Four teenagers with superpowers. Some friendly competition. A first love. And a dangerous organization that will stop at nothing to destroy them all. After surviving a danger-filled trip to Peru, Russ Becker looked forward to a laid-back summer spending time with his new love, Nadia. But plans go awry when he and his friends are invited by the Praetorian Guard to the event of the season. The mission? To protect the president and her daughter from assassination at the elegant Presidential Black Tie Bash. While Nadia struggles with her own troubles at home, Russ is torn, but determined to do his job, not easy when he doesn’t know who to trust. Battling for his life against the evil Associates, Russ confronts his worst fears and learns shocking revelations about those around him.
Karen McQuestion is an Amazon Charts bestselling author whose books have sold over three million copies. Some of her titles include The Moonlight Child, Dovetail, and A Limited Run.
Her publishing story has been covered by the Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, and NPR. Additionally she appeared on ABC's World News Now and America This Morning.
I really enjoyed the first two books in this four book series, not so much this one. It dragged on with too many good guys turning bad and our two main characters being separated for nearly the entire book. This shows why trilogies stretched to a foursome usually becomes tedious. This did. 2.5 stars
I love this series. Plain and simple. I could just stop my review there, I mean, really... anyone that's read anything by Karen McQuestion has no doubt of her talent. The woman can write, her stuff is professionally edited, professionally laid out and, well... just one big chunk of professional. She is what self-publishing should look like.
This series is my favorite of hers. She has created this world and these characters and these story lines that just grab you and pull you into her world. You can't help but to hold on tight, knowing that you are in for the ride of your life.
When I told my kids that the author had sent us a complimentary copy of the third book in the Edgewood series, there was a huge run on the Kindles. Everyone wanted to read it. And read it we did. It's one of the things I adore about this series. It's not a book for me, nor for my kids. It's books we can enjoy together - truly enjoy - not mom pretending to like it.
I have come to love these characters. I want to meet these kids. I find myself celebrating (and maybe even getting upset with them too). I find my 10 and 13 year old coming up to me to talk about it. They want to know what I think about XYZ and they want to tell me what they liked.
It has also caused a bit of friction. My favorite character is Nadia, but my son likes Jameson and my daughter really likes Russ. We are all pretty reverent in our belief of why too.
I can see more books in this series. I'd also like to see a prequel series!
Recommended for Young Adult readers and those that enjoy a great story.
I really enjoyed this trilogy. I want more. I'm sure everyone who has had the pleasure of reading your books would love to know what will happen next for our superhero's. Please write another one, two, maybe three?
Not quite as exciting as the second in the series but still good! I still don’t think Russ is a strong main character. I sort of wanted to see things from Mallory or Jameson’s point of view this time around instead of Russ and Nadia again. It was still entertaining though. This book takes us to Washington D.C. where our crew is trained to save the President and her family. There are a few twist and turns. One more entry and this series will be wrapped up!
The latest installment in the Edgewood series, Absolution starts right where Wanderlust left off: Russ, Nadia, Mallory and Jameson are on their way home from a field trip in Peru. Only it wasn't just any field trip, because they aren't just any group of teenagers. After being exposed to a supernatural event, these four teens each have their own individual super powers and are now part of a secret society called the Praetorian Guard. Russ and his friends have been asked to use their powers to protect the President of the United States and her family during an annual black tie event, but this isn't your average bodyguard job. With politics abounding between the Praetorian Guard and their adversary The Associates, Nadia's controlling mom holding her captive in her own house, and Mallory acting anything but normal, Russ must protect the President while distinguishing who he can trust and still taking care of those he loves. As I write this review, I realize that I assumed this was a trilogy, this the final installment, but I can't find anything to support my assumption. If there will be more adventures made by Russ and company I will definitely not be disappointed! Just like the books that came before it, Absolution spins a tale of adventure and science fiction while maintaining its heart for friendship and the perfect splash of teen romance. Russ continues to be a protagonist that readers of all ages can get behind: he's brave and intelligent with a strong sense of right and wrong and a heart for his loved ones. But he also shows enough teenage boy qualities to emphasize that he's human and identifiable. My favorite thing about Russ is his main priority to protect the people he loves, and, especially in this book, that makes things especially interesting since he can't be available for everyone at the same time. This book took longer for me to connect with than the other two books in this series because there was a lot of set up that I thought unnecessary. I felt somewhat bored reading about all the plans and preparations for Washington D.C. and hearing about Nadia's house arrest. I think all of those things were important to the story, but they could have been condensed, especially for readers with a shorter attention span than mine. However, once the group heads to Washington D.C., the action does not stop!
While this book could be read by high school and advanced middle school readers, I was entertained as an adult. I recommend this book as something parents can read alongside their teen and pre-teen children to engage together. Like all the books in the Edgewood series, there are great opportunities for lessons and discussions while reading, especially with kids growing and developing their own opinions. As an adult reader I thought I had everything all figured out, who Russ could trust and who was a "bad guy" - but let me humbly tell you I was completely wrong! This book will keep you guessing until the end, no matter your age! Bottom Line: A wonderfully exciting read for any age, but I think this would be particularly fun to read with kids! But don't start here, make sure you read Edgewood and Wanderlust first! They are all equally entertaining and full of adventure! 4/5 stars!
Karen McQuestion has tied up her trilogy with a giant bow. She writes such amazing books that gain your attention, grab you tight and don't let you go til the end of the book. I kinda devoured this book. It is a tad long, but like I said...it draws you in and you CANNOT put it down. McQuestion has seamlessly tied the three books together. McQuestion has a tone of story telling that is original, captivating and engrossing. She has found a voice in the genre and is a force to be noticed! 4.5 stars!
This book is the third installment in the Edgewood series. The series follows the story of four teenagers with superpowers.
Plot Overview "Absolution" picks up where the previous book, "Wanderlust," left off. The story follows the lives of four teenagers, Russ, Nadia, Mallory, and Jameson, who all have superpowers.
“Russ and his friends are invited by the Praetorian Guard to the event of the season, to protect the president and her daughter from assassination at the elegant Presidential Black Tie Bash. While Nadia struggles with her own troubles at home, Russ is torn, but determined to do his job, not easy when he doesn’t know who to trust. Battling for his life against the evil Associates, Russ confronts his worst fears and learns shocking revelations about those around him.”
Characters The characters in "Absolution" are well-developed and relatable. Russ, Nadia, Mallory, and Jameson are the main characters in the book. They all have different personalities and powers, which makes them unique. Russ is the leader of the group and has the most power, including more than just one power (such as healing).
The characters are faced with various challenges throughout the book, and they must learn to work together to overcome them. The character development in the book is excellent, and the reader can see how the characters grow and change throughout the story.
Writing Style Karen McQuestion's writing style is engaging and easy to follow. The book is written primarily from the viewpoint of the two main characters, Russ and Nadia. The pacing of the book is excellent, and the story is well-structured. The author does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged throughout the book.
Overall Thoughts "Absolution" is an excellent addition to the Edgewood series. The book is well-written, and the characters are relatable and well-developed. The story is engaging and keeps the reader interested throughout the book. The pacing of the book is excellent, and the author does an excellent job of keeping the story moving forward. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and science fiction novels, and I look forward to the final book in this series called “Revelation.”
Fiery and fun, the third book by Karen McQuestion in the Edgewood series continues to blur the lines between young adult and adult (full adult? real adult) fiction.
Filled suspense and teen angst, Absolution is a fast-paced page turner.
If you have read the Michael Very Series, you'll love this! I love a cohesive story that has a beginning, middle and an end. This book series has that but is filled with polished, down-too-earth, real meaty bits that you don't see much nowadays. The characters were well-rounded, if annoying (for some of them), and the hero and heroine both had good hearts.
It's really nice too read a Y/A book without a lot of foul-mouthed language and delinquency like smoking, underage drinking, stealing. It's refreshing! I would highly recommend this book series to anyone.
Review: Karen McQuestion does it again! The third book of the Edgewood series is out and without surprise, is a HUGE win for me. I loved the book. It carries from the second book and really puts you at a place where you don't want to put the book down! At 431 pages long, I was able to finish it in just a few days! I didn't want the book to end, so now I'm anxiously waiting to see if there is going to be more to the series since...well I won't give anything away ;-) Anyone who loves Sci-Fi/Fantasy needs to pick up this series!
Perfect ending to the trilogy. I love this series so much. Teens and supernatural powers, nothing could be more thrilling. The love story between Russ and Nadia was so awesome. I was glad for them. I adore Nadia so much. She's just incredible strong-willed and such a beautiful personality. I love her!
I have to mention this once again. The author definitely knows about the Illuminati. She didn't conjure up these ideas from the top of her head, haha! But I'm glad there are authors out there putting elements of truth into fiction.
You know how at the end of an exciting book you can tell that you're at what I call the "thrill-packed conclusion"? This entire third book is the "thrill-packed conclusion". I devoted my whole afternoon to finishing it today, and now I feel a little lost and sad. You know that feeling, fellow-readers! So I gave it a four because it was maybe a little overly lovey-dovey for adult tastes, and maybe a tad silly in a couple of ways I won't specify, but if I were a middle or high school student, I'd give it a five. A four is still high praise. I'm gonna miss Russ and the other kids.
Great ending to a great series. Nice tense suspense from beginning to end. I couldn't stand the President's daughter, who Russ was supposed to protect, and hated how she came on to Russ at first trying to seduce him, and the homosexual bit was not appreciated either.
Otherwise, a really good YA series. Extremely well written suspense.
This is an excellent third book in the Edgewood series. I will not go into the plot or give any spoilers away. But it does pick up where Wanderlust left off. The story and plot where interesting enough that I did not want to put down my Kindle. Now, if you have not read this series, go for it! Edgewood Wanderlust Absolution
Won the book on Goodreads and thank god for that. Starting the trilogy I didn't expect to fall in love so drastically. Characters are nicely portrayed and make it so lively. Also the fact that I was actually caught by surprise with certain turn of events was an absolute plus. I like to analize what could or maybe should happen, put plain I was not disappointed in the trilogy outcome one bit.
I have read the entire series. Once I read the first one I couldn't stop until I knew everything. Very imaginative; will keep you entertained until the end.
This third book of the trilogy had a pretty satisfying ending - mostly.
Over the past three novels, I’ve come to really enjoyed the four teenagers who gained powers in the lux spiral. Jameson, the gangly, genius, full of bluster to cover his insecurities gained the ability to levitate both himself and other things. Mallory, the high school homecoming queen gained powers of persuasion. Nadia, the shy, quiet one, appeared to have gained only the ability to judge a persons true intentions. Later, she discovered, she could also astral project a very important power in the story. And then there was Russ. Russ was an average high school jock, who tried hard to get good grades and not make trouble. His power was to sense electricity, wherever it was and then gathered that energy to create lightning bolts of power. Later he learned, he had other powers that seem to develop as he realized they were needed.
Despite myself, I wanted them all to succeed. I wanted them all to be happy - even the snarky Jameson. And I really liked Mr Spector. He was the kind of science teacher I would love to have had when I was in high school. Spoiler alert: nothing is as it seems.
The praetorian guard seeks to defend our freedoms in the United States, well, the Associates with a capital A,seek only power for themselves. Our four lucky teenagers are recruited by the praetorian guard or PG to try to thwart the Associates.
The PG is comprised of other individuals, who, at one time or another, also gained powers from the lux spiral. The Associates also seem to have gained power from the lux spiral, but use those powers for selfish gain. In other words, the Associates are the ones who have gone to the dark side.
Meanwhile, Mr. Spector, the science teacher, appears again after dying in book 2 . What exactly is going on? And will the fab four figure it out in time to save the president and protect innocent people? This third book will give you that answer.
The dissatisfying part of this book ending was that a character we met in book 2 shows up again in book 3, but doesn’t survive the climax. Trust me, this was just irritating. I guess that’s reality but none of the rest of the book was a real so I couldn’t. We have a completely happy ending?
Things come to a head at Nadia's house after her mother decides to punish her for going to the academic decathlon (aka the trip to Peru) with her dad's permission. The group that's left traons all summer in everything from ettiquette (including the "there's too blasted much silverware on this table, jelp, what do I do" type of training) to ballroom dancing to strengthening their powers. The funeral for the science teacher feels very weird and awkward at one point. Russ is trying to keep a secret he doesn't want to keep. Even from home, Nadia is doing good work for her fellow lux spiral affected teammates. Russ is the only one of the 3 who gets a copy of a homemade comic book done in their teen years by the science teacher and the comic book store owner. Mallory has a difficult fight on her hands, but proves up to the task at the end. Jamison and Russ are still in a competition of sorts, but it's not as bad as it seems. Russ is asked to do a lot. Quite a lot...and I can almost hear the quote from Uncle Ben to Peter Parker in the background: "With great power comes great responsibility." Russ has great power. We findnout how and how much this time. Nadia comes close to dying a couple times. Russ is the date for the President's daughter at a black tie affair, which is what the prep is about. The kids are faced with people using them, subvert them, and trying to kill them, at the age of 16. Will they make it through, get the job done?
I am a huge fan of Karen’s young adult novels. “The Edgewood Series” is no exception! This four novel series, discusses the life of four teenagers: Russel, Malory, Jameson and Nadia, as they embark on their new life with super powers! During the series the four teens meet, obtain their super powers and learn how to use them. Once the teens learn of their super powers, they are approached by multiple agencies, who want the teens to help them with their agendas.
The teens embark on adventures as they decide which agency’s side they are on. They also meet other individuals who have similar powers as their own. Once they have developed their super powers, the teens are made aware one of them is the “chosen one” and only this specific person can complete a unique task. It’s destiny! But which teenager is it? It is well worth the wait to find out who the chosen one is!
Additionally, I really enjoyed the fourth book, where Karen, wrapped up the series. She could have taken several different routes to explain the teenagers life with their super powers and I thoroughly enjoyed the decision the teenagers made.
If you enjoy novels about friendship, teen romance, relationships, family dynamics, super powers and some science fiction elements, then this is the series for you!
However, I do caution you this series includes some dysfunctional parent relationships, loss, abuse, trauma, PTSD, teenage guardianship and death.
Russ, Jameson, and Mallory are recruited for a mission to save the president of the United States and her daughter. Due to the progressive mental breakdown of her mother, Nadia is not allowed to go. Since she is stuck at home, Nadia uses her powers to spy on other people. Unfortunately, she has no way of warning Russ of the treachery she sees. It all comes down to the Black Tie Bash in Washington DC where either the Alliance is going to take over the government or the Guard is going to stop it from happening, with the help of three special teenagers.
Russ was the only mature teen in this book. He took his responsibility seriously and was a true hero. My nerves got a little frayed when all this action was happening and Nadia is talking about how pretty she is now that she is healed. What?!? Talk about that later and let's get on with the story. I was pretty sad with how Carly's story ended, but I am hoping it was a cover-up and David shows up again in the next book. We shall see...
You know...these books are realistic in a way that other action-type books (and movies) are not and I'll tell you why. They slowly build the backstory of the action, the characters bond and develop, and THEN, the last section of the book is where MOST of the action takes place and it is where everything comes out! Now I say realistic because, if this scenario was actually taking place IRL, there wouldn't be non-stop car chases and hand-to-hand combat fights and dodging bullets with only brief moments of rest for the characters to fall in love or have sex or pieces things together in a couple of pages until the next action scenes.
This book in the series got to some of the things and characters that have been building and suspecting. While nothing was a shock (except for that death and I am still hoping its not true), I enjoyed the reveals which kept coming often enough to make the books a page-turner.
I think this may have been my favorite in the series so onto the next!
The third book in the series and I thought it was to be the final but I have just found out there is one more to go, so maybe this is a four part novel or a trilogy with an extended ending - guess I have to pay to find out (this book was good so I will) The series has gotten better with each successive novel, the characters have become more fleshed out and real and the action and plot are moving along well. A lot of the loose ends from #1 and #2 have been tied off bout not all, which leads me to believe that this was originally intended as a trilogy but the ending just got too long. Nice series and good reading for folks of all ages not just the YA target that the description woulg have you believe.
This one went way down from the others. There were whole pages that I had read in a previous book of this series, or in this book itself!! I swear I could have cropped out 50 pages of almost word for word repetition. This is such a great author that I have to wonder what happened? Did you have a deadline and someone got sick? Did you just learn how to copy and paste and wanted to keep trying it out? Did you fall out of love with the characters? What happened? I'm scared to read the last one...will I end up hating this series? Only time will tell.
This story has captured me and won’t let go. It is a magical story and I love the characters, especially Russ, who has super powers from standing in the light spirals that three other teens also experienced. In this third book of the series he is tasked with saving the daughter of the President and so much more. But I don’t want to spoil it for you. Just start reading after you read the first two. You won’t be able to stop.
Will the clues be enough to help the heroes? This was a good next book, ending was a good twist and left open for more adventures. But a little abrupt and tied up a little too neatly. The story from beginning to end well done Lovable charcters and good hated characters. I'd read the next one.
This read was so Irritating. What is up with the constant endless and repetitive recapping. Seriously, do you think your reader is stupid or something? Or were you just trying to take up space? Most of the book was frustratingly slow and then to have to deal with unnecessary recaps, I would have to say that it's not worth it.
The third book in the Edgewood series is a continuation of excitement and heart pounding thrills. I especially enjoyed the use of graphic novels (comic books) and their correlation to our main characters development. Suspense and tension kept me glued to the world Karen McQuestion has created, so much that dinner was delayed at our house! Truly Highly Recommended
I went through this series 1-2-3 in w days. Not usually a fan of SF or the YA genre, and this series was a nice exception. I’ve read a few books by this author, and I’m impressed with her versatility.
this story was wonderful and 😢. i really enjoyed this story and most of the characters. most of the young adults are upstanding citizens who will be productive citizens. a really good story for young adults.
I enjoyed most of the book. Grandchildren liked it. Since I listened to it with my grandchildren, I didn't like the discussion of Frank's mother not knowing that her boyfriend, had fathered Frank disguised as someone else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.