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Jenna Fox Chronicles #3
Fox Forever
Locke Jenkins has some catching up to do. After spending 260 years as a disembodied mind in a little black box, he has a perfect new body. But before he can move on with his unexpected new life, he'll have to return the Favor he accepted from the shadowy resistance group known as the Network.
Locke must infiltrate the home of a government official by gaining the trust of his daughter, seventeen-year-old Raine, and he soon finds himself pulled deep into the world of the resistance―and into Raine's life.
In Fox Forever , Mary E. Pearson brings the story she began in The Adoration of Jenna Fox and continued in The Fox Inheritance to a breathtaking conclusion as Locke discovers that being truly human requires much more than flesh and blood.
Locke must infiltrate the home of a government official by gaining the trust of his daughter, seventeen-year-old Raine, and he soon finds himself pulled deep into the world of the resistance―and into Raine's life.
In Fox Forever , Mary E. Pearson brings the story she began in The Adoration of Jenna Fox and continued in The Fox Inheritance to a breathtaking conclusion as Locke discovers that being truly human requires much more than flesh and blood.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2013
53 people are currently reading
5295 people want to read
About the author
Mary E. Pearson
48 books15.5k followersMary E. Pearson is the International and NYT bestselling and award-winning author of multiple novels including her adult debut novel, The Courting of Bristol Keats, about a woman from a small town who is unexpectedly plunged into a world of gods, fae, and monsters.
Her other books include The Remnant Chronicles—The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, and The Beauty of Darkness—and its spin-off duology Dance of Thieves and Vow of Thieves. Mary's awards and honors include the Golden Kite for fiction, ALA Best Books, NYPL Best Books, IRA Choice Books, YALSA Teens Top Ten, Arkansas and South Carolina Young Adult Book Awards, and her science-fiction novel, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, was an Andre Norton Award Finalist. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages world-wide.
As a child she loved reading about and living in fantasy worlds. They were a portal to possibility that provided both escape and power. These days she loves writing about those worlds for the same reasons. She totally believes in magic, because, as one of her characters once whispered to her, “What is magic, but what we don’t yet understand?”
When she is not creating dangerous fantasy worlds, she enjoys the relatively safe pleasures of travel, gardening, friends, and family. Visit Mary on Instagram @maryepearson for book news and updates.
Her other books include The Remnant Chronicles—The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, and The Beauty of Darkness—and its spin-off duology Dance of Thieves and Vow of Thieves. Mary's awards and honors include the Golden Kite for fiction, ALA Best Books, NYPL Best Books, IRA Choice Books, YALSA Teens Top Ten, Arkansas and South Carolina Young Adult Book Awards, and her science-fiction novel, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, was an Andre Norton Award Finalist. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages world-wide.
As a child she loved reading about and living in fantasy worlds. They were a portal to possibility that provided both escape and power. These days she loves writing about those worlds for the same reasons. She totally believes in magic, because, as one of her characters once whispered to her, “What is magic, but what we don’t yet understand?”
When she is not creating dangerous fantasy worlds, she enjoys the relatively safe pleasures of travel, gardening, friends, and family. Visit Mary on Instagram @maryepearson for book news and updates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
January 9, 2016
Actual rating 3.5 stars. This book had a few more ups and downs than the first two. Not sure it needed to be a trilogy but that being said, I think this series is really great. It makes you stop and think. It is smart and a great science fiction read!
January 30, 2019
Fox Forever is the end of a quite unique futuristic series. I had my ups and downs with this trilogy. I loved the first book - which can be read as a standalone the sequels follow a different character and take place long long time after the events of book one. I wished book two could've focused on And I felt like the plot of the second book was all over the place and lacked the something more, the feel of the story jarringly different to the first one. The setting of book one reads like a contamporary-ish mystery, the sequels are understandably futuristic fiction. This last book follows the same character as book two (I liked him 100% more here btw. spectacular character development), but the plot is a lot more gounded and meaningful, the threads of the story taking place and being tied up here. The Epilogue alone makes me want to give this one four stars, but as much as I enjoyed this, it's still not as good as book one for me. 3.5 stars
“No more Non-pacts, and as you know, Non-pacts has become a catch-all phrase for anyone who doesn’t meet certain standards.”
Like me. I know he’s playing to my sympathies, my lab-created body falling way short of meeting so-called legal standards. Miesha’s bitter words cut through me. The human race has always found a group to marginalize—every culture, every time, every race.
“Do you ever get used to it?”
“What’s that?”
“Not being who you once were … not being like everyone else?”
She looks at me, staring for the longest time, and finally reaches up, raking her fingers through my hair and then pulling a strand over my eye, exactly where my cowlick used to be. She frowns. “Being like everyone else is highly overrated.”
Closure. That’s what I came for, but now that I’m standing here, I think that letting go of the past doesn’t come in a single moment. Maybe the past has to fade away slowly like letters in granite. Worn away over time by wind, rain, and tears. Maybe that’s why they did it, ordered a ridiculously expensive gravestone for a small urn of ashes. Maybe that was their way of letting me fade away slowly.
It might peg me as a Non-pact, but the coat is almost the hardest thing to give up. I remember Allys frowning the first time she saw me in it. Some people wear them for protection, others with purpose.… You wear yours like you own the planet. That’s how it made me feel. It felt like armor, like I was through apologizing for being different from everyone else. Like I was claiming my rightful place in this world.
“No more Non-pacts, and as you know, Non-pacts has become a catch-all phrase for anyone who doesn’t meet certain standards.”
Like me. I know he’s playing to my sympathies, my lab-created body falling way short of meeting so-called legal standards. Miesha’s bitter words cut through me. The human race has always found a group to marginalize—every culture, every time, every race.
“Do you ever get used to it?”
“What’s that?”
“Not being who you once were … not being like everyone else?”
She looks at me, staring for the longest time, and finally reaches up, raking her fingers through my hair and then pulling a strand over my eye, exactly where my cowlick used to be. She frowns. “Being like everyone else is highly overrated.”
Closure. That’s what I came for, but now that I’m standing here, I think that letting go of the past doesn’t come in a single moment. Maybe the past has to fade away slowly like letters in granite. Worn away over time by wind, rain, and tears. Maybe that’s why they did it, ordered a ridiculously expensive gravestone for a small urn of ashes. Maybe that was their way of letting me fade away slowly.
It might peg me as a Non-pact, but the coat is almost the hardest thing to give up. I remember Allys frowning the first time she saw me in it. Some people wear them for protection, others with purpose.… You wear yours like you own the planet. That’s how it made me feel. It felt like armor, like I was through apologizing for being different from everyone else. Like I was claiming my rightful place in this world.
Read
January 2, 2017The ending tugged at my heartstrings. I feel like I've been through a whirlwind with these characters. It was so nicely wrapped up. The technologies described are so creative. Loved hearing about how everything in the future worked!
July 16, 2017
4.5 stars. This is weirdly enough probably my favorite book of the Jenna Fox trilogy. Yeah, the second book is relatively crappy, but this third book is fucking awesome.
THE CHARACTERS
Alternate Title: The Adoration of Mary E. Pearson's character work
Locke is a complicated character. One of his better traits is how much he wants to be better. He yearns to be a better person and feel like he's justified in living on this earth. It's so believable and it works for his situation, where he's not even a legal human.
Raine is one of my all-time favorite characters. No, seriously. She's so flawed and harsh and closed-off and I really connect with her need to escape. She's kind of brought in to be a love interest, and yet she ends up totally driving the book in such a great way.
This is the one book of the series with a bit of a romance plot, and it works so damn well. Raine and Locke have a pitch-perfect buildup, but the best part about them is how they're genuinely good for each other. A lot of YA couples are people who don't work well together, or fight a lot. Raine and Locke have a perfect balance because they call each other out but they make each other better. I love that.
THE THEMES
The thematic work of this book is so... perfect? There's a lot to unpack, but there are messages of redemption and hope here. And as we all know, I'm a slut for horribly angsty books where the end message is super hopeful.
And the ENDING. Made me cry in anguish and in happiness at the exact same time. The definition of authorial talent.
THE BAD PARTS
I know I've pretty much only talked about good points in this review, mainly because I have such fond memories of this book that I can't identify many flaws. But in fairness: I do think the plotting of this book isn't very good. You need to suspend disbelief a bit. But the character work and thematic work is so completely worth it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This book absolutely redeemed the series for me from the second book. Actually, this book could probably work as a standalone (it focuses on specific characters and events), although the world would be confusing towards the beginning.
THE CHARACTERS
Alternate Title: The Adoration of Mary E. Pearson's character work
Locke is a complicated character. One of his better traits is how much he wants to be better. He yearns to be a better person and feel like he's justified in living on this earth. It's so believable and it works for his situation, where he's not even a legal human.
Raine is one of my all-time favorite characters. No, seriously. She's so flawed and harsh and closed-off and I really connect with her need to escape. She's kind of brought in to be a love interest, and yet she ends up totally driving the book in such a great way.
This is the one book of the series with a bit of a romance plot, and it works so damn well. Raine and Locke have a pitch-perfect buildup, but the best part about them is how they're genuinely good for each other. A lot of YA couples are people who don't work well together, or fight a lot. Raine and Locke have a perfect balance because they call each other out but they make each other better. I love that.
THE THEMES
The thematic work of this book is so... perfect? There's a lot to unpack, but there are messages of redemption and hope here. And as we all know, I'm a slut for horribly angsty books where the end message is super hopeful.
And the ENDING. Made me cry in anguish and in happiness at the exact same time. The definition of authorial talent.
THE BAD PARTS
I know I've pretty much only talked about good points in this review, mainly because I have such fond memories of this book that I can't identify many flaws. But in fairness: I do think the plotting of this book isn't very good. You need to suspend disbelief a bit. But the character work and thematic work is so completely worth it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This book absolutely redeemed the series for me from the second book. Actually, this book could probably work as a standalone (it focuses on specific characters and events), although the world would be confusing towards the beginning.
April 11, 2013
It took 200 pages in before I was sold on this one. I flipped for The Adoration of Jenna Fox and was happy to read The Fox Inheritance, but this one just seemed tepid to me. It was as if the trilogy gods decreed that Jenna's story must have three books. Except that this wasn't Jenna's story, and I felt the loss. Locke just doesn't seem as deep a thinker as he should be for someone who has had nothing to do but think for 260 years. But... the last 100 pages made up for it and redeemed this one to at least three stars. I liked it, and it was a fine novel, but I loved Adoration so much that I wanted, no needed, to love the others just as much.
What this book had was Raine. Her character intrigued me. How can you not fall in love with a character who is treated like a trained seal to perform, but who kicks butt at everything she does just so she doesn't disappoint? Our children today are pushed to succeed every bit as much as Raine was to be the perfect child. When she allowed herself to show her vulnerability, Raine shined. It was peeling back a layer to discover who she really was underneath the facade.
I still think that Adoration was the best book, and it definitely could have stood on its own, but for the ending of Fox Forever where we are given a glimpse into the future. This book was worth it just for the epilogue.
What this book had was Raine. Her character intrigued me. How can you not fall in love with a character who is treated like a trained seal to perform, but who kicks butt at everything she does just so she doesn't disappoint? Our children today are pushed to succeed every bit as much as Raine was to be the perfect child. When she allowed herself to show her vulnerability, Raine shined. It was peeling back a layer to discover who she really was underneath the facade.
I still think that Adoration was the best book, and it definitely could have stood on its own, but for the ending of Fox Forever where we are given a glimpse into the future. This book was worth it just for the epilogue.
March 20, 2013
The Jenna Fox Chronicles series concludes with Fox Forever, and my goodness this is by far the best of the series and the best ending to a book I’ve ever read (series/trilogy wise)! In Fox Forever, readers get a more in-depth look at how the resistance works, who’s involved, and learn more about non-pacts (the poor, low income people…who are not even considered citizens). Locke owes the Network a favor, and as promised they’re cashing in on the favor to rescue someone from the Secretary of security. The person being held prisoner is an important player to the resistance and before his capture he stashed away 80 billion duros. The Network is a group of Non-pacts (the resistance) who help the lower class gain equality, and citizenship. There have been rumors of reunification of one country again (there was a war that split the country into two opposing sides), and if Locke is able to rescue said prisoner…the prisoner and his money will end the subclass of people the division created in the first place which are the non-pacts…the resistance will accomplish their goal in gain quality and citizenship. The Plan is for Locke to go undercover as a student at the Virtual Collective (Raine’s school name) and become friends with the secretary’s daughter Raine to gain information on where Secretary Branson is hiding the prisoner.
Fox Forever is once again told from Locke’s POV, same as the previous book. The story starts rolling from page one when Locke hears of his favor and tries to learn every possible detail to infiltrate Secretary Brandson’s home. Locke main objective is befriending his daughter Raine for information, but over a short period he begins to see that she is someone just like him and relatable in wanting freedom, a life (Raine is always kept under her father’s watchful eyes and abides by his strict rules). As Raine and Locke spends more time together, he begins to fall for her; blurring the lines between what he feels and the mission he’s suppose to complete. Locke has only a few days to complete his favor, but as the deadline looms near he finds out the truth about the prisoner, about Raine and her father and that the real enemy isn’t the Secretary but someone within the resistance.
The final installment of the series is a nonstop adrenaline rush, with twist and turns around every corner. There are a lot of new characters most of them from the resistance and old characters like Miesha and Jenna who make an appearance toward the last half of the book. I mentioned in my review for The Fox Inheritance that one of my favorite-stand out character was Dot, and while she wasn’t in this book…her memories and her story was told/shared with other bots like herself who dreamed of escaping and becoming something more. There was also other bots that stole the show for me, and it was Hap and the ending with all the Cab-bots…you just have to read the book to know what I mean! The ending was phenomenal; really it is just beyond words. Pearson wrote one of the most emotional conclusions that had me smiling, laughing and crying with joy till I turned that last page. This series has made a big impression on me, and even though I finished the series I keep thinking about it over and over. The themes in the series are relatable, and truly make you think about life, and the choices you make (well, at least it did for me). I highly recommend this series/book to everyone, and while it labeled as a young-adult/sci-fi, it isn’t only that but something more. I think people of all ages will love and appreciate this series/book as much as me. Give this series a try, you WON’T regret it! Fox forever/the entire series is a shelf keeper and anything Pearson writes will be on my auto-buy list. :)
For The Jenna Chronicles fans that have been with this series from the beginning, you will not be disappointed …Fox Forever is amazing and Pearson definitely delivered for her fans.
Fox Forever is once again told from Locke’s POV, same as the previous book. The story starts rolling from page one when Locke hears of his favor and tries to learn every possible detail to infiltrate Secretary Brandson’s home. Locke main objective is befriending his daughter Raine for information, but over a short period he begins to see that she is someone just like him and relatable in wanting freedom, a life (Raine is always kept under her father’s watchful eyes and abides by his strict rules). As Raine and Locke spends more time together, he begins to fall for her; blurring the lines between what he feels and the mission he’s suppose to complete. Locke has only a few days to complete his favor, but as the deadline looms near he finds out the truth about the prisoner, about Raine and her father and that the real enemy isn’t the Secretary but someone within the resistance.
The final installment of the series is a nonstop adrenaline rush, with twist and turns around every corner. There are a lot of new characters most of them from the resistance and old characters like Miesha and Jenna who make an appearance toward the last half of the book. I mentioned in my review for The Fox Inheritance that one of my favorite-stand out character was Dot, and while she wasn’t in this book…her memories and her story was told/shared with other bots like herself who dreamed of escaping and becoming something more. There was also other bots that stole the show for me, and it was Hap and the ending with all the Cab-bots…you just have to read the book to know what I mean! The ending was phenomenal; really it is just beyond words. Pearson wrote one of the most emotional conclusions that had me smiling, laughing and crying with joy till I turned that last page. This series has made a big impression on me, and even though I finished the series I keep thinking about it over and over. The themes in the series are relatable, and truly make you think about life, and the choices you make (well, at least it did for me). I highly recommend this series/book to everyone, and while it labeled as a young-adult/sci-fi, it isn’t only that but something more. I think people of all ages will love and appreciate this series/book as much as me. Give this series a try, you WON’T regret it! Fox forever/the entire series is a shelf keeper and anything Pearson writes will be on my auto-buy list. :)
For The Jenna Chronicles fans that have been with this series from the beginning, you will not be disappointed …Fox Forever is amazing and Pearson definitely delivered for her fans.
January 3, 2015
Boring and unnecessary. The ending is satisfying, but she should have left the first book as a stand-alone. The romance doesn't work and there is no plot. Pointless book for the trilogy. Shame.
July 8, 2017
Fox Forever doesn't read like the third book in a trilogy, it's more like a spinoff to the first two books. While the first two books were centred heavily around BioGel, BioPerfect and the medical community, Fox Forever focuses on Locke navigating his way through dystopian Boston, performing a favour for the Resistance, and trying to figure out who he is.
Despite how different it is from the first two books, that's not to say I didn't like it - it's actually my favourite of the series! I liked that this was akin to a spy/thriller film, while the previous two books were sci-fi/action flicks.
Speaking of Bots, I was really pleased with what the author did with them. Though she couldn't find a way to bring Dot back, Mary E Pearson provided readers another Bot to love in the form of Hap. His love for Raine was so touching, and it tugged at my heartstrings to learn that his manufacturer hadn't blessed him with the ability to smile. I also adored the scene where a herd of CabBots intervened to save Locke and Karden, blocking in the Secretary and his crew. It gave me goosebumps, and I could perfectly visualise how it would translate to the big screen. Now I just wish we knew why some Bots yearn for Escape and some don't!
I also wish the author had shown us what the other countries were like. We never got a clear reason for the Civil War, nor were we provided with background on the dissolution of other countries. All we're told is that much of the world has fractured, with China notably splitting into some 80 states. We know that it's possible to travel to other countries (unlike Panem citizens in The Hunger Games saga), as members of the Collective miss study sessions due to travelling, and Locke's fake backstory places him in Germany and France throughout his childhood. I'd love to know if travelling is a right afforded only to the elite, or if most citizens can get their ~wanderlust on.
But enough of that, let's get to the storyline! The storyline couldn't be more generic: boy is sent to spy on girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl is hurt when she learns the truth, but comes around eventually. Mary E Pearson might not win awards for originality anytime soon, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. It's enjoyable watching Locke slowly fall in love with Raine, breaking down her exterior to reveal that she's not the cold bitch she appears in her mugshot. It's interesting watching Locke share himself with Raine each night, playing it by ear as to whether he shares truths or concocted backstories. It's not the most epic love story in the history of fiction, but it's nice. Not amazing, not horrific, just nice.
While Raine and Locke's courtship was nice to watch, the actual spying going on wasn't as impressive. As soon as Karden was revealed to be alive, I instantly guessed that Raine would be the child that Miesha had supposedly lost in the fire. And while the author sprinkled little hints about Carver's double agent status throughout the novel, the final reveal was less than impressive. It wasn't like Pretty Little Liars where I devoured each book, eagerly theorising who the culprit could be. I didn't care who had double-crossed the Resistance, and when Carver had his evil villain moment I just thought 'meh'.
I'd hoped that the author would do more with the 'half-dogs' from the tunnel. I'd hoped that the Resistance would expose the secrets of the tunnels to mainstream media, leading to the Secretary's imprisonment for life. Instead, Locke just kind of went 'oh ew, lab experiments' and that was that. I will say though - while the Secretary using his status to evade punishment was frustrating, it was also surprisingly realistic. After all, how many CEOs have gone to jail over the Global Financial Crisis? They just get a slap on the wrist and go back to lives worthy of 'Rich Kids of Instagram'.
Although my review sounds less than favourable so far, I would say that I enjoyed the book as a whole! The ending actually threatened to bring me to tears on a crowded commuter train, as I read of Raine, Karden and Miesha's reunion; the recycling of the Bots that aided Locke's escape; Allys' BioGel failing to save her from a watery death; and Jenna deciding she didn't want to outlive her daughter, finally succumbing to the temperature-sensitivity of her BioGel. And while I felt that Locke's BioPerfect allowing him to grow old with Raine was a deus ex machina, I couldn't help but smile as the author made reference to Raine's pregnant belly. Though I wonder - how did Locke impregnate her? Surely he literally has blue balls full of BioPerfect?
Overall: Fox Forever reads more like a spinoff than the closing book in a trilogy, but its digression from the medical themes in the previous two books aren't to its detriment. Fox Forever makes use of some tried and tested romance and undercover spy storylines, but while they aren't fantastically original, they work. Mary E Pearson isn't going to be hailed as the next literary messiah, so people should just take the book as it is: simple fun.
Despite how different it is from the first two books, that's not to say I didn't like it - it's actually my favourite of the series! I liked that this was akin to a spy/thriller film, while the previous two books were sci-fi/action flicks.
Speaking of Bots, I was really pleased with what the author did with them. Though she couldn't find a way to bring Dot back, Mary E Pearson provided readers another Bot to love in the form of Hap. His love for Raine was so touching, and it tugged at my heartstrings to learn that his manufacturer hadn't blessed him with the ability to smile. I also adored the scene where a herd of CabBots intervened to save Locke and Karden, blocking in the Secretary and his crew. It gave me goosebumps, and I could perfectly visualise how it would translate to the big screen. Now I just wish we knew why some Bots yearn for Escape and some don't!
I also wish the author had shown us what the other countries were like. We never got a clear reason for the Civil War, nor were we provided with background on the dissolution of other countries. All we're told is that much of the world has fractured, with China notably splitting into some 80 states. We know that it's possible to travel to other countries (unlike Panem citizens in The Hunger Games saga), as members of the Collective miss study sessions due to travelling, and Locke's fake backstory places him in Germany and France throughout his childhood. I'd love to know if travelling is a right afforded only to the elite, or if most citizens can get their ~wanderlust on.
But enough of that, let's get to the storyline! The storyline couldn't be more generic: boy is sent to spy on girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl is hurt when she learns the truth, but comes around eventually. Mary E Pearson might not win awards for originality anytime soon, but if it ain't broke don't fix it. It's enjoyable watching Locke slowly fall in love with Raine, breaking down her exterior to reveal that she's not the cold bitch she appears in her mugshot. It's interesting watching Locke share himself with Raine each night, playing it by ear as to whether he shares truths or concocted backstories. It's not the most epic love story in the history of fiction, but it's nice. Not amazing, not horrific, just nice.
While Raine and Locke's courtship was nice to watch, the actual spying going on wasn't as impressive. As soon as Karden was revealed to be alive, I instantly guessed that Raine would be the child that Miesha had supposedly lost in the fire. And while the author sprinkled little hints about Carver's double agent status throughout the novel, the final reveal was less than impressive. It wasn't like Pretty Little Liars where I devoured each book, eagerly theorising who the culprit could be. I didn't care who had double-crossed the Resistance, and when Carver had his evil villain moment I just thought 'meh'.
I'd hoped that the author would do more with the 'half-dogs' from the tunnel. I'd hoped that the Resistance would expose the secrets of the tunnels to mainstream media, leading to the Secretary's imprisonment for life. Instead, Locke just kind of went 'oh ew, lab experiments' and that was that. I will say though - while the Secretary using his status to evade punishment was frustrating, it was also surprisingly realistic. After all, how many CEOs have gone to jail over the Global Financial Crisis? They just get a slap on the wrist and go back to lives worthy of 'Rich Kids of Instagram'.
Although my review sounds less than favourable so far, I would say that I enjoyed the book as a whole! The ending actually threatened to bring me to tears on a crowded commuter train, as I read of Raine, Karden and Miesha's reunion; the recycling of the Bots that aided Locke's escape; Allys' BioGel failing to save her from a watery death; and Jenna deciding she didn't want to outlive her daughter, finally succumbing to the temperature-sensitivity of her BioGel. And while I felt that Locke's BioPerfect allowing him to grow old with Raine was a deus ex machina, I couldn't help but smile as the author made reference to Raine's pregnant belly. Though I wonder - how did Locke impregnate her? Surely he literally has blue balls full of BioPerfect?
Overall: Fox Forever reads more like a spinoff than the closing book in a trilogy, but its digression from the medical themes in the previous two books aren't to its detriment. Fox Forever makes use of some tried and tested romance and undercover spy storylines, but while they aren't fantastically original, they work. Mary E Pearson isn't going to be hailed as the next literary messiah, so people should just take the book as it is: simple fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
June 19, 2021WTF THERE’S A THIRD BOOK?!?!???!!?!?!????!?!!
SINCE WHEN?!?!!?? (Since 2013 apparently 😤😂)
GIMME IT NOW I WANT IT I NEED IT AND NOW I SOUND LIKE A TODDLER THROWING A TANTRUM-
SINCE WHEN?!?!!?? (Since 2013 apparently 😤😂)
GIMME IT NOW I WANT IT I NEED IT AND NOW I SOUND LIKE A TODDLER THROWING A TANTRUM-
January 5, 2024
The epilogue has all the feels and it’s a very fitting conclusion to the series but I regret that we didn’t get a Kara focused book and we barely got Jenna in here.
This book is action packed, very run-of-mill dystopian book and I would have liked that this book stayed more true to the first book and focused on the moral dilemmas of the whole biogel thing. I still skipped some parts of the action because meh but still a good conclusion I would say.
This book is action packed, very run-of-mill dystopian book and I would have liked that this book stayed more true to the first book and focused on the moral dilemmas of the whole biogel thing. I still skipped some parts of the action because meh but still a good conclusion I would say.
October 4, 2017
Wrapped everything up in this last book. Struggled to like Locke's character.
October 2, 2023
I enjoyed this series! I'm a long time fan of her books. This was a great YA dystopia. The ending was so bittersweet.
March 20, 2013
THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX was one of my favorite books when it came out. It was a perfect storm of things I love in science fiction. With FOX FOREVER, Mary E. Pearson brings the trilogy to a fitting end.
Despite the name of the book and series, Jenna Fox is not the main character of FOX FOREVER. That would be Locke Jenkins, one of her best friends and fellow accident "survivor." To escape the lab that created him, he promised a Favor. Now, that Favor is being called it. It requires him to get close to Raine, the daughter of an important man, and surely you know where that is going.
FOX FOREVER does share a weakness with the other books in the series. Mainly, that it ends with a chapter about the future that summarizes that the characters did make a difference but you don't get to see the decades of hard work that made that difference. But while that bothers me, it's a feature of the series, not a bug. For all that the Jenna Fox Chronicles span centuries, it's a series about the little moments that lead to big decisions in the characters' lives.
The worldbuilding continues to be fantastic. The Non-pacts, people who aren't citizens, are an enforced underclass. Locke's mission could mean everything for the rebellion, giving them the means to take things up a notch. His success could mean everything for a large community, but he could mess everything up by getting too emotionally involved.
I highly recommend the Jenna Fox Chronicles. If you haven't read them, please don't start with FOX FOREVER. I think it stands well alone, as Locke's adventure is self-contained, but there's a real sense of payoff to FOX FOREVER. This is the book where things really get better for the future, things that have needed to change the entire series. Considering Mary E. Pearson didn't intend to write a sequel to THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, she's done a fantastic job.
Despite the name of the book and series, Jenna Fox is not the main character of FOX FOREVER. That would be Locke Jenkins, one of her best friends and fellow accident "survivor." To escape the lab that created him, he promised a Favor. Now, that Favor is being called it. It requires him to get close to Raine, the daughter of an important man, and surely you know where that is going.
FOX FOREVER does share a weakness with the other books in the series. Mainly, that it ends with a chapter about the future that summarizes that the characters did make a difference but you don't get to see the decades of hard work that made that difference. But while that bothers me, it's a feature of the series, not a bug. For all that the Jenna Fox Chronicles span centuries, it's a series about the little moments that lead to big decisions in the characters' lives.
The worldbuilding continues to be fantastic. The Non-pacts, people who aren't citizens, are an enforced underclass. Locke's mission could mean everything for the rebellion, giving them the means to take things up a notch. His success could mean everything for a large community, but he could mess everything up by getting too emotionally involved.
I highly recommend the Jenna Fox Chronicles. If you haven't read them, please don't start with FOX FOREVER. I think it stands well alone, as Locke's adventure is self-contained, but there's a real sense of payoff to FOX FOREVER. This is the book where things really get better for the future, things that have needed to change the entire series. Considering Mary E. Pearson didn't intend to write a sequel to THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, she's done a fantastic job.
March 11, 2013
The ending.. the ending... the ending! Reading this was worth it even if just for that ending *sniff*
I had no idea there'd be a follow up and couldn't honestly recall who Locke was (because yes, it's been that long since I read the the first two,) but his story was interesting if a tad too easy to put together. For the first time on his own, you see him experience how different everything has become, among the changes is how country's divied up with non-pacts treated as second class and often worse. And the boy is on his own with strangers to work with but his tasked to get close to a key person and it's because of the last that we see an inevitable love connection made.
And like all love connections, things are not easy at all. She's his target, but soon becomes more both personally as well as for others around him. Because the closer he gets to her, the more he proves that world is indeed a small place... even 260 years later. The connections he makes are easy ones to arrive at, but it's also the same that complicates things for him.
I feel like this could have been a novella, a bit long, needlessly so especially with the things that happen in it being a tad obvious. Yet there's that ending to consider... and while I didn't love this nor did I love the love connection nor was I completely engaged by what he was there to do (seems I've read too many boys/girls on a mission stories to be impressed by this one)... I did love that ending.
Thank you, Netgalley!
3/5
I had no idea there'd be a follow up and couldn't honestly recall who Locke was (because yes, it's been that long since I read the the first two,) but his story was interesting if a tad too easy to put together. For the first time on his own, you see him experience how different everything has become, among the changes is how country's divied up with non-pacts treated as second class and often worse. And the boy is on his own with strangers to work with but his tasked to get close to a key person and it's because of the last that we see an inevitable love connection made.
And like all love connections, things are not easy at all. She's his target, but soon becomes more both personally as well as for others around him. Because the closer he gets to her, the more he proves that world is indeed a small place... even 260 years later. The connections he makes are easy ones to arrive at, but it's also the same that complicates things for him.
I feel like this could have been a novella, a bit long, needlessly so especially with the things that happen in it being a tad obvious. Yet there's that ending to consider... and while I didn't love this nor did I love the love connection nor was I completely engaged by what he was there to do (seems I've read too many boys/girls on a mission stories to be impressed by this one)... I did love that ending.
Thank you, Netgalley!
3/5
Read
May 27, 2013A clever, unique, and satisfying end to the Jenna Fox Chronicles Trilogy
Sci-fi fans will be thrilled with Fox Forever, the third book in the Jenna Fox Chronicles Trilogy.
Here's what I loved:
1. Locke Jenkins and his BioPerfect body is a complex character who has a Favor to fulfill - this is central to the story and it leads the reader on such a fascinating tale of the history of Non-Pacts. (People who are not citizens and have no personal rights.)
2. Melding the Boston of the past and future.
3. The bots! Love that many can think for themselves. They're cool heroes.
4. Raine - Rain (yes, I'm using this alternative spelling) can be soft and nurturing or it can be brutal and destructive. This dichotomy keeps readers guessing about Raine and who the real girl is. I loved her character and everything she's had to endure just makes her even better.
5. Jenna Fox - loving, kind, nurturing friend who is now more mother to Locke than she ever was a girlfriend.
6. Meisha - tough lady!
7. The Secretary and LeGru (father and son) characters readers will love to hate.
8. Betrayal - I can't say from whom, because obviously that would spoil the story!
9. The ending. Definitely satisfying.
10. The entire trilogy. This is a unique series, perfect for anyone who wants something different in YA - sic-fi, a glimpse into Mary Pearson's futuristic world, intriguing, multi-dimentional characters, sweet romance.
Many thanks, Mary. Loved every page.
Sci-fi fans will be thrilled with Fox Forever, the third book in the Jenna Fox Chronicles Trilogy.
Here's what I loved:
1. Locke Jenkins and his BioPerfect body is a complex character who has a Favor to fulfill - this is central to the story and it leads the reader on such a fascinating tale of the history of Non-Pacts. (People who are not citizens and have no personal rights.)
2. Melding the Boston of the past and future.
3. The bots! Love that many can think for themselves. They're cool heroes.
4. Raine - Rain (yes, I'm using this alternative spelling) can be soft and nurturing or it can be brutal and destructive. This dichotomy keeps readers guessing about Raine and who the real girl is. I loved her character and everything she's had to endure just makes her even better.
5. Jenna Fox - loving, kind, nurturing friend who is now more mother to Locke than she ever was a girlfriend.
6. Meisha - tough lady!
7. The Secretary and LeGru (father and son) characters readers will love to hate.
8. Betrayal - I can't say from whom, because obviously that would spoil the story!
9. The ending. Definitely satisfying.
10. The entire trilogy. This is a unique series, perfect for anyone who wants something different in YA - sic-fi, a glimpse into Mary Pearson's futuristic world, intriguing, multi-dimentional characters, sweet romance.
Many thanks, Mary. Loved every page.
October 24, 2016
This was an interesting book. I don't want to give anything away, but each book was very different, the last two going together more than the first. The closest thing I can compare it to is the Giver series, although those books connected even less to each other until the ending. It was a really interesting concept though, very sci-fi and futuristic. I liked the characters a lot. And especially towards the end it kept me on the edge of my seat, I was anxious to see how everything was going to come together! Very good ending too, left me feeling satisfied at the end of the series.
August 16, 2013
eh, I can definitely say that out of all three of these books the first one was the best. This did nothing for me at all, I liked reading about Jenna more because it was interesting. Locke's point of view is mediocre at best.
Want to read
December 5, 2012"...Being truly human requires much more than flesh and blood."
So, I guess I should read the 2nd book before this one comes out :)
So, I guess I should read the 2nd book before this one comes out :)
December 9, 2023
Not at all the ending I wanted but one I can live with, and it was still touching enough to make me cry. Our protagonist annoyed me basically the whole time. I'm sorry but I can only hear a guy say he loves someone, just to love someone else later when it's more convenient, so many times before I start disliking the character lol That being said although my fav character from the series was absent I LOVE that their presence/influence is basically a constant throughout this installment 💙
did-not-finish
October 9, 2020DNF at 14%. I really enjoyed the other books in this series...when I read them perhaps 10 years ago. This one didn't grab me.
January 14, 2022
While this was better than the second book and did finish that story fairly satisfactorily, I still think the first book is by far the best and am not convinced it needed sequels.
May 5, 2023
I am disappointed that the series didn't end better. The first book was so good.
September 7, 2023
⭐️ 3,5 stars ⭐️
Not a necessary sequel but enjoyable with a satisfying ending🥰
Not a necessary sequel but enjoyable with a satisfying ending🥰
September 27, 2014
2.5 star rating
"I'm sure there's a lot you don't know about Raine." He walks over to my side of the desk so he's towering over me, and casually leans against it. "Just as there is so much I don't know about you." "My life's an open book," I tell him. "Anything you want to know, it's out there."
This series has had me captivated from the spot-on moment when I found it. The idea was so promising and I believed that I'd be able to love it from beginning to end. Now that it's all over and done with, I have found to be very disappointed—maybe even so disappointed that I'm sitting, rocking myself back and forth in a corner.
From the looks of the ratings I gave this trilogy, it decreased as it went on. I loved it in the beginning, thought the second was okay, and now really disliked the last one. Mary E. Pearson really lost the power she had going on before. But don't worry, The Kiss of Deception the first book in her new beautiful series, made up for this, I guess.
As always, this book starts off with a POV of a character who we don't really know much about of. Mary E. Pearson's talent in writing is being mysterious and not letting readers really get to know who is really who.
This is mostly about Locke and Raine, but there are snippets of Jenna. Not much was really going on in the beginning through the middle of the middle, whereas the ending was pretty impressive. Locke is someone who doesn't know who he really is. No, seriously. He wakes up and finds himself in a new perfect body. The world is still used to developing this way, as it did when Jenna's time came around. So now he's about to some criminal work, but instead he falls in love with someone he's not really meant to fall in love with—Raine, the government official's daughter.
YES it is! This was all forbidden love and instalove. I was left going meh and turning to the next corny page sooner than I realized. Coming from an author who's very talented at creating perfect romance, I was shocked. Just look at the other books she's written! Total opposites...
The plot sucked for three quarters of the book. It was pointless, and I really felt like it should've stayed with two books, as a duology? But I guess everyone has different thoughts on it.. It did take a while for me to get to it and become sold to its idea and point—it took way too long.
Locke, Jenna and Raine were reunited! The trio together are so cute! (I always wanted to be part of a trio with a guy and another girl!) You'd think that some jealousy would be sparking up because there was something adorable going on between Raine and Locke, but this wasn't the case. :)
All in all, I was half disappointed and half okay with the way everything turned out to be. 2.5 is basically half of the 5 star rating, eh? I just hope that there won't be mistakes like this one had in other other books! (Mistakes as in plot disruption, I mean.)
This review can also be found at A Thousand Lives Lived! Check it out for more reviews!
"I'm sure there's a lot you don't know about Raine." He walks over to my side of the desk so he's towering over me, and casually leans against it. "Just as there is so much I don't know about you." "My life's an open book," I tell him. "Anything you want to know, it's out there."
This series has had me captivated from the spot-on moment when I found it. The idea was so promising and I believed that I'd be able to love it from beginning to end. Now that it's all over and done with, I have found to be very disappointed—maybe even so disappointed that I'm sitting, rocking myself back and forth in a corner.
From the looks of the ratings I gave this trilogy, it decreased as it went on. I loved it in the beginning, thought the second was okay, and now really disliked the last one. Mary E. Pearson really lost the power she had going on before. But don't worry, The Kiss of Deception the first book in her new beautiful series, made up for this, I guess.
As always, this book starts off with a POV of a character who we don't really know much about of. Mary E. Pearson's talent in writing is being mysterious and not letting readers really get to know who is really who.
This is mostly about Locke and Raine, but there are snippets of Jenna. Not much was really going on in the beginning through the middle of the middle, whereas the ending was pretty impressive. Locke is someone who doesn't know who he really is. No, seriously. He wakes up and finds himself in a new perfect body. The world is still used to developing this way, as it did when Jenna's time came around. So now he's about to some criminal work, but instead he falls in love with someone he's not really meant to fall in love with—Raine, the government official's daughter.
YES it is! This was all forbidden love and instalove. I was left going meh and turning to the next corny page sooner than I realized. Coming from an author who's very talented at creating perfect romance, I was shocked. Just look at the other books she's written! Total opposites...
The plot sucked for three quarters of the book. It was pointless, and I really felt like it should've stayed with two books, as a duology? But I guess everyone has different thoughts on it.. It did take a while for me to get to it and become sold to its idea and point—it took way too long.
Locke, Jenna and Raine were reunited! The trio together are so cute! (I always wanted to be part of a trio with a guy and another girl!) You'd think that some jealousy would be sparking up because there was something adorable going on between Raine and Locke, but this wasn't the case. :)
All in all, I was half disappointed and half okay with the way everything turned out to be. 2.5 is basically half of the 5 star rating, eh? I just hope that there won't be mistakes like this one had in other other books! (Mistakes as in plot disruption, I mean.)
This review can also be found at A Thousand Lives Lived! Check it out for more reviews!
January 29, 2015
3.5
While I am glad I read the whole series, this was definitely a case of the subsequent books not meeting my enjoyment of book 1. It's not because the novelty was over (which is often the problem), but because these books, these characters, had flaws that book one didn't.
Locke is a child, put into some fairly adult situations. Asking him to do a favor that endangers his life, when he is still completely clueless about the world as well as, well, everything, just pushes my ability to believe too far.
Also, I had far too many moments of being annoyed, when he'd make constant mistakes, and poor decisions. It's just hard watching a naive kid fumble about for some reason, maybe because I wanted to be able to respect him a little more. I don't know.
Quickly I want to address that I appreciate how this book was wrapped up. There are a lot of ways things could have gone, and I respect the choices made at the end of this one, which brought back the book to being slightly more believable.
I "read" the audiobook version. The narrator is fine, maybe slightly stilted at times, but no big issues. Not good at female voices.
GERTIE GAUGE:
Thinking about book while not reading it: Not a lot.
Characters worth rooting for: Yes, in the sense that Locke and others are "good guys".
Suspension of disbelief: Big time. A lot of things that should have changed over 260 years haven't, and the whole idea of Locke going on an important mission becomes a bit untenable after a while.
Emotional engagement: Yes, enough.
Mental engagement: Like other books, it is great in at least somewhat address topics of discrimination and prejudice, though it keeps it pretty superficial.
Memorability factor: 8/10. That might be a bit generous.
Quality of writing: I do like the writing style, it's clear but also frequently well-thought out.
Elevator one-liner: It's a sequel, about a kid that wakes up 260 years after a car wreck and is sent on a secret mission to save someone.
Laugh/cry/react: No strong reactions except eye rolls and a few blurts about Locke's idiocy.
Cliffhanger: Wrapped up, last book.
Romance good, bad, n/a?: Yes, and it fit the book well as an important storyline.
Errors: N/A, audiobook.
Okay with rec'ing to a friend?: Yes, with caveats that book 1 is the best.
Follow this author? Yes.
While I am glad I read the whole series, this was definitely a case of the subsequent books not meeting my enjoyment of book 1. It's not because the novelty was over (which is often the problem), but because these books, these characters, had flaws that book one didn't.
Locke is a child, put into some fairly adult situations. Asking him to do a favor that endangers his life, when he is still completely clueless about the world as well as, well, everything, just pushes my ability to believe too far.
Also, I had far too many moments of being annoyed, when he'd make constant mistakes, and poor decisions. It's just hard watching a naive kid fumble about for some reason, maybe because I wanted to be able to respect him a little more. I don't know.
Quickly I want to address that I appreciate how this book was wrapped up. There are a lot of ways things could have gone, and I respect the choices made at the end of this one, which brought back the book to being slightly more believable.
I "read" the audiobook version. The narrator is fine, maybe slightly stilted at times, but no big issues. Not good at female voices.
GERTIE GAUGE:
Thinking about book while not reading it: Not a lot.
Characters worth rooting for: Yes, in the sense that Locke and others are "good guys".
Suspension of disbelief: Big time. A lot of things that should have changed over 260 years haven't, and the whole idea of Locke going on an important mission becomes a bit untenable after a while.
Emotional engagement: Yes, enough.
Mental engagement: Like other books, it is great in at least somewhat address topics of discrimination and prejudice, though it keeps it pretty superficial.
Memorability factor: 8/10. That might be a bit generous.
Quality of writing: I do like the writing style, it's clear but also frequently well-thought out.
Elevator one-liner: It's a sequel, about a kid that wakes up 260 years after a car wreck and is sent on a secret mission to save someone.
Laugh/cry/react: No strong reactions except eye rolls and a few blurts about Locke's idiocy.
Cliffhanger: Wrapped up, last book.
Romance good, bad, n/a?: Yes, and it fit the book well as an important storyline.
Errors: N/A, audiobook.
Okay with rec'ing to a friend?: Yes, with caveats that book 1 is the best.
Follow this author? Yes.
May 12, 2016
I truly wish people would end a story when they have nothing else of significance or interest to say. This book was entirely over reactive and predictable and only earned two stars because I rode the wave of interest in the series to the finish. I felt I owed it to Jenna to see her story through; unfortunately, Locke's story was not nearly as relatable or interesting.
I found the broad jumps from "I just woke up from 260 years in a cube" to "I unwittingly became the leader or Resistance?!" to be too romantic and fantastic. For example, Locke was hand chosen to be the only person (when weighed against others who had actively worked to learn the system and understand the resistance movement for 16 years-as long as Locke had been alive!) who could seamlessly infiltrate a super secret teenage group (because super secret groups will always exist with teenagers!) and make the daughter of the tyrant fall in love with him! Not only that, but his special blue gel powers allow him all the right advantages to withstand being ripped to literal shreds and healing himself by "thinking harder", which only goes to show how much more powerful his brain is and explains why he was the ONLY person (besides the reader, of course) who considered that the other part of the Karden's code might be inscribed on his one and only possession (his knife). Clearly Locke is the new savior to this world that, by the way, in 260 years of technological advances uses tablets that they can talk to in order to make notes from their super secret teenage meeting! Tablets, I say! That record voice into text!
I was as underwhelmed with the author's imagination of the future as I was with the depths of the characters' emotions. Let me sum it up for you. Locke loves Jenna. Jenna tells Locke to go find himself. Locke falls in love with the next girl he has a real conversation with. Jenna and Locke kiss. Locke immediately and without any disappointment sees that he was wrong and Jenna was right. And they all lived happily ever after. Maybe 260 years in darkness killed his libido, but I am fairly confident most humans, blue goo inside or not, would want more resolution than a failed kiss from the person he/she has fantasizes about for over 2.5 centuries.
I found the broad jumps from "I just woke up from 260 years in a cube" to "I unwittingly became the leader or Resistance?!" to be too romantic and fantastic. For example, Locke was hand chosen to be the only person (when weighed against others who had actively worked to learn the system and understand the resistance movement for 16 years-as long as Locke had been alive!) who could seamlessly infiltrate a super secret teenage group (because super secret groups will always exist with teenagers!) and make the daughter of the tyrant fall in love with him! Not only that, but his special blue gel powers allow him all the right advantages to withstand being ripped to literal shreds and healing himself by "thinking harder", which only goes to show how much more powerful his brain is and explains why he was the ONLY person (besides the reader, of course) who considered that the other part of the Karden's code might be inscribed on his one and only possession (his knife). Clearly Locke is the new savior to this world that, by the way, in 260 years of technological advances uses tablets that they can talk to in order to make notes from their super secret teenage meeting! Tablets, I say! That record voice into text!
I was as underwhelmed with the author's imagination of the future as I was with the depths of the characters' emotions. Let me sum it up for you. Locke loves Jenna. Jenna tells Locke to go find himself. Locke falls in love with the next girl he has a real conversation with. Jenna and Locke kiss. Locke immediately and without any disappointment sees that he was wrong and Jenna was right. And they all lived happily ever after. Maybe 260 years in darkness killed his libido, but I am fairly confident most humans, blue goo inside or not, would want more resolution than a failed kiss from the person he/she has fantasizes about for over 2.5 centuries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2012
Okay I'm not really going to review this. It was an excellent end to the series, and honestly I was pretty so-so on the story as a whole "like this is a pretty good book" but then when I reached the epilogue of a sorts, I started crying and couldn't stop till the end. I had NO idea I was going to do that because I do *not* cry in books! Like two ever! So. That ending alone bumped this up from 4 to 5 stars. :)
I have to say, The Adoration of Jenna Fox is one of my favorite books ever, and I wasn't really thrilled to hear there were going to be two more books continuing the not-standalone. But neither ended up disappointing me, so I am glad to give this good series a rather forlorn wave goodbye.
I have to say, The Adoration of Jenna Fox is one of my favorite books ever, and I wasn't really thrilled to hear there were going to be two more books continuing the not-standalone. But neither ended up disappointing me, so I am glad to give this good series a rather forlorn wave goodbye.
unfinished-reads
April 18, 2015When I reviewed the second book in this series, I called it The Matrix Reloaded of the series. I may have gotten 50 pages into this and realized I still didn't care, that the books were so far gone from the great establishment of Adoration that I just put it down to pick up something else instead.
I think I'll always like The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Like The Matrix, though, I'll just pretend the sequels didn't happen.
I think I'll always like The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Like The Matrix, though, I'll just pretend the sequels didn't happen.
February 4, 2015
Spoil warning!
I think Locke marrying Raine was a little weird. If you think about it Locke is her great great great grandfather's son... But then again I thought Jenna should be with Locke at the begging even though it would be weird for her to be 100 and like thirty. This book was really slow and some little things just didn't make sense if you are planning on reading this series just read the first book it ends wonderfully and everything.
I think Locke marrying Raine was a little weird. If you think about it Locke is her great great great grandfather's son... But then again I thought Jenna should be with Locke at the begging even though it would be weird for her to be 100 and like thirty. This book was really slow and some little things just didn't make sense if you are planning on reading this series just read the first book it ends wonderfully and everything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
October 21, 2012Why'd they have to ruin the first by writing number 2? Certain I'll hate it...
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