Sovereign: The Prequels

Antius Ascending #0.5

by E.R. Arroyo

Long before Antius, Nathan Burke is driven by his need to be acknowledged by his father. One catastrophic mistake by this villain-in-the-making sparks the fall of civilization. Years later, well into the apocalypse and all its fallout, Karen discovers a boy named Tyce while working with the City’s kids. The two of them witness firsthand the brutal aggression of the savage males. And just two years before Corinne Cole would join the Guard as his trainee, Titus risks everything, breaking Antius’s laws when he falls for someone he is not allowed to touch.

This compilation includes three short stories told from the perspectives of one hated and two beloved Sovereign characters. The stories are prequels to the Antius Ascending Series, though they are best enjoyed as sequels, as they do contain spoilers.

119 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 22, 2017

About the author

E.R. Arroyo is a YA author and plot structure junkie. She writes across multiple genres, both contemporary and speculative, her heroines tend to have attitudes, and she lives for dialogue. In addition to her published novels, she’s participated in two anthologies and co-founded a Facebook group championing the dystopian genre. E.R. is a musician, wife, and mom, and she’s a passionate student of neurodivergence.

Reviews

[Cheer Papworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader, I am always searching for the next book or series with all of the literary ingredients I crave the most. I was really excited when I stumbled upon Sovereign Book 1 in the Antius Ascending Series. It checked all the boxes- a hero’s journey, romance, tangible world building, strong characterization, a complex villain, and real character growth.

But here’s the thing…I fell hard for these characters and I wanted more. Not just a sequel, but I begged for backstories. What happened before Page one? How did humanity fall? How did Burke evolved into a villain? What experiences did Tyce live through and how did it mold him? What are the trials that made Titus the man we see (and the man I adore)?

ER Arroyo delivered in spades! The questions are answered in three gorgeous, dark stories that are truly special. These are the backstories a reader can only hope for. Thank you, ER Arroyo for your masterful story telling!

[Alicia Gillispie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend reading these after you read the two main books because of spoilers, but they were so good! I loved that they gave more background to some of the characters in the main books and helped give the story that extra background depth. All three were beautifully done and heartbreaking in their own ways. I could read an endless amount of the characters backstories!

[Amanda Knutson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has 3 quick stories to characters who were important in the series. I really enjoyed getting more of the story - especially Nathan’s! Definitely read this last in the series to avoid any spoilers, but I loved how it tied up a few loose ends/questions with a few of the characters!