True Son

Psi Chronicles #3

by Lana Krumwiede

Powerful forces collide in this explosive conclusion to the middle-grade dystopian Psi Chronicles trilogy.

Four months ago, Taemon was able to stave off an invasion by the Republikite army by using tricks to convince his enemies that the people of Deliverance still had the telekinetic ability known as psi. Now, though, the truth of his deception has come to light, and the Republik is prepared to mount another attack, led by General Sarin and his son, Gevri. Once an ally, Gevri is fuming over Taemon’s perceived betrayal. Now that his father has put him in charge of a special archon unit, Gevri is ready to exact revenge on his foe—and, with Deliverance securely in the control of the Republik, to end the centuries-long war between the Republik and the Nau nations. Can Taemon—the supposed True Son and savior of Deliverance—find a way to save his people one last time?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Fiction, Action

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2015

About the author

In third grade, Lana wrote in her autobiography that she wanted to be a mother, a writer, and the church organist. Two out of three ain't bad! Her work has appeared in Highlights, High Five, Spider, Babybug, The Friend, and Chicken Soup for the Child's Soul. Freakling is her first novel.

Lana has tried psi many times, particularly when it comes to household chores, but she could never make it work. She does have a few mildly supernatural abilities, which include untying knots, peeling oranges, and winning at board games. Her perfect day would include reading, writing, swimming, cooking, telling jokes, spending time with family, and pie.

And maybe a board game or two.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really think to get the most out of the book you should read the entire series in order. That way the plot makes sense from the first moment you pick up the book.

This book continues the dysopian adventure of Taemon, Amma, Yens, and Gevri. Taemon comes from Deliverance and is the "True Son" who must save his society from attack. He is the only one who still has psi (more detail in the previous books). Amma is from the colony in Delverance where those who didn't have psi lived. She must restore the library her family is responsible for. Yens is Taemon's older brother who many beleive to be the "True Son", he wants all the glory and followers. Gevri is from the Republik and was tricked by Taemon. He now is suffering and want payback.

These kids must resolve the complex issues that face them

I recieved a copy throught GoodReads First Reads.

[Lana Krumwiede · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fun to write! I'm very excited to share the conclusion of Taemon's story.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My name is Taemon, and there must be a way to bring peace between Deliverance and the Republik. I thought removing psi from Deliverance would help, but General Sarin of the Republik fears we'll ally with the nation of Nau against them. The people of Deliverance have no weapons, and I'm the only one left with psi. I will use it according to guidance from the Heart of the Earth, but I won't use it to kill any humans. The Republik sees us as traitors, and Gevri is especially angry with me. He blindly follows his father's orders and will use his dominion to attack others. The conflict between our nations began when the prophet Nathan created Deliverance. However, the Republikites don't understand that his actions actually saved their nation. My hope is the Heart of the Earth and the truth can unite us once again.

Once again, for some reason, I waited eight years to read the conclusion to this trilogy. Geesh, I hate when I do that! The plot pits an ultimate conflict between a nation of pacifists against a military invasion. Taemon has the internal conflict of knowing he can use psi to end the hostilities, but he won't use it to harm others. The problem becomes more complicated, since the people of Deliverance pressure him to use his abilities to protect them. In contrast, the Republik sees Taemon as a dangerous threat and doesn't believe his words of peace. Taemon has an additional conflict with the general's son that boils down to a feeling of betrayal. The son wants his father's approval but begins to question his father's motives and strategies. Taemon travels into the forest to commune with the Heart of the Earth. He hears the voice in his head but begins to wonder if it truly exists. Has Taemon been following the guidance from his own ideas? Although my specific memories are fuzzy, my past posts seem to show I enjoyed the previous two books a little more than this one. However, the series comes to an entertaining and satisfying conclusion, and I recommend you give it a shot.

[Marianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ending to a trilogy.... I read half the night as I just could not put the book down until I finished it.

Thank you for an amazing experience, Lana Krumwiede. I loved all three books tremendously.

The world building was detailed and felt realistic. The characters were lovable, likable, and.... well... real. They dealt with issues that felt real and found solutions worth thinking about. This book, just like the first two, was clean and perfect for younger readers - I would say Middle School and older.

There is only one thing which I would have liked to see done differently. I wish I had a bit more details on the closure of the relationships between Taeman, Gevri, and the young Archons. There should have been a small chapter tying out loose ends between this group - Otherwise, the book felt flawless.

Enjoy and Happy Reading!

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this whole series in sequential order and it was good. My 13-year-old son says this one ends up only getting three stars though because the ending just kind of dropped the story instead of continuing to build and really having a great ending. I think he has created a few of his own alternatives endings because of that though, so it is okay. He was liking it but then...not so much. A bit disappointing. I mean, you should still read it if you are reading the series, but yeah. See what you think.

[michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The final chapter

I first became aware of this series by listening to Freakling through the audio sync summer program. It was an interesting concept and I enjoyed the first book. The trilogy should have ended there. I realize it was set up as a trilogy and the full story was interesting, but the second two books dragged a lot. Perhaps if the whole story was condensed into one book it would have worked better rather than following the formula of trilogies.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taemon and friends are back in an all-new adventure. When the Republik fails to garner peace with Taemon and the city of Deliverance, their own other option is to run away. Will they be able to do so with both the Republik and Nau empire on their tails? Read on and find out for yourselves.

This was an amazing conclusion to this trilogy and if you enjoy Dystopian fantasy stories, then be sure to check this series out at your local library and wherever books and ebooks are sold.

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book is so good I finished this series so fast because it is just so interesting and exciting even if your not a fan of fantasy books, I guarantee you will love this book! These are definitely one of my favorite books ever read. If I could give this book and series 10 stars out of 5 I would!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful ending this was! The climax was unexpected and made sense and brought it back to the beginning so it really felt complete. The characters grew so much and you really get to understand them better in this book. One of the best trilogies I've ever read!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We need some dominion to wipe out COVID19!

[Bon Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun. I enjoyed the end to the series and the resolution

[Luc they, them · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series would make a fun tv show.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Psi Chronicles trilogy ends with True Son, in which Taemon, the True Son, is guided by the Heart of the Earth to both free Gevri from the Nau and to evacuate the Nathanites south to the sea, then west to the cliffs. The Republikite army and their archons ruthlessly follow them, until the Heart of the Earth, through Taemon's calm, peaceful, determined and listening heart, provides a way for the people to be reunited and for the mountains to become plains once again.

Here is my favorite part:

"He stilled his mind until there was only this tree. This sky. This moment.

When he was ready to listen, he was ready to ask.

I'm willing to do what I must to save my people. I'm ready to lead them out of Deliverance. Please tell me where we can go.

Nothing came to him.

Patient. He had to be patient. He had to be still and listen.

Still nothing came.

What could he do? Pout? Demand an answer?

No, he could only wait. He would wait all night if he had to.

He tried not to think about how long he'd been there, but it had been a long time. Maybe it was the darkness, or maybe the worries were too great to keep at bay for very long. Taemon could feel despair creeping into him.

And with despair came its companion, doubt.

Was he leading the people to safety? Or was he cowering from opposition? Was he really the True Son?

Once started, the doubts flooded his thoughts like a cloud of bats. They gathered and multiplied and swarmed until he could barely breathe.

Was the Heart of the Earth even real? Or was she just a voice he made up in his head, a way to fool himself into thinking he had a purpose?

And then it hit him: there was no way to know.

And when you can't know something, you have to choose what to believe. What would he choose?

The cloud of bats vanished, and Taemon could hear the frogs again. The Heart of the Earth would not tamper with free choice. If she gave him a sign, some proof that she existed, then he would have no choice but to believe. She wouldn't do that; she always let him choose. He had to make his choice first. And then he'd be able to see the signs, if there were any.

What would he choose to believe?

A laugh burst from his chest. He had answered his own question. He believed in the Heart of the Earth. He couldn't imagine the world making sense without her. She had spoken to him. She had given him ideas that he never would have come up with on his own, ideas that he sometimes didn't even want to hear. She was real. Of course she was.

Taemon scrambled to his feet and stepped away from the tree. He stretched his arms out on each side, dropped his head back, and looked into the stars. "I choose to believe,' he whispered. "I will be a True Son. Please tell me where to go."

And he saw." (p. 177-179)

I love that Lana Krumwiede uses the Divine Feminine in her trilogy!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

(ARC copy provided by GoodReads.)

As I've mentioned before, I appreciate that Krumwiede's Psi Chronicles series are middle grades books with middle grades sensibilities cloaked as a YA title. As a reading teacher I am always on the lookout for books that will make my readers feel sophisticated but still have accessible plots and inviting concepts and themes.

That said, I still think the first book in this series (Freakling) was the strongest of the bunch. In it the concept of Psi (psychokinetic abilities) is explored, the main character, Taemon, is forced to live out a lie after he loses his powers, and then when everything looks like it's going to the pits Taemon encounters some deeper truths about the powers he supposedly lost. The themes of identity, discovery, loyalty, power, and growing up appeal to a large audience beyond the traditional fantasy readers.

The second and third books read much more like war narratives with a fantastical backdrop -- a little more galvanizing for my readers. I found the second book a little more muddled than the first -- there was some background political drama introduced, a character named Gevri from a rival city became a central character, followed by some plot twists that seemed hasty and convenient. As a reader I found myself less interested in the Psi universe outside of Taemon's occasional shows of ingenuity.

The third book in the series follows two perspectives -- that of Taemon and that of Gevri. The book follows Taemon's work to repair his relationship with Gevri and multiple times Taemon is forced to make difficult decisions.

Perhaps what has stayed with me the most in this series is that our hero is forced to make difficult decisions, and these decisions have polarizing consequences. I appreciate how Krumwiede doesn't let her heroes get off easily or pretend that leadership is a passive act.

However, whether my readers will want to stay through with this series has yet to be determined.

[Sandy Eichelberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this third book of the Psi Chronicles, Gevri is back home and aligned with his father and the Republik army. He is angry over his belief that his former ally Taemon betrayed him and no longer doubts his father’s resolve to save their people. His father says they must first beat Taemon and the people of Deliverance so they can later fight their real threat – the Nau. Taemon and his people are peaceful and don’t want to go to war with the Republik. The only person still having Psi telekinetic abilities in Deliverance is Taemon and the people there look to him as their leader. Despite the threat from the Republik, nothing will induce Taemon to use his Psi skills to hurt others. Gevri’s father, on the other hand, is a General with many Psi’s among his soldiers, some only children. Gevri himself leads a band of archon, a group of children with extra special skills. The General is forcing his troops to ruthlessly attack the people of Deliverance, despite their refuse to fight back. When Gevri’s unit of young Psi’s is captured and tortured by the Nau, help comes from an unexpected source. Each chapter begins with a communication between the Nau who are looking to destroy the Republik and are conducting experiments to eliminate the Psi threat. Krumwiede explores the nature of countries willing to do whatever it takes to crush their enemies. The ruthlessness is pronounced and the attitude of winning at any cost, is highlighted. Taemon and his followers do not believe in violent ways and they may pay with their very lives for their personal beliefs. The story shows whether Taemon is really the True Son to his people, the one who will lead them to peace. There’s also the question of Gevri’s allegiance – will he demonstrate that he is a true son to his father’s ambitions? The ending may be too pat and the characters are somewhat stereotypical. The True Son prophecy is not woven well enough into the plot to make it successful however he action is swift and the suspense is maintained. Younger teens may find this enjoyable despite the few flaws.

[American Mensa · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Son Is a dystopian fantasy, telling the story of Taemon, the True Son of Deliverance, and his old friend Gevri, a Republikite commander who is furious at Taemon for his betrayal. Psi, a magical force that some people, like Taemon and Gevri, wield is central to the story. Taemon finds that the elimination of psi has returned Deliverance to peace. But the loss of psi leaves Deliverance vulnerable to Nau and the Republikites. However Gevri’s squad, when attempting to defeat Nau soldiers, is captured. With rising tensions, a peace offering is sent by Republikite to Deliverance. The question is, will the conference succeed and, what are the Nau doing in this chaos? My favorite parts were in the middle as most action and drama occurred here. However, an anticlimactic and rather overcomplicated ending prevent me from loving the book. It is a decent read overall, and fans of more mature fantasy will enjoy it, although dystopian and light fantasy readers will be alienated by the extreme philosophical and religious (although the Church of Nathan is clearly an in book religion) ending.
Reviewed by Charles M., age 11, Richmond Area Mensa

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taemon is likely the only one left who has the “psi”, telekinetic and telepathic abilities. In book #2, he helped the Nathanites survive an attack by the Republikite army, but now that the Republik is being threatened by the Nau, the Nathanite city of Deliverance is about to be caught in the middle of a war. With the help of others in the city and an ally in the Republik army, he hopes to save the Nathanites and bring peace to the area.

Although I did not read the previous two books, I was caught up in the action and found the storyline compelling and very readable. There’s a subplot about rescuing books lost in a previous war, and one ov the characters is a telepathic jaguar. How can you not like that? The conflict comes to a satisfying resolution. This trilogy would be a good read for fans of other future/dystopian books like The Maze Runner or The Chaos Walking series. Although violent, not overly so; and there is no sexual content or profanity, so even young teens will enjoy this series.

[Brandi Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the past year, Taemon has asked the Hearth of the Earth to get rid of Psi for all of Deliverance, and she listened, getting rid of everyone's Psi in the city for everyone except Taemon because the Heart of the Earth has plans for him. Last fall, Taemon used his Psi to stave off an invasion from the Republikite army and now everyone knows that Deliverance is completely powerless, which puts the people in danger. As the Republikite army prepares to launch another attack, Taemon must decide how to save his people from certain death. In the meantime, over in the Republik, Gevri is still angry with Taemon for his betrayal. Now, Gevri's father has put him in command of a special archon unit and Gevri is ready to get his revenge.

I cannot believe this is the last book in this trilogy! So many questions left unanswered and the storyline was definitely left open to another book. What do you think, Ms. Krumwiede?

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fans of dystopian fiction may be drawn to “True Son,” the third installment in the “Psi Chronicles.” Readers who have not read the previous two volumes will have little difficulty picking up the background story and diving into the action. Taemon, the True Son of Deliverance, and his former friend Gevri, a commander of the invading Republikite army, square off on opposing sides. Taemon is the only Nathanite who still has telekinetic and telepathic abilities. Other Nathanites, still reeling from the loss of their psi abilities, are unable to adjust to mundane life before the latest invasion.

Taeman recognizes that the Nathanites and Rublikites should band together to fight their common enemy, the Nau. But it takes the kidnapping of the Republikite’s archon, a group of psi warrior children, and Taemon’s solution to the Republikite’s invasion (with its biblical overtones) to alert all sides to their mutual danger.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The city of Deliverance is not safe. Both the Republikite army and the Nau seem intent on its destruction. With Taemon the only citizen left with psi (telekinetic ability), it falls to him to lead the people to safety. In the Republik, Gevri works hard to train his archon unit to defend and fight for his people. Ever since Taemon betrayed him, Gevri has single-mindedly worked toward exacting revenge on Taemon and Deliverance. Now with the Nau advancing on the Republik, the time for action seemed to be upon them. Is Gevri ready to exact his revenge, even if it comes at a high price? Will Taemon find the path he seeks - peace between the two nations?
True Son is the concluding chapter in the Psi Chronicles trilogy. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, this dystopian trilogy is a satisfying, worthwhile read.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked: True Son was a wonderful ending to an incredible trilogy. Lana Krumwiede does a fantastic job of immersing us in the world of Taemon and Gevri. The complexity of why we are loyal and what makes us feel betrayed are really well done. And there is plenty of action and tension in the plot. I wanted to linger with the characters in this story long after I finished reading the first page.

What I didn't like: Although I really enjoyed this book, I didn't feel like it was as thrilling or unique as Freakling, the first book in the series...maybe just because it's a continuation of that unique first book.


Definitely this is worth the read!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book at first. It started off pretty slow and after having a hard time getting through Archon I almost gave up on it. However, I did enjoy how the story progressed and ultimately ended. I did feel that, like the 2nd book, all the problems at the end resolved a little too easily and quickly, but it was okay. I don't think that knowing how it all came together at the end was bad for the story-- but I kind of think I liked the ending of the first book best. I think she could have left it there and called it good. But I did still enjoy the whole trilogy and would recommend it to my kids when they are a little older and looking for a fun read.

[Heather Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the Psi Chronicles, True Son continues the story of Taemon and Gevri as they work for their respective nations. The boys, once allies, are now enemies fighting to destroy each other. Then Gevri is captured by the Nau, a people determined to capture or destroy all those with psi abilities. Taemon learns the truth about Nathan’s history and the reasons behind his actions so long ago. Now Gevri and Taemon must decide what will be best for their people. But can they live with the consequences of their actions?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are some quotes:


"People can deal with almost anything when their toilets flush."

"Great leaders are comfortable with conflict....not because we enjoy it, but because we are eager to get beyond it."

"The Heart of the Earth would not tamper with free choice. If she gave him a sign, some proof that she existed, then he would have no choice but to believe. She wouldn't do that; she always let him choose. He had to make his choice first."

[Susan Bauman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed being back in the presence of these characters. The first 2/3 were great but the latter part and especially the finale fell flat and l couldn't shake that feeling that she'd just run out of time/ideas/spark??
Still being the last in the trilogy, as a reader you kind of have to see it through.

[Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really well written, futuristic book, and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick read for me, but I think what I like best about this book is that my eleven year old brother was engrossed in it and really seemed to love reading it (he's not much of a reader).

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a futuristic type of story. A man has been able to stop an invasion using telekinetic powers. Now there is another attack on the horizon. This is a futuristic story and you should read it if that appeals to you. Fairly well written.

[Becky Shaknovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in this series contains a few inconsistencies and is not as thoroughly gripping as its predecessors. Nonetheless, True Son is a solidly good read. Psi Chronicles is one of the best middle grade series I've read in years, and I will recommend it to children for years to come.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became committed to the Psi Chronicles after awarding Freakling the first book an IRA Children's Book award. True Son brings the final battle to the forefront and the discord in the family between brothers is at center stage.It was fun to watch the forces collide in this final book.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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