overwhelming opposition to break free.

But the Talionis don’t give up easily and Fugitive of Talionis traces the journey of these young escapees working hard to stay a step ahead of Commander Ark and his forces. Bria faces resistance at every turn, even within her own team, and learns more about her new faith in God as well as trust in her friends.

Highly recommended for the YA people in your life. And you might enjoy it, too. I definitely did.

[Erin Dydek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is so intense! Following the events of Recruit of Talionis, CJ Milacci takes readers on an epic journey through the remains of North America after the “Demise” that left much of what we know as the US reduced to rustic villages with limited technology. After months of training in the city of Talionis, Bria and crew are capable of survival on the run, but how can they escape an incessant enemy?

This story of survival is such a nail-biter! With each step toward help, Bria seems to find more danger and fights with insecurities as the friends she loves and trusts find their lives threatened. Bria’s fears were easy to relate to as she bore enormous responsibility, suffered guilt for making mistakes, and found herself in terrifying situations that tested her limits. While there were few reprives from the enemies hunting them down, I loved the camaraderie and priceless moments that wove their way into this engaging novel. Several light-hearted moments provide a chance to laugh with the crew even as the stakes get progressively higher. I really can’t wait to see what happens next in this series! Ark is a terrible foe, and it will be interesting to see how Bria figures out how to defeat him. She’s got a long way to go in learning how to be a leader and finding confidence in who she is in Christ and what gifts and talents lie within.

Themes of hope in the dark places and trusting God despite the uncertainties of life’s circumstances were inspirational themes worked into the story and felt a natural part of the journey.

[Daniel Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series, The Selah Award-Winning book, Recruit of Talionis, and was eager to read this one. It did not disappoint! Fugitive of Talionis continues the story of Bria Averton and her friends after they escape Talionis and seek the hidden city of Eryndale.

The story has a good tempo and mix of action and peril and scenes where the action slows down. As a reader, I like that because it allows you to catch your breath. I found reading books with continuous action exhausting, so I had to take a break halfway through. Sometimes, I did not finish the book because it was too exhausting to read. This book is not like that and is an enjoyable read.

I like the characters that carried over from Recruit and the new characters introduced in this book. They are a nice mix of unique and interesting. I also like how faith and trust in God are worked into the book.

Fugitive of Talionis is a worthy successor to Recruit of Talionis and I would not be surprised if it wins awards as well.

[Leah Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bria thought escaping Talionis would be their hardest task. She was wrong. When you're on the run, everything can change in a moment. Already overwhelmed by what she has experienced, Bria doesn't know how much more she can handle. The pressure is too much. The unknown is too vast. The loss never ends.

It seems like the worst possible situation for faith to grow. It seems even more impossible to learn to love. Not when everything could be ripped away at any minute. But it's in the hardest of times that people need each other and God. Trust may be the hardest-to-obtain ingredient Bria needs to survive.

Sequels are often hard to get right, sometimes flagging after book one takes off with a bang. Not so here. If anything, I enjoyed this book better than the first. While book one followed familiar dystopian fiction patterns, in this book the dystopian elements seemed to take a backseat to a classic adventure novel feel with a stronger (though still very light and YA appropriate) romance subplot.

Will definitely follow this series through to book three.

[Jennifer Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Recruit of Talionis, Fugitive of Talionis is full of twists and turns, action, and dilemmas.
There is a prayer toward the end of the book where Bria asks God why he would bring her through so many trials just to have them fail. No spoilers here, but that really resounded with me. How many times in life have I asked something like this? I would encourage readers to read on from that moment to see what the author then says about hope. It’s truly beautiful, and I don’t want to spoil it. I love that the author doesn’t shy away from difficult situations and puts Bria, Nika, and the others through the wringer, including the loss of people they love. But she still leaves the reader with a sense of hope. I think the lack of that second piece might be why I sometimes shy away from this genre, and it’s a reason I’m a fan of this author. She shows that even when things are really bad there’s still hope

[MaKayla Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler free review! Clean dystopian fiction

This second book definitely reminds me of when Tris was trying to escape dauntless because she was divergent, and they were hunting for her, or when Katniss Everdeen and her crew were going through the war zone to assassinate Snow. Or, when the kids from the maze runner got through the maze and we’re trying to get away from WICKED and seek refuge in the outlier city that would keep them safe. Once again if you like: The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, Divergent, The Giver, The Uglies…. You will like this book!!

Although, this book is war heavy and filled with raids, fugitives, bombings and crazy plot twists.. there’s something so comforting reading about their escape and bravery. Highly recommend the second book as much as the first one. Great addition to the series, the character development is there, plot is very engaging as well as descriptive. This second book is not one off by any means. 5 stars.

[Abigail Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book followed up all the promise of the first and delivered a satisfying sequel. I missed being in the city of Talionis, but the same danger, hope, and perseverance carried on.
Bria and Matthias are adorable (if a little frusterating some times, but...in a way I enjoyed? I don't know how that works but its true...) And all the obstacles were really well implemented. I was really nervous about what was going to happen to them the entire book, and now I have no idea whats going to happen in book three. While not exactly a cliffhanger ending....yeah you might want to wait until the next book comes out if you don't want to drive yourself insane wondering whats going to happen.
*as I am doing *

[Katherine Robles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fugitive of Talionis picks up right after the end of Book 1 and keeps the adventure going. Bria and her friends are on the run; outmanned, outgunned, and not sure who to trust. This book broadens the post-Demise world we loved in Recruit and I can’t wait to see how all of these new pieces of the workings of a larger world fit together. Milacci has sculpted believable characters who range from brave to heartbroken to funny, wise, and ruthless. If you're looking for a book to sink your teeth into, this is it. It’s a powerful story.

[Karen Grunst · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second book in the Talionis series, Bria leads her friends, and readers, on a heart-pounding journey fraught with suffering, setbacks, and failures. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough since I felt immersed in the setting and circumstances.

I also enjoyed how well the author developed the relationships between Bria, Matthias, and other characters in the midst of their many challenges. Bria grapples more with spiritual questions as the story progresses, and I’m curious to see how that will play out in later books.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked book 2 more than I did book 1. While the story is still harsh and focuses on Bria as the main hero, she isn't alone in her struggle. We get to know her friends a little better. Also, her inner struggles with her past, with her new faith, with her friends all feel very authentic.

I'm still not sold on the YA Dystopia genre (see my review for Recruit of Talionis), but I am looking forward to seeing what happens next.

[Child of God · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait for the next one! This was a great continuation of the first book. The growth of the characters and the addition of so many great characters along with a whole lot of crazy twists kept me up late reading. My sister read the whole book in a week! I read it slower so I could really enjoy it. Thank you CJ for writing amazing books about hope, belief and relationships. I pray that God would touch so many lives with this series!

[Shoshana · Rating 4 out of 5]

REREAD: Just like Recruit of Talionis, Fugitive does not disappoint. What I appreciate about this book is that it focuses on trusting God even when all odds are against you. I also loved how the author addresses a challenge we all face, and that is dealing with hurt and pain from the past. Most people do know that it doesn’t help at all if we let the past chain us and hinder us from moving forward, but it is good now and then to have reminders, and that is what this book does, and from a Christian perspective too.
The fact that this book was not just written for entertainment but also for edification really increases its value. If you have non-Christian friends who like YA sci-fi, it might be a good idea to recommend this series to them!

[Ani Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super easy to read as the storyline is so intriguing that I didn’t want to put down the book. Contained deep themes that touched my heart; action and suspense; sweet slow-burn romance; comedic relief splattered throughout high-intensity scenes; well-written relationships and development of emotional connections. Loved the chapter sizes too. Love, love, love! Absolutely recommend!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fugitive of Talionis is a perilous race against the enemy! Full of Recruit of Talionis’s great characters and fun new friends, this sequel explores hard moments honestly and offers hope in the midst of impossible odds. I look forward to continuing the adventure with Book 3.

[Georgina Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome second book, believeable journey in faith of the main characters, no preaching but showing how someone grows in the Lord. I love it and I am so looking forward to the third one in this series,

[Jonathan Shuerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful characters, a harrowing journey across a post-apocalyptic America while hunted by a dystopian death squad and danger from multiple angles: this book has it all. Loved the tension while appreciating how clean the book was.

[Tyrean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action and depth

In this action-packed sequel, the stakes keep getting higher as the world-building becomes more complex. The depth of the plot and the character arca create a satisfying read.

[Becca Wierwille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Talionis series does not disappoint! Much like Recruit of Talionis, Fugitive of Talionis includes plenty of action, hope, and very high stakes. I felt like I was with Bria and the other characters, rooting for their success and survival. And my goodness—I am so excited to read book 3!

[Cooper Hite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clean YA fiction series that I thoroughly enjoyed, about a military city that no one dared to try and leave, until someone did, now, she’s on the run.
See my full review at "https://cooperhite.com/book-reviews/"

[Jennifer Hallmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book 2

Another great book by CJ Milacci. I felt like I was there with the teens and cried when they cried. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series…

[Sara [semi ia] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Mathias the man 🤓