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The Regonia Chronicles #2
Faltering
With their tribe decimated by human cruelty and stranded in the stars, Tenna and Krona labor beneath grief and rage. But so far from home, they can’t afford the violence their people could wreak upon what’s left of humanity, can’t risk losing their only allies.
Struggling to cope with what their families did and what they could have done to prevent those travesties, Olivia and Ricardo must finally face the scars of their childhoods. Misplaced guilt and substance abuse mean they have to survive themselves in order to help the Regonians their families abducted.
But deep in the stars, the Drennar, advanced aliens who’ve been abducting humans for years, are changing, and it could spell doom or salvation for the remnants of humanity and Regonians alike. Can they learn to work together to face this new development? Or will their inner demons tear them apart?
Struggling to cope with what their families did and what they could have done to prevent those travesties, Olivia and Ricardo must finally face the scars of their childhoods. Misplaced guilt and substance abuse mean they have to survive themselves in order to help the Regonians their families abducted.
But deep in the stars, the Drennar, advanced aliens who’ve been abducting humans for years, are changing, and it could spell doom or salvation for the remnants of humanity and Regonians alike. Can they learn to work together to face this new development? Or will their inner demons tear them apart?
358 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2024
11 people want to read
About the author
Elexis Bell
15 books95 followersElexis Bell writes literary fantasy and science fiction with a bit of romance and a lot of grit. She focuses on character development and the impact of trauma and mental health.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 10, 2025
CW: violence, attempted suicide, mental health struggles, spice/steam, mental/emotional torture, some others.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!
Heavier than book 1, but still a good read.
Answers in hand, Krona, Tenna, Olivia, and Ricardo set out to fix Eve’s mess. Not all of them made it through unscathed, though, and Olivia’s struggles only worsen. Far away, Reginald is doing everything he can to survive just one more day with the Drennar, while Rone reevaluates everything she thought she knew to be right.
When I said this one is heavy, I wasn’t kidding. There are some really dark themes here, particularly dealing with mental health, and I want you to hear me when I say that this is not going to be a book that works for every reader. Take care of yourself, know your triggers, and understand that it’s okay if this isn’t a good fit for you. With that in mind, let’s discuss the actual book.
Both this book and the first have been interesting to me, because there’s not a whole lot of ‘action’ in either one, but calling it a ‘slice of life’ as I would something that falls into the more contemporary genres feels wrong. It’s definitely sci fi, there are things happening that progress the plot, but it somehow feels more relaxed than I would have expected. I actually am really enjoying that fact, because it means I can just vibe along with the plot, but there *is* an actual plot to follow. There are a lot of things at risk for the characters; I’m just not having to stress about them or expend a lot of mental effort to keep track of what’s happening. It’s a noticeable change of pace from a lot of my usual reads, and it’s great.
I don’t know if ‘world building’ is the correct term here, strictly speaking, but the setting for our characters has expanded here, and it’s fascinating. We get to see a little more of the ‘techy’ side of things, but it’s not overwhelming or distracting. There are some really intriguing new things to see, and I’m looking forward to seeing the environment expand even more in the next book.
Our characters are really going through it, and it makes for a significantly deeper read. Olivia and Reginald, in particular, are really struggling, for various reasons, and seeing that play out for them lends a lot of gravity to the situation that I think we didn’t see quite as strongly in book 1. In different character-related news, there’s a lot of spice in this book. Like, a lot. Please don’t misunderstand, I am absolutely *not* smut shaming (I love a good spicy read). It’s just that this feels a little different and I don’t know how I feel about it. It’s sensual, it’s steamy, but given the time frame the book covers and the actual length of the book, it feels like a disproportionately large amount of ‘screen’ time for a story where the focus is elsewhere. I don’t hate it, at all, but it did stand out to me.
All in all, this was a good addition to the ‘Regonia Chronicles’ series, and I’m looking forward to jumping into book 3. It’s been a nice foray into the genre, and the books have thus far felt like much faster reads than their actual page count might indicate. These books would be a good choice if you’re wanting an interesting story that has high stakes without a lot of tension on the reader’s end of things.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!
Heavier than book 1, but still a good read.
Answers in hand, Krona, Tenna, Olivia, and Ricardo set out to fix Eve’s mess. Not all of them made it through unscathed, though, and Olivia’s struggles only worsen. Far away, Reginald is doing everything he can to survive just one more day with the Drennar, while Rone reevaluates everything she thought she knew to be right.
When I said this one is heavy, I wasn’t kidding. There are some really dark themes here, particularly dealing with mental health, and I want you to hear me when I say that this is not going to be a book that works for every reader. Take care of yourself, know your triggers, and understand that it’s okay if this isn’t a good fit for you. With that in mind, let’s discuss the actual book.
Both this book and the first have been interesting to me, because there’s not a whole lot of ‘action’ in either one, but calling it a ‘slice of life’ as I would something that falls into the more contemporary genres feels wrong. It’s definitely sci fi, there are things happening that progress the plot, but it somehow feels more relaxed than I would have expected. I actually am really enjoying that fact, because it means I can just vibe along with the plot, but there *is* an actual plot to follow. There are a lot of things at risk for the characters; I’m just not having to stress about them or expend a lot of mental effort to keep track of what’s happening. It’s a noticeable change of pace from a lot of my usual reads, and it’s great.
I don’t know if ‘world building’ is the correct term here, strictly speaking, but the setting for our characters has expanded here, and it’s fascinating. We get to see a little more of the ‘techy’ side of things, but it’s not overwhelming or distracting. There are some really intriguing new things to see, and I’m looking forward to seeing the environment expand even more in the next book.
Our characters are really going through it, and it makes for a significantly deeper read. Olivia and Reginald, in particular, are really struggling, for various reasons, and seeing that play out for them lends a lot of gravity to the situation that I think we didn’t see quite as strongly in book 1. In different character-related news, there’s a lot of spice in this book. Like, a lot. Please don’t misunderstand, I am absolutely *not* smut shaming (I love a good spicy read). It’s just that this feels a little different and I don’t know how I feel about it. It’s sensual, it’s steamy, but given the time frame the book covers and the actual length of the book, it feels like a disproportionately large amount of ‘screen’ time for a story where the focus is elsewhere. I don’t hate it, at all, but it did stand out to me.
All in all, this was a good addition to the ‘Regonia Chronicles’ series, and I’m looking forward to jumping into book 3. It’s been a nice foray into the genre, and the books have thus far felt like much faster reads than their actual page count might indicate. These books would be a good choice if you’re wanting an interesting story that has high stakes without a lot of tension on the reader’s end of things.
August 7, 2024
An ARC Book Review
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Sci-Fi
Tropes: Aliens, The Future of the Human Race, Family Issues, Abuse of Power, Soul Mates, Betrayal, Anxiety Rep, PTSD Rep
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Triggers: Yes: Scientific Experiments on Humans/Aliens, Alcohol Abuse, Child Abuse (talked about briefly), Kidnapping/Abduction, Assault, Genocide, Mental Health Issues, Suicide Attempts
Review
This book hit me hard. It was obviously written with such emotion and affinity for the characters, especially Olivia, and this seeped right through the pages and into my soul as I was reading them.
Discussing anything within this book will give major spoilers to itself and number 1 in the series so I have to keep things brief: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
It had me sobbing, wincing, shaking, gasping, coming out in goosebumps numerous times, happy crying, smiling from ear to ear, and questioning everything about their universe and what might happen in book 3!!!
This was such a hard hitter compared to Awakening, which I see now was just a toe dipping into the water of how consumed with emotion Bell can actually write when given the chance.
I cannot wait to read book 3. There are so many things I need to know!!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Sci-Fi
Tropes: Aliens, The Future of the Human Race, Family Issues, Abuse of Power, Soul Mates, Betrayal, Anxiety Rep, PTSD Rep
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Triggers: Yes: Scientific Experiments on Humans/Aliens, Alcohol Abuse, Child Abuse (talked about briefly), Kidnapping/Abduction, Assault, Genocide, Mental Health Issues, Suicide Attempts
Review
This book hit me hard. It was obviously written with such emotion and affinity for the characters, especially Olivia, and this seeped right through the pages and into my soul as I was reading them.
Discussing anything within this book will give major spoilers to itself and number 1 in the series so I have to keep things brief: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
It had me sobbing, wincing, shaking, gasping, coming out in goosebumps numerous times, happy crying, smiling from ear to ear, and questioning everything about their universe and what might happen in book 3!!!
This was such a hard hitter compared to Awakening, which I see now was just a toe dipping into the water of how consumed with emotion Bell can actually write when given the chance.
I cannot wait to read book 3. There are so many things I need to know!!
August 11, 2024
*I received an ARC in exchange for a review*
I really enjoyed reading Faltering. I was expecting more action in this book, but it focused more on character relationships and healing from what happened in the first book (Awakening). Mental health and addiction played a pivotal role throughout this book. I felt such a deep connection to Olivia as she battled with her depression and was rooting for her the whole time I read. I loved the pov for Rone and Reginald as well.
I felt so many emotions as I went through the story. I would laugh, tear up, cry, feel angry. Elexis Bell does such an amazing job building the characters and the world they live in. It really feels like you're experiencing everything with them. I feel fully immersed when I'm reading her books.
Faltering was definitely heavier than Awakening, and it really set the scene for an exciting third book that I can't wait to read!
I really enjoyed reading Faltering. I was expecting more action in this book, but it focused more on character relationships and healing from what happened in the first book (Awakening). Mental health and addiction played a pivotal role throughout this book. I felt such a deep connection to Olivia as she battled with her depression and was rooting for her the whole time I read. I loved the pov for Rone and Reginald as well.
I felt so many emotions as I went through the story. I would laugh, tear up, cry, feel angry. Elexis Bell does such an amazing job building the characters and the world they live in. It really feels like you're experiencing everything with them. I feel fully immersed when I'm reading her books.
Faltering was definitely heavier than Awakening, and it really set the scene for an exciting third book that I can't wait to read!
June 6, 2024
In my opinion this book focused more on the relationships between the characters, and I didn’t mind it, although it felt a bit redundant. The plot was nice, a continuation of the previous book that showed everybody’s struggle to fix what was broken.
I absolutely fangirled over Reginald and Rone. They both deserved happiness and I was glad that Rone could finally experience human-like emotions.
Speaking of Reginald, his love for his daughter was touching. I won’t spoil anything, but Olivia deserved better! She deserved people to actually see her.
Ricardo is still one of my favorite characters.
For fans of Sci-fi this is a great book. Maybe the first one is closer to my heart.
Thank you for the ARC!!
I absolutely fangirled over Reginald and Rone. They both deserved happiness and I was glad that Rone could finally experience human-like emotions.
Speaking of Reginald, his love for his daughter was touching. I won’t spoil anything, but Olivia deserved better! She deserved people to actually see her.
Ricardo is still one of my favorite characters.
For fans of Sci-fi this is a great book. Maybe the first one is closer to my heart.
Thank you for the ARC!!
March 29, 2024
‘The war inside is brutal and merciless. It obeys no code of conduct, no restrictions. The war she fights is fierce. She is a warrior in her own right.’
This one was even better than the first one. From the first page, I couldn’t stop reading and I just - I fell in love. Especially towards the end, I started sobbing during each chapter, and mainly because of Olivia. I didn’t like her too much during the first book, but I do relate to her mental health struggles (apart from the drinking), so that definitely made me like her more generally. I cannot WAIT for the third book!
This one was even better than the first one. From the first page, I couldn’t stop reading and I just - I fell in love. Especially towards the end, I started sobbing during each chapter, and mainly because of Olivia. I didn’t like her too much during the first book, but I do relate to her mental health struggles (apart from the drinking), so that definitely made me like her more generally. I cannot WAIT for the third book!
December 21, 2024
I love the world being created by Elexis Bell. The characters and stories have me laughing and crying with them and cheering on their victories. This was an excellent sequel to Awakening and had lots of action to feel exciting throughout while also leaving a lot of space for the next book to take the story (literally and figuratively!). I woke up at 4am to finish this book because I couldn’t stop thinking about it and I am immediately starting Reckoning because I just can’t wait!
September 11, 2024
I'm sorry to say that this book didn't win me over. Unfortunately, I struggled with the slow pace of the narrative; the dialogues and character's thoughts were not enough to hold my attention.
I found it difficult to connect with the protagonists, and the storylines did not progress in a convincing manner. The scenes that were meant to be emotional came across as unconvincing and lacked impact. In particular, the dynamic between Reginald and Rone seemed unrealistic. While there may be an element of Stockholm Syndrome, their interactions felt disengaging and not particularly enjoyable.
Additionally, Tenna, who intrigued me in the first part of the series, appears to have been relegated to a secondary role with little development. Her courtroom involvement reminded me of some elements from "Game of Thrones", but subsequently, both she and Krona became minor characters.
The main character, Olivia, failed to evoke my empathy. In the first book, I wanted to understand and be moved by her story, but I found her constant sense of guilt and excessive responsibility to be overdone and unconvincing. Her inability to handle pressure and her surrender in the face of uncontrollable events did not improve my opinion of the book.
The plot, character choices, and political elements seemed rushed, while less significant aspects took up too much space. This imbalance made the reading experience arduous, and in my view, there was nothing that truly redeemed the book. The interesting characters from the previous volume have been reduced to flat, ineffective roles, and the others remain static without any development.
Even the Drennar, who could have offered an interesting angle, were not explored in depth, and their belated interest in Reginald’s emotions seemed forced. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this second volume, and with a third one expected, I struggle to find reasons to be optimistic.
Is the story enjoyable? 2
Are the grammar and narrative tenses cohesive? 4
Would I recommend it? 1
Would I re-read it? 0
Are the characters any good or relatable? 1
I found it difficult to connect with the protagonists, and the storylines did not progress in a convincing manner. The scenes that were meant to be emotional came across as unconvincing and lacked impact. In particular, the dynamic between Reginald and Rone seemed unrealistic. While there may be an element of Stockholm Syndrome, their interactions felt disengaging and not particularly enjoyable.
Additionally, Tenna, who intrigued me in the first part of the series, appears to have been relegated to a secondary role with little development. Her courtroom involvement reminded me of some elements from "Game of Thrones", but subsequently, both she and Krona became minor characters.
The main character, Olivia, failed to evoke my empathy. In the first book, I wanted to understand and be moved by her story, but I found her constant sense of guilt and excessive responsibility to be overdone and unconvincing. Her inability to handle pressure and her surrender in the face of uncontrollable events did not improve my opinion of the book.
The plot, character choices, and political elements seemed rushed, while less significant aspects took up too much space. This imbalance made the reading experience arduous, and in my view, there was nothing that truly redeemed the book. The interesting characters from the previous volume have been reduced to flat, ineffective roles, and the others remain static without any development.
Even the Drennar, who could have offered an interesting angle, were not explored in depth, and their belated interest in Reginald’s emotions seemed forced. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this second volume, and with a third one expected, I struggle to find reasons to be optimistic.
Is the story enjoyable? 2
Are the grammar and narrative tenses cohesive? 4
Would I recommend it? 1
Would I re-read it? 0
Are the characters any good or relatable? 1
May 24, 2024
This book took a while to read though, I don't think sci-fi is for me, but it was still a well written book!
The book follows Olivia and Ricardo as they face trauma from their childhoods and mental health struggles along with substance abuse. I could relate with some of the mental health struggles. It also follows Tenna and Krona, dealing with rage and grief from their tribe being destroyed by the humans.
I would highly recommend this series for sci-fi lovers!
3.95/5 stars
I received an early copy as a ARC reader - book comes out on June 11th!!
The book follows Olivia and Ricardo as they face trauma from their childhoods and mental health struggles along with substance abuse. I could relate with some of the mental health struggles. It also follows Tenna and Krona, dealing with rage and grief from their tribe being destroyed by the humans.
I would highly recommend this series for sci-fi lovers!
3.95/5 stars
I received an early copy as a ARC reader - book comes out on June 11th!!
April 14, 2025
Okay, what should I say about this one? It was a roller-coaster ride with too many emotions and had me questioning everything.
This one picked up from right where the previous one ended. So many loose ends from Awakening were tied here but not before new ones were introduced. Olivia spoke as the main character to me. I could understand her on a personal level, especially the choices she made. This book is high on mental health and its effects, especially when it comes to her.
Did I mention that the previous book was a page turner? Wait until you pick this up.
This one picked up from right where the previous one ended. So many loose ends from Awakening were tied here but not before new ones were introduced. Olivia spoke as the main character to me. I could understand her on a personal level, especially the choices she made. This book is high on mental health and its effects, especially when it comes to her.
Did I mention that the previous book was a page turner? Wait until you pick this up.
June 11, 2024
"Faltering" is book 2 in this scifi series and the plot from the book continues. This book focuses a lot on Reginald who was abducted by the drennar years ago and his daughter, Olivia, who was left behind and played a big part in the events of the previous book.
First, I have to say that I loved how the author recapped the important parts of book 1. It was really really clever. Also the pacing of the book was brilliant, I was so hooked, I finished it in a day.
Olivia's storyline broke my heart. I ached for her and it was hard to see her suffering. Tenna and Krona were brilliant and I loved reading about their story. I'm intrigued by their costums and their planet.
Reginald's story was so so interesting. The way he interacted with his captors, the things he endured and how he eventually started to influence them was fascinating. I can't wait to find out more and see what will happen next.
I loved it!
First, I have to say that I loved how the author recapped the important parts of book 1. It was really really clever. Also the pacing of the book was brilliant, I was so hooked, I finished it in a day.
Olivia's storyline broke my heart. I ached for her and it was hard to see her suffering. Tenna and Krona were brilliant and I loved reading about their story. I'm intrigued by their costums and their planet.
Reginald's story was so so interesting. The way he interacted with his captors, the things he endured and how he eventually started to influence them was fascinating. I can't wait to find out more and see what will happen next.
I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews