An alternate cover edition can be found here and here.
Alex has stopped a worldwide viral outbreak, but she must now fight her way out of the resulting chaos to prevent an even more disastrous threat. After escaping capture by a plotting regime, she calls upon her friends and own unique abilities to discover Earth’s true past and determine its fate. Amid a society on the verge of collapse, they battle unseen forces and unlock ancient secrets in an attempt to save the human race.
With over 50 published books across ten genres, author Tara Ellis is best known for her heart-pounding post-apocalyptic and thriller series. A heavy dose of mystery often underscores her character-driven plots, heralding back to what fueled her desire to tell stories from an early age.
A certified firefighter in the state of Washington, Tara volunteered as a FF/EMT for over eight years. She also responded as a support officer, worked as an emergency room technician, was a 911 dispatcher, and taught life-saving techniques to the public and first responders. As an author of thriller and survival stories, she draws upon her personal experience throughout her storytelling.
Tara lives in the gorgeous Cascade Mountains of Washington State. When not writing or spending time with family, she can be found hiking the woods while plotting her next adventure.
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Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Coming this year, in 2025:
*A new post-apocalyptic series with Aethon Books, The 6th Extinction, releases in April
*A new thriller series co-authored with L.T. Ryan was announced to release later this year!
*The third and final book in The Fallen series, The Redeemed, is coming this summer
*Several new audiobooks will go live throughout the year
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
I really loved this book. This series for me is getting better and better. I really enjoy Tara Ellis as an author. I love the character Alex in these books as well. If you like to read dystopian I would advise you try out this series and see what you think. *I was given this book from the author in exchange for and honest review*
Heritage started out a little slow as Alex recaps what happened before, catches the reader up on what's happened since the last book, and works out plans with her cabal. Fortunately the slowness didn't last as long as it had with Infected and I hit the end of it without having set the book down. Besides, it's not like I didn't need to know what had happened. xD
Once Alex has caught up with the Professor and sorted out a plan with her team, things really take off. I'll admit, I did not see what was coming. I mean, I expected something, but not the something that did happen. As Alex is separated from her friends, the thing I somehow thought she'd manage to avoid happened.
It's not unusual for 2nd book dystopians to follow the path of but even though it wasn't the most original thing, I really didn't see it coming.
The book goes through ups and downs with pacing. There's times the characters are just driving or talking or sitting in a house relaxed. There's other times where they're planning escapes and rescues and there's all sorts of craziness.
This is a race against the clock. Alex holds the cure for the ultimate Holocene virus and she has to get it to someone who can mass produce and release it. But the Mud men have more resources and people on their side than she does. And they're prepared. They know what their goal is and she's still trying to put everything together.
There's some fantastic reveals on how the Holocene virus came to be and Alex's history. There's some great world-building in the sense of showing the history of the Khufu Bast and the Mudameere. The shared memory recall was interesting and definitely helped me gain a larger sense of what was at stake and how everything had led to the current mess.
The book ends at a tense moment where the stakes have just seriously skyrocketed and the heroes now have even less time than they thought.
*A complimentary ecopy of this book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.
Forgotten Origins has now become one of my favorite reading series. Ever. Heritage is a book of revelations. It's also filled with action, adventure, and suspense. I am a little, just a little, obsessed with the Ancient Alien Theory and this book definitely took that to a whole different level for me. I cannot say whether or not any of it's real, and that is why it is just a theory, but the evidence is there. I guess it's all how you interpret it. I love how in this book our main character, Alex, still holds her belief in God yet, the 'others' also believe in a Creator. That held a lot of significance to me and really intrigued my thoughts. So like I stated, this book is all about revelations. Alex and crew are on a quest for the truth. Alex discovers who and what she is along with her role in all of this chaotic mess. It is just awesome. I refuse to give anything away but I will say this, Chris' last sentence of the book on the very last page had me mesmerized!! I felt like I was right there along with them witnessing that scene. Brilliant!!
This was an okay sequel, but it did seem to have a lot of information in it.
Alex changed a bit in this book, and she was lucky to have gained what she gained, without losing those who loved and trusted her. Things could have gone a whole lot worse for her if this hadn’t been the case.
The storyline in this was okay, but there was so much information in there that it made it really heavy going. I understand that the information was necessary to explain what was going on in the story, but I felt a bit bogged down by it all. We did get a bit of action which was good, and there were a few things that I didn’t expect. I also thought that the way that the virus had morphed was a realistic continuation of the original storyline.
The ending cleared a few things up, but also left us with a big cliff-hanger. I really hope that things work out well for Alex in the last book. 6 out of 10.
Alex was an okay character, but she wasn't as likable as she was in book one. She annoyed me a few times.
The pacing in this was quite slow, and at points it really bored me. There was just a few too many info dumps for me. I understand that they're sometimes needed, but they make me lose interest.
This is the 2nd book in the series and although I did like it ok, it really seemed to drag on with so many details and I found myself losing interest a few times. I did like that Seth seems to have finally come around and the ending was pretty good. Hopefully the next book picks back up a little.
what a great 2nd story in the forgotten origions in this book it continues where it was last left off alex now has to understand where she is from as well as finding out she was adopted and it is up to her to save mankind per sat a great story and a must for all who ia reding this collection by tara
Heritage is book 2 in this great series. It is set right after Alex and Chris release the anti-virus to the virus that caused death and disaster all over the world. It is action packed and keeps you turning pages.
Alex visits the Professor that she meets in book one and he tells her that he believes that its not over and that the Munameere are looking at releasing a new version of the virus and he has been working on an anti-virus which he wants Alex to take to the Senator in Montana but before they all leave Alex gets taken by the Munameere.
While she is in the Munameere's lab they give her an injection that contains the new virus and Alex has to take the anti-virus tablet that the Professor gave her so that she doesn't become a Shiner. However the tablet isn't able to take away all of the Shiner side affects.
Alex manages to escape the lap after several days of pretending to be a Shiner and once she gets back home she, Chris and their friends and family all leave to get to the Senator.
There was never a dull moment in the book and I had to keep reading to find out what happens next and I never expected what happened.
I am excited to start book 3 to see if they manage to stop the Munameere from releasing the virus and creating chaos.
Second book in the trilogy. Slower paced but a lot happened. Our weary travellers have a lot to deal with. I probably enjoyed the first book more, but this book was more information and knowledge what was going to happen. On to the next book.
Alex Mubarak doesn’t want to be the person who can save Earth and all of humankind. She just wants her life to go back to normal. But a month after activating an ancient defensive system of pyramids to counteract a global assault by an alien virus, she and her friend Chris are not done with this problem.
Many people recovered from “The Great Infection” but not all, and some of those who survived have lingering physical issues. Shiners – those with the telltale luminous eyes of the infected, are still to be found despite the impact of the antivirus. Militarized teams sweep the countryside near Alex’s home, searching for the person who activated the virus countermeasures – but they’re not the normal military. The virus was only the beginning of what seems to be an unimaginably complicated and monstrous plot to conquer, pillage and annihilate the Earth and everyone on it.
Alex is forced into adulthood, with all its responsibilities and self-doubt, far too soon for her comfort. She seems destined to be caught up in a war with the Nephilim – the “fallen angels” of Biblical lore. The Nephilim apparently departed Earth millennia ago, but their followers, the Mudameere, have endured, awaiting their return. The Holocene Meteor shower and its accompanying virus predicted the return of the Mudameere’s masters. Only this time, the Nephilim will have no one to stop them – no one but Alex, who must plunge even deeper into humanity’s forgotten origins for some way to rid her world of this overwhelming menace.
Professor Hassan, her late father’s friend and member of the Khufu Bast, the ancient group opposing the Mudameere, hands Alex a plan of action, a destination and contact, and a possible way to fight the imminent invaders. All she has to do is run a precarious gauntlet of Nephilim minions in a world where travel is nearly impossible, and to deliver a small thumb drive containing all the Professor’s data and one precious capsule of mutation-proof antivirus before it’s too late.
“Heritage” is the next step in “The Forgotten Origins” trilogy. The characters continue to develop as the story unfolds. They pull us ever deeper into their psyches. Their story is about how necessity creates heroes, however reluctant they may be, and what it takes to step beyond one’s own instinct for survival for the sake of others.
This is book two in the Bloodline series, Alex has successfully saved the world from the virus with the help of her friends in the end of the last book. But the threat is not over and she is sent on a quest to deliver a specially engineered anti-virus that is untested but is the only hope against the Holocene virus. The plot is thickened when Alex is taken from her home by a handsome enemy who is working with the developers of a new virus and she in turn is infected with it. As I laid out aspects of this story to a co-worker she exclaimed, wow this sounds like one of those scify series, I wholeheartedly agreed with her.
The concept of the alien race along with biblical stories and ancient Egypt was intriguing and fun to read. I have read the tale of Gilgamesh and can see how this could be used to explain the Nephilim .Alex's origins are also interesting and her genetic dreams are a concept that is worth pondering. As a medical lab tech (micro) I enjoyed reading about the genetic components as described by the professor and found the concepts plausible.
I felt a lot of empathy for Alex's character and thought how exciting her new abilities were that she attained as a consequence to being infected and recovering with the use of the anti-viral med. It was also cool learning about how she really tied in to the ancient alien race. At the conclusion of the book we are left with the question of whether the world as we know it will survive. All in all I thought the story was well written , consistent ,action packed, a little romance thrown in to spice things up, and anxiety provoking (for Alex's sake). I would recommend this to anyone 13 and up. As the language was clean ,story not explicit, and violence being the only reason for the 13 and up rating. .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Heritage is book #2 of the Forgotten Origins trilogy, and it’s much deeper and more detailed than Bloodlines, book #1. The story picks up about a month after the pyramids have been activated, and the state is under martial law. Alex and Chris must reach out to the authorities and try to combat the forces of evil. The journey is difficult, as they are being stalked at every turn. Is Alex truly safe? Will she become a Shiner? And what of the mysterious Seth, of the Mudameere? His path keeps crossing Alex’s, and she can’t help but notice how handsome he is. Are they really on opposite sides…..or is their fate predetermined according to ancient Egyptian history?
Author Tara Ellis has done well with the plot exposition in Heritage. There is a great deal of action, the character development is more thorough, and the reader will learn about history and ancient beliefs, along with a bit of conspiracy theory. From the Pacific Northwest to a biodome built under the ocean, Alex and her crew will race against time to save the planet and try to convince the Nephilim that the human race should not be annihalated.
Some questions are answered, and new questions are posed. Hopefully, the answers to ALL questions will be revealed in the third and final book, Descent, published September 30th.
I was lucky enough to receive this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Forgotten Origins Series and picks up exactly where book one finished diving straight into action with a pace making you wish you didn't ever have to put the book down. There was some real character progression in this book especially where Alex is concerned, although the author gives plenty of detail into the other characters in the story too allowing you to feel that you really know them.
There is plenty detail giving you a very clear image of the world Alex and her group are living in without feeling overloaded and I was truly excited to find out what was coming next. There is never a dull moment in this book with plenty of twists and turns along the way and by the time I was finished I couldn't wait to start book three.
I would recommend this to all ages although I think this book could be a real inspiration for young adults. Alex is strong, brave, loyal and honest a real character to look up to and the story also brings a strong message of acceptance, just because Alex changes her peers don't give up on her.
This second entry in the Forgotten Origins Trilogy by Tara Ellis picks up right where we left off and delves into the action with nary a pause. This time around, Alex's group of friends and family has increased and they're all on the run, in a desperate bid to prevent more mayhem and an outbreak of the Nephi2 virus.
As Alex escapes increasingly more dangerous situations, she finds out some electrifying truths about one of her companions, one of her enemies and a most startling revelation about herself. As the fate of the world hangs in the balance, Alex must question everything she's always believed about the world and her pivotal role in the life-changing events that are unfolding.
This is a wonderful series and I can't think of anything out there that is remotely like it. With a great concept and fast-moving action, Tara Ellis has created a winner with this series.
Heritage by Tara Ellis is a fast-moving, interesting, and different YA series. This is not a remake of another trilogy out there. Ms. Ellis has created a world and characters that engage the reader. I found myself unable to put the book down because I just had to know what was going to happen next.
Ms. Ellis does a great job of building a world while telling the story so the reader is not dumped with a bunch of information all at once. The story had lots of twists and turns, some truly unexpected and was very enjoyable.
I enjoyed Heritage and I look forward to reading the third book in the trilogy. I highly recommend Heritage for YA readers who are looking for something a little different!
This is the second book in the Forgotten Origins Trilogy. Even though I liked the first book, I enjoyed this one even more. There were a lot of twists and turns in this book that I didn’t even see coming and a lot of action and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat at times.
I think this book would be great for girls of middle school age and beyond to read. Alex is a strong female heroine who is intelligent, courageous and determined; a good role model for young girls.
The book is very intelligently written and the storyline is original. I look forward to reading the final installment of this trilogy and finding out how the adventure ends.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Tara for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
I'm happy to present the second book in the Forgotten Origins Trilogy, Heritage!
I think you will like how both the story AND the characters develop further. My goal with Heritage, was to continue an intense, fast-paced story, while at the same time delving a little deeper into building up Chris and some other, new friends that are introduced.
Are you ready for another crazy ride? I hope so, because Heritage will NOT disappoint you!
Thank you for taking the time to join me in my world.:)
[*Disclaimer: Heritage is a true Science Fiction novel with a complicated plot and intricate story line. Be prepared to think, wonder, and in the end, ask yourself "what if?"]
The first book of the series was a very quick read that seemed to hold my attention and interest from beginning to end. This one was was also a quick read, but I found myself skipping some of the dream sequences. I think that they were kind of drawn out, and gave too much unnecessary information. It didn't deter me from reading the third book of the series because I definitely need to know how the group does against the incoming RA, and I have also developed a fondness for Baxter and his interesting qualities. All in all give it a read and give it a review.
Ellis's second installment in the Forgotten Origins Trilogy is a fast paced adventure as, once again, the world faces an imminent threat. But more than that, this book has demonstrated the author's growing skill in developing characters who the reader comes to know and care about. I particularly enjoyed the glimpse we were given into how the events of the last novel had affected the wider world. There are times when the plot became quite complex, but generally this was handled with skill. An enjoyable SciFi read with a creative approach.
Alex stopped the virus, but the fight isn't over. When the new threat is bigger than ever before, can she and her friends prevent it from affecting the human race again? I liked this installment in the trilogy, it flowed easily and it had an enjoyable plot. My only problem with it would be the info dumps, it was pretty heavy in parts and I found myself tempted to skip parts of it...Other than that, I had little to no issues with this story, I didn't like it as much as Bloodlines but it's still worthy of 3.5 stars.
Second book in the trilogy. Slower paced but a lot happened. Our weary travellers have a lot to deal with. I probably enjoyed the first book more, but this book was more information and knowledge what was going to happen. On to the next book.
I was lucky enough to receive this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Forgotten Origins Series and picks up exactly where book one finished diving straight into action with a pace making you wish you didn't ever have to put the book down. There was some real character progression in this book especially where Alex is concerned, although the author gives plenty of detail into the other characters in the story too allowing you to feel that you really know them.
There is plenty detail giving you a very clear image of the world Alex and her group are living in without feeling overloaded and I was truly excited to find out what was coming next. There is never a dull moment in this book with plenty of twists and turns along the way and by the time I was finished I couldn't wait to start book three.
I would recommend this to all ages although I think this book could be a real inspiration for young adults. Alex is strong, brave, loyal and honest a real character to look up to and the story also brings a strong message of acceptance, just because Alex changes her peers don't give up on her.
This book had some interesting turns. The first quarter of the novel was an action packed driven 5*. But then the story delved into confusing back flashes and lengthy discussions about the Nephilium, which, by the way, totally shocked me when the novels started talking about Nephilium. Didn't see that coming until it was brought up. Whoa. But I loved how the author incorporated the alien history with the pyramids and Ra. But to be honest, I was just lost with all of the alien history in the back flashes the protagonist had.