The Crier Stone: The Chaos Grid, Book 2

The Chaos Grid #2

by Lyndsey Lewellen, Jennifer Jill Araya (Narrator)

Brave the Plex. Unleash the stone. Embrace your destiny.

Freshly freed from an earth-dwelling monster, Juniper Conway is stuck with a promise she never intended to make. But if rescuing Plex City from a deadly nano drug is what she vowed, it’s what she’ll do.

Miles of wasteland stretch between Juniper and the domed city. In the Texas Outer Grid, following a tribe of whalers seems to be her best bet at surviving the chaotic storms. But when the nomadic tribes prove just as dangerous as the Grid itself, Juniper realizes her streak of bad luck is far from over.

Only her shipping crew friends can help her through the waste and into the Plex. When the crier stone guiding her mission only shows her fragmented steps, Juniper will need more than the stone around her neck and a halfhearted promise to make it out alive.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Retellings, Romance

Audible Audio

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Lyndsey Lewellen grew up on a healthy dose of comic books, punk music, and sci-fi. She infuses all three loves into novels written for young adults. Inside her “what if” worlds, her characters take risks, grow, and fight for what matters. When she’s not writing or whittling down her endless TBR, she designs novel covers and paints on shoes. She lives on a small Texas farm with her best friend/husband, five children, and what some might call a zoo of animals (especially after meeting the peacocks).

Reviews

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s one thing to know that we should fight for goodness… It’s another thing to know why.”

My relief at finishing The Chaos Grid and knowing a sequel was coming was great. From page one to the end of The Crier Stone, Juna's character voice shines with realness and conflict, the worldbuilding deepens and fascinates, and the stakes build and morph. Adventure, calling, courage, and mercy blaze in this sequel, and I flipped pages as fast as I could, glued to my Kindle to watch God’s providence and light overtake a city baked in darkness.

A few of the many absorbing and original things the book features:

- Cyberpunk vibes in post-apocalyptic Texas
- A colorful tribe of whalers
- The deadly and high-stakes game of Mutari (which feels like a mix of Quidditch, the Hunger Games, and VR sports)
- Mutant animals
- The crew of shippers (plus its widely-loved reflective-glasses-wearing leader)
- Juna's epic aunt and uncle
- Electrifying storms (literally)
- Food. Idiosyncratic food.
- Imaginative and conscientious symbolism for a well-known biblical account (spotting all of it was so cool)

(And. Dax and Juna. Just. Yes.)

At a few points while reading, I was a little confused about the progression of certain events or wished the scenes would slow down a bit so I could get my bearings a little more, but I still enjoyed the book very much. Like with book one, I...definitely stayed up way too late, ahaha. And I'm not ready to say goodbye to this cast of characters or this wildly creative, unpredictable, weather-torn Texas world.

The Crier Stone is abundant in action and fearless in faith. Overall, it’s a highly enjoyable finish to this duology, and I’m so excited to see what stories Lyndsey Lewellen tells next!

🔷 Being a member of the author's street crew, I received a free eARC to read and review. But all thoughts are my own! A positive review was not required. 🔷

[Allie Lynn (EquineontheMind) · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND COMPOSE MY THOUGHTS LATER BUT OH MY GOODNESS OH MY GOODNESS OH MY GOODNESSS
THE EPILOGUE
THE EPILOGUE
THE FREAKIN' WONDERFUL EPILOGUE
i have only dreamed of reading such epilogues. I write them, because I cannot find them.
I am legit crying in happiness over here.
Excuse me while I go write fanfiction.

***

*coughs* okay, I am composed.

First of all... let us give a hand to that ending. Please! I am always so annoyed when they give NO details about the characters' lives after the book and at first I was like, "oh they're just dating, I suppose that's okay"... AND THEN SHE HAD DAX PROPOSE TO JUNA AND I JUST MELTED INTO A HAPPY READER PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE AUTHORS NEVER DO THAT ANYMOREEEEEE. THEY JUST MAKE THEM BREAK UP OR DATE FOREVER OR PLAY HOUSE. LYNDSEY I WANT A CHAOTIC DAX AND JUNIPER SHIPPER WEDDING SHORT STORY PLEASSEEEEE
Duna forever.
Anyway.
THE PLOT. THE PLOTTING PLOTTY PLOT. I stayed up 'til midnight a couple times reading this. BECAUSE I HAD TO KNOW I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENSSSS.
There are a few more Enhanced vibes in this that... I was okay with? It was just a slight jolt. Especially with the Mutari tournament thing, VERY like Enhanced (btw I have nothing against Enhanced, per se, just wasn't expecting it as much.) The Mutari thing could have been foreshadowed a bit more in book 1 but as the author wasn't expecting to even WRITE a sequel, it's a forgivable mishap. Besides it was still awesome.
CHARACTERSSSSS. I'm still deciding on a ship name for Dax and Juniper. I was snort-cackling so loud at their lovely banter that I had to stuff a pillow in my mouth to avoid waking up people. Especially at this part???

“There’s one other thing I’d like to be.”
He lifts his fork to his mouth. “What’s that?”
I wait for the utensil to pass his lips, hoping to unnerve him. “A mother.”
It’s true, and the way Dax spews the synth dessert is worth every embarrassing word.
“Warn a guy, would you,” he chokes.
“What? You don’t think I’d make a good mom?”
He sets his cake down and sits back on the window seat behind me. “I doubt there’s anything you set your mind to that you can’t do. But to be a madre, someone else needs to be a padre.” His eyes glint. He’s going to get me back. “And I haven’t even taken you on our first date yet.”

*cackles* is this foreshadowing, Lyndsey?

Love all the side characters. TORI. Had no idea what to think about Tori. AND DANG FERRET JUNA'S AUNT AND UNCLE ARE AWESOME.

Love the worldbuilding. The way the author deals with trafficking is magnificent. Human trafficking is a topic very close to my heart and I enjoy seeing other authors tackle it well. Much applause *claps*

Overall... HECK PEOPLE GO BUY THIS BOOK. I am as soon as I'm finished with this rating. I NEED THESE ON MY PHYSICAL SHELF. Because this is gonna be a reread.

Now excuse me while I go make some fanart, try not to write fanfiction because I really don't have time (but I want tooooooo) and try not to turn every song I listen to into a playlist for this series.

You'd made a fangirl for life outta me, Lyndsey X'D

CONTENT WARNINGS: Mild graphic descriptions of injuries. Some slightly graphic death scenes. Characters fight in an arena type battle to the death-- mentions/descriptions of how previous players were mutilated. Scene with children being sold for organ and gene trafficking. Discussion of organ trafficking, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Descriptions of gruesome human experimentation (nothing terribly graphic though). Romantic touch/tension, but nothing too heavy (I didn't think it was worth a mention in the last book bc it was mostly banter, and it's still mostly banter here, but there is a brief description of them kissing. Nothing intense though. Dax is a gentleman XP)

[aundrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE EPILOGUEEEE ARE YOU FRRR?!? i need moreee😭
i wish we had more moments of just juna and dax together 😭😭

i definitely enjoyed this book a lot! it was very fast paced and i really like the setting, but i feel like things happened *too* fast. esp at the end when everything got solved?? how did so much get fixed in so little time?

also i really can’t remember if mutari was mentioned in book 1, but the sudden “mc thrown into a game” was lowkey a jump scare. i think powerless gave me trauma.

other than that, i wish things were explained a little more like about dax’s eye tech, how tori was able to do what she did, how the rangers operate, how the stone works, etc. but i really liked it nonetheless!

AND AGAIN THE EPILOGUE—thank you for that. i would have died without it 😓
3.5 rounded up <33

OH! and thank you again for the ARC🤭

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher for being on the publisher’s street team. I was not required to read or review this book. The following review is my honest opinion.

HEADS UP FOR POTENTIAL SPOILERS FOR BOOK 1. Book 2 happens directly after Book 1, so it’s nearly impossible not to talk any spoilers. I’ll do my best, though.

First of all, let me just say that I was very happy to get an ARC copy of this book! I read the first book of the duology, “The Chaos Grid,” last year and honestly loved it a lot more than I expected to. (Dystopians are hit-or-miss for me, and I wasn’t sure if Chaos Grid was going to work for me or not, due to some comparisons to “Mad Max” which is a movie franchise I’ve never been interested in. It worked, though!) The publisher and author didn’t reveal that it was a retelling of Jonah set in futuristic Texas until after the book was out and readers started discovering that for themselves, so that was fun to figure out on my own. It still blows my mind that book one was originally meant to be a stand-alone and the sequel only got written after readers asked for it! I’m so glad that the author agreed because this sequel was even better than the first one. So many beautiful themes of God’s mercy and redemption, even when people don’t deserve it. That was present in the first book as well, but it was even stronger here.

While it was tough to read about the awful things happening inside the dome, I think it was accurate and appropriate that the author showed the reader why Juniper would feel that the dome didn’t deserve redemption. But as she learns in the story, God’s mercy runs deep. He won’t let injustice go on forever, but He will give people a chance to change before bringing down judgement. I’m glad that the author didn’t shy away from the part reflecting where Jonah was mad that the city of Nineveh ultimately was redeemed. I’d wondered if she’d go there or not, and she did. I think it was the right choice, and handled very well, in a way that reminds us that God sees so much farther than we do and values every life.

Speaking of every life, there were many side characters here that I loved so much. Characters that I’d met before, as well as new characters. I appreciated seeing the whaler culture developed a bit more, for one thing. While they were an odd folk, it added a lot to the depth of the story world to see their culture and how people survive out in the Grid, even when they can’t use city tech. There were also some twists that Juniper discovered out there that really took me by surprise, and then later, a big twist with meeting a new character who I ended up loving so much, and I was very glad that this individual was different from what I expected.

The wrap up of the whole story was great, too. the epilogue was the kind that has me happily sighing and wanting to hug the characters.

I wish I could say more, but I just don’t want to spoil the ride for anyone, because it’s very exciting and fun! When the book comes out on July 8th (I’m posting this on June 21) I hope you’ll get a copy and enjoy the conclusion of this story as much as I did!

Content Advisory:

Language:

None.

Violence/Scariness:

Weather, mutant animals, and people threaten our main characters with harm throughout.

Some scifi bugs sting Juniper’s hand. Pain and wounds described, as well as the fear that she might lose the hand. While her hand is saved, her pain and wounds continue to get described periodically as it heals.

Juniper sees some people laying on a floor and fears they might be dead, but they’re only injured. (Barely described.)

We get some flashbacks of Juniper’s childhood where we learn of the damage that Freemens did to her at the young age of 7. This includes her apparently having jumped out of a window in madness (not described, though she was, apparently, injured.) and at one point, she threated and injured her own father’s arm with a piece of glass. (Barely described. Blood mentioned.)

Some people get attacked by and fend off mutant buzzards. (A little described, including a buzzard falling and hitting the ground far below.)

An adult man who is juiced up on a high dose of Freemens attacks several people. There are some deaths with brief description of blood, but nothing graphic or gross. Someone gets their robot arm ripped off (oil leaks, not blood.) The man throws things and nearly injures a child by throwing something at a glass screen and shattering it. (The child is saved.) The man gets killed off the page with no description, but Juniper sees his body on the ground with blood under it.

There are multiple references to the death of Juniper’s parents, but it isn’t described at all.

Mention that when the government sentences someone for a crime, they take away any technological body implants that the person had, even if they had cybernetic eyes or some such thing. (The taking away isn’t described, Juniper just meets some people who have been rendered blind or without a limb.) We also learn that some people get sent to labs for experimentation.

Juniper witnesses one such lab-sentenced character getting numbing injections beside their eyes in preparation for experiments. This is described. There are brief mentions of blood, but the experiments don't happen because the person gets rescued.

The things we learn about the way children are sometimes treated in the domed city can be conceptually disturbing, though they’re never discribed. We learn that many children are being trafficked for their organs and for technological experimentation. Some of these children were kidnapped, but many were sold by their own parents for things as frivolous as financing a vacation. Again, nothing that is done to the children after being sold or kidnapped is described, but Juniper does see terrified children inside one business who are there to be bought and sold. She also sees some people floating in liquid inside tubes and later learns that these are likely people who have been held captive since childhood and experimented on their entire lives. Many of these same children are set free by the end.

A man uses technology that allows him to somehow see people’s past. The “how” of this isn’t explained at all, but both Juniper and someone else get their hand painfully jabbed by the guy’s tech that allows him to do this, and there’s mention of their hands bleeding from it.

The most violent part of the book is a couple chapters of a survival game that has been referenced in passing in both books of this duology. Juniper tells us it’s so violent that her parents, aunt, and uncle wouldn’t let her watch it as a kid, but she heard talk at school and clips from ads that made it clear that the contestants can lose limbs and even die. (Not described.) Someone ends up in the game near the end of the book and lots of injuries happen to the team. Someone gets a hole in the leg from a cutting laser (wound not described.) Someone else gets a cut on the shoulder from the same thing. Someone nearly drowns in sand. Mutant creatures attack and nearly kill some people. Someone does end up dying (not gross, they just stop breathing.) Some distressing moments happen as someone gets clawed by a woman with claw implants. (Described, but only very briefly, without much. Mention of lots of blood, though.) And someone gets stabbed in the gut. (Not described beyond the action itself.) A lot of lives get saved before the end, though.

Sexual/Romance:

Juniper and Dax’s attraction continues, but it’s all very chaste and appropriate. There are a couple of kisses, both only briefly described.

Spiritual:

This is scifi, so there is no magic. As stated with the previous book, there is a loose retelling of Jonah going on here, where God gave Juniper a vision of a city’s fiery destruction and called her to help give the city a second chance. Juniper hears God speak in her mind a couple times, mainly saying similar things to what was said to Jonah. She has a couple more visions, too.

At one point, the technology mentioned in the violence section that allows this one guy to see images from people’s pasts allows Juniper and a lot of other people to visually watch a replay of what Juniper went through inside the mouth of the Grid Beast that swallowed her. Most of it is images seen by her own eyes, but then a miracle seems to occur and allows her to see something that happened while her eyes were closed, praying: White smoke rises and a figure appears(not described other than that the figure seems to be male, and I personally interpreted as being a Christ-like figure) and touches the bird that was with Juniper, giving it renewed energy and prompting it to vomit up the device that allowed Juniper to make the Grid Beast spit her out.

As with Jonah’s tale in the Bible, God’s mercy and redemption are talked about and acted out here, and the city is eventually redeemed.

Other:

As stated previously, there is substance use here of a scifi drug called Freemens that makes people act psychotic. The majority of people in the city dome have an addiction to it. The usage of it (eaten in packed form) is described in the case of the man who took too much and attacked some city officials. The drug taken in extremely high dosages seems to cause people to gain extreme strength and invincibility.

Juniper sees an ad that even encourages people to give Freemens to children to boost their performance in school. She witnesses several adults take it, too.

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed a lot about this book. I really loved book 1 on my recent reread, so I dove into this one as soon as it came out, and there was a lot to love here. Overall, though, I felt it leaned too heavily on normal dystopian tropes as compared to the original book. If you like a traditional dystopia with western elements: This is your series. Truly. (And Dax is a legend. I adored him).

[Courtney Ranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long since I've read a true YA book, and I've missed it!!!!!!!!!!! In Lyndsey Lewellen's The Crier Stone, she crafts a wonderful story with compelling characters and great themes.

Juniper is quite the protagonist. I love watching as she learns to accept God's will and how she learns she can't do things halfway. Her ingenuity combined with her compassion make her such a great character that I loved rooting for.

Dax is my favorite character. He is SUCH A sweetheart. I. NEED. MORE. SCENES. WITH. DAX. Seriously, the biggest thing that could've made this book better was more scenes with Dax. I love how he looks out for those he cares about and has such a strong sense of justice.

The worldbuilding in this book was great and reminded me of a mix between Brandon Mull's Five Kingdoms series and Star Wars. I'd love getting to explore this world in real life!!!

I don't want to spoil anything, but some of the Biblical references in this book were done just beautifully!!!!

Overall, if you enjoy YA sci fi dystopian novels, this book would be right up your alley!!!

I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A Positive review was not required.

[Madelyn Cable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys I just finished this book and I am so happy to share my honest review about it!

This was the best conclusion to The Chaos Grid series! I did pre-order this book but I was to excited to wait for it to come in. The day it came out I started it, this is defiantly one of the best series I have ever read and I highly recommend it! There is no language, no spice, and the characters and just *chefs kiss* the plot is fantastic. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know the whole thing is basically a ‘Jonah and the Whale’ Sifi remix until Juna got eaten by the Grid Beast in the first book….*awkward laugh* and the relationship between Dax and Juna was also *chefs kiss* as soon as he showed up in this book I might have overreacted just a little….. just ask my siblings they came to my room to see why I was screaming YESSSSS! over and over 😅😅

Somebody give this book an award 🥇 five stars NO QUESTION! One last HUGE thing about this book is it’s Christian!!! I have never read a sifi book I liked this much and the cherry and sprinkles on top was it is all for the glory of God! Love you Lyndsey!! Keep writing plssssss!

—Madelyn

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chaos Grid was thoroughly enjoyable, and I honestly felt that it could have worked as a standalone novel, even though part of me wanted more of the story. I’m so glad Lewellen didn’t leave it there. The Crier Stone is a phenomenal sequel, improving on its already excellent predecessor in almost every way. We are thrown right back into Juna’s story where we parted from her at the end of that first book. From the very first page of The Crier Stone, the pace is fast and the plot is tense. There is a depth here that was hinted at in The Chaos Grid without being fully realized, in terms of character development and worldbuilding and the underlying tale of faith at its core. I was enraptured from start to beautiful finish.

After the events of book one, Juna vows to God that she will try to warn and help the people of the Plex escape their imminent demise. She still despises them, but she’s determined to honor that promise. We join back up with her still in the Grid, journeying through its wasteland in search of some way to return to the city she hates. It’s here that we have our first extended stay with the whalers, instead of just seeing them from the periphery. Theirs is an interesting, dangerous, nomadic life. And it’s one that puts Juna and people she’s come to love in even more danger. From there, we come in greater contact with Plex City and the horrors within its domed walls masquerading as conveniences and progress. Said horrors come to a head in the form of the Mutari--a horrific team-based porting game with seriously high stakes. It is through Juna’s trials in the Plex that we see some of the themes come into play, from subtler threads regarding sanctity of life to the more overt displays of sacrificial substitution, whether for friendship or love or just because it's the right thing to do.

“All I’ve done since stepping into the domes is wing it. I pray to God and He listens, but am I going to Him only to ask for an easy way out of trouble?”

The faith element comes more into play in this installment, underscoring those aforementioned themes in ways that make them more substantial. Juna’s deepening relationship with God—even in the face of her fears and frustrations concerning the people she’s been sent to warn—feels real, and vital to her story. Even Juna’s bathophobia, her debilitating fear of depths, becomes something God uses to grow her faith in Him. The biblical Book of Jonah ends on a question and offers no resolution to Jonah's bitterness. The Crier Stone goes beyond that, giving not only some God-displayed explanations but also growth and healing and repentance.

The Crier Stone and The Chaos Grid both brought to mind other larger-than-life stories, especially when paired. This is, of course, a retelling of the Book of Jonah, first and foremost. But Lewellen’s choice to house that retelling within a high-octane, post-apocalyptic, dystopian Texas was a stroke of genius. If you love Mad Max, Blade Runner, Divergent, The Maze Runner, or all of the above, you’re going to love this duology.

"I don’t have all the power. And I don’t know what goes on everywhere. But I do know there’s One out there who exposed the darkness of an entire city by using a tragic girl and her bad luck bird. For me, that’s enough to trust Him.”

[Norah Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book as a part of the publisher’s street team, but was not required to leave a positive review. This review is purely my honest thoughts and reactions to this book.

What a rollicking adventure! I read both The Chaos Grid and The Crier Stone in the span of a few days. Suffice to say, I was hooked! Out of this duology, the Crier Stone emerged as my favorite of the two.

This book picks up right were The Chaos Grid leaves off, and sweeps the reader off into more of Juniper’s trials. Once again, I was blown away by the worldbuilding; as a Star Wars fan, I loved how this story gave off some Coruscant/Tatooine vibes. I also loved all the twists in this story, and how they continually forced Juniper to reframe her views on the other characters she interacts with. Additionally, I love how Juniper’s faith is so apparent in this story. It certainly highlights her growth from the first book, and I loved watching how she continued to grow in this one.

I highly recommend this book (and series!) for anyone looking for a fast-paced read with cyberpunk and Star Wars vibes!

[Lou Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story Enjoyment Rating: 9.5/10 Christian Faith Rating: 3/3

I recently finished listening to The Crier Stone by Lindsey Lewellen, the second book in a duology that began with The Chaos Grid. This book—and indeed the whole series—was thoroughly enjoyable.
The Crier Stone is a Christian futuristic dystopian sci-fi thriller. I particularly loved how it retells the Bible story of Jonah across both books of the duology. It doesn’t shy away from its Christian roots, with clear mentions of God, characters speaking to God, and an exploration of belief in God—all while staying very true to the message of the biblical book. Unlike some fantasy, where religious concepts might be allegorical, here—because it’s futuristic rather than fantasy—the author directly addresses God, making it very clearly inspirational Christian or religious fiction.
The world-building is very imaginative. The setting is a dystopian future where cities exist within controlled domes, featuring advanced technology and regulated climates. Outside these domes lies “the grid,” a sort of wild west filled with monsters, beasts, and strange weather formations. The main character, Juniper, lives with her aunt and uncle after her parents’ death. They want her to return to the place of her childhood where her parents died, but she really doesn’t want to. So she runs away and becomes part of a shipping crew hauling goods across the grid outside the domes.
I found myself fully immersed in the audiobook, even though it’s written in first-person present tense. Juniper as a character was great; I liked her feistiness and her emotional journey. The book also weaves in strong elements of mystery and suspense, with twists and turns that make you question who is good and who is bad, much like a thriller. It blends sci-fi elements—the technology and the creative monsters—with dystopian and Christian themes.

[Hailey Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

(probably closer to a 3.5, rounded up)

The Crier Stone picks up right after The Chaos Grid, so you might want to refresh yourself on the first book if it's been a while. I will preface that I only did a very brief refresher before reading The Crier Stone, which may have affected how much I resonated with parts of the book.

Juna has a very authentic feeling character voice. All of the other characters from The Chaos Grid also make appearances, with varying amounts of page time. I wish Tori had been given a little bit more page time to fully explain her backstory and time with the Rangers. Some of that might have not made sense to be though since it's been over a year since I read The Chaos Grid

While The Chaos Grid explored the wasteland of the dystopian Texas, The Crier Stone ventures into the heart of the futuristic cities. I appreciated the new worldbuilding that Lewellen introduced and the new areas explored.

Since the plot of the duology mirrors that of the biblical story of Jonah, the ultimate outcome of the story is a little predictable if you're familiar with the Bible. However, Lewellen still inserts plenty of twists along the way.

Cautions: moderate romance; one kiss; mentions of organ trafficking children; brief recollection of an attempted assault in the first book; brief moderate/heavy violence *

*it's been a little bit since I finished The Crier Stone, so I may have forgotten a caution

(I received an eARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

[Beilby_Book_Nook Bekki Beilby · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is, if Lyndsey Lewellen writes it, I will read it! This was a fantastic, action packed, satisfying sequel to the first book The Chaos Grid. If you have read the first book, you won’t want to miss out on this excellent conclusion. The Chaos Grid was all about the survival of those who live in the outer Grid. The Crier Stone brings us full circle as Juniper has to brave the storm of the Plex and make her decision if she will use the crier stone and help the undeserving people living in the corrupt domes.

The main cast of characters from the first book rejoined Juniper, and I was so happy to get to see how their stories all played out as well. Again, expert level world building, well thought out technology, and edge of my seat action scenes. The biblical themes and reference to a well known bible story are seamlessly woven into the entire plot.

The Crier Stone has major Marvel vibes, Blade Runner action, epic world building, a deadly obstacle course style game, unlikely friendships, faith, slow burn romance and found family. I highly recommend reading The Chaos Grid and The Crier Stone if you are into intense sci-fi Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy from Lyndsey Lewellen and Enclave Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these books! I have purchased both. Highly recommend. I love the retelling of the story of Jonah. It’s great!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonstop super fun action. Characters you can't help but love. A sequel that exceeds expectations. The Crier Stone has it all.

[Stevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyber punk meets squid game. The stakes are high, the story is fast paced and fun! Love the creative world with the Jonah allegory. The love story is adorable. All around great time.

[Kailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was great! I couldn’t put it down! I ended up reading it in one day! This book was so well written and the descriptions were so vivid that I had to stop during a pretty tense part to take a break before diving back in. It was the perfect companion to The Chaos Grid. Both books had such a great message in them. I can’t wait to read it again!


I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Jamie Gordy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Lyndsey Lewellen and Enclave Escape for a sending me an eARC of this novel. All of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Juna was swallowed by the terra cetus. Every one thought that she was dead, but three days later she was spit out right where two of her friends could find her. They then set out to find the farm but instead find the whalers, and eventually Dax finds them. Crazy situations send Dax and Juna back to the Plex, which is exactly where Juna has vowed to go anyway. Once there, many more things happen for Juna to get the attention of the people.

I love that Lyndsey Lewellen has created a world similar to Divergent and The Maze Runner and even The Hunger Games (in certain parts), but with God trying to get the people’s attention. This book definitely kept my attention, especially once Juna and Dax made it back to the plex. Things move from one quick escape to another. I absolutely enjoyed the pacing.

One minor complaint was that I felt like a couple of the characters stories needed a bit more detail. (Maybe that will mean something later 😉.) For example, Eventually, we learn more about Dax’s sister Nova, but Astrid’s fate is a little unclear. Also, the game confused me just a wee bit. (I will read and listen to this book again to clarify all those things.) This is very very minor, but at one point the book mentions that Tori has a defect. This might be meant tongue in cheek or it might be meant that she literally had a disease. I would have liked to have seen this expounded on a bit more. These are all very minor things, but just things I would have liked more information on!

Overall, this book is so well done. Lyndsey did such a wonderful job creating this crazy Texas World of the future. It has all the great things a sci-fi book needs. It checks all the boxes: crazy weird technology, world domination by a tech company, outlandish fashion and genetic engineering.

This book would be a great book for the junior high school or high school student looking dystopian books without all of the negativity of books from the mainstream publishers. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a Sci-Fi book to enjoy- especially if they enjoy Biblical retellings. People opposed to a lot of violence or that don’t like blatant faith in their reading might not like this one.

[JJ Brunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Was. Everything.

I devoured the Crier Stone and wowww, what a ride! I was completely obsessed with the Chaos Grid, and this one is just the crowning glory.

The plot twists kept coming, even though I was confident everything would end well, I was unprepared for each layer of plot. I’m normally dead silent while I read, but on more than one occasion, I let out an audible reaction. The Crier stone was nothing short of exhilarating with its perfect balance of constant action, fascinating tech, and fervent moments.

Also, the romance was✨ perfection ✨ I felt every pained and relieved and intense emotion between Juna and Dax. And the teasing dialogue between them gave me aaalllll of the giddy happy feelings~
I loved getting to explore more about Dax’s backstory, and tying his present character to the events throughout his life. With the city-scape cover, I wasn’t expecting to receive more Whaler culture, but it was a…well, not quite “pleasant,” but a gripping experience.

I am EXTREMELY glad Tori’s friendship with Juna wasn’t a total ruse, I had been holding out for her redemption, explanation—anything really—and thank goodness I got it. What bits of Tori’s story were given anguished me. (Also Two-Heads, I’m so happy Juna got Two-Heads back.)

Juna’s journey as a reluctant hero truly invigorates me with the desire to walk in discipline with the Lord, to trust Him and His greater knowledge. The extent of God’s mercy was beautifully translated throughout the story.

Lyndsey Lewellen kept me waiting for this sequel far too long, but it was SO worth it.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crier Stone is the sequel to Lyndsey Lewellen’s young adult dystopian novel The Chaos Grid. I enjoyed the story but wish Lewellen had included a synopsis of the first book to refresh my memory of that had previously occurred. The books are well-written and I was able to remember some details but it would have been helpful to have a “previously in” section.
Readers will follow Juniper and her friends as they try to survive (and combat) the evil forces which rule the world where they live. The setting is a dystopian Texas. While it isn’t always mentioned and doesn’t seem to be at the forefront of Juniper’s thinking, there is a reliance on God throughout the book.
I recommend reading the two books in order so that you will better understand the plot.
Teens will enjoy this book. The main characters are all teens. There is a little bit of romance thrown in. There is danger and survival.
I would have no problem placing it in a K-12 Christian school library. It is appropriate for middle and high school-age teens.
I received a complimentary copy of The Crier Stone. This is my honest review.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an action packed dystopian and science fiction novel. Lewellyn has quite an imagination and takes readers on an adventure with Juna where she faces a variety of challenges and obstacles. There is all kinds of advanced technology and many dangerous beasts too. There is also an evil ruling group Juna must battle. There are plenty of twists and interesting activities Juna experiences. Events reveal that friends may be enemies or actually vice versa. Loyalty is tested over and over and Juna must rely on the help of others to succeed.

This adventure gives readers a sense of what it means to follow God's direction even when you don't want to, even when the ones you are to go to are the ones who killed your parents and are doing other horrible things. I must admit I could not visualize all of the events as so much was going on in each scene. I do think this would be a good book for young adult readers, however. I have read both books in the series but felt this one read relatively well on its own.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Chloë Mali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely should have reread book one before reading this one 😂 Despite having a foggy memory, I did enjoy this one a lot!

[Jessica Gwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited for The Crier Stone for a while and it was worth it. Juniper is one of the funnest characters I’ve read. I loved the cyberpunk dystopian world and couldn’t get enough of the story. I didn’t know how things would end up but I enjoyed every twist and stayed up reading much later than was smart.

[Lizzy Hite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am SO GLAD this book exists. After The Chaos Grid, I had so many questions that I needed answers to, and this sequel answered them fantastically. Absolutely recommend!!

~~I received an early copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a positive review.~~

[Donnesa McPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story about a tragic girl who found herself running from a calling she fought against that mirrors the story of Jonah, instead of a whale there are grid beasts, the Texas desert extreme mode, and a snarky, unlucky bird to round everything out. Besides redemption, faith and hope build as Lyndsey Lewellyn weaves the story of the wayward son and a love like Jesus throughout. This book is a must read following The Chaos Grid with a dangerous game, like Squid Games, and squads that could take on those in Mad Max. I don’t have enough words for how amazing this book is 💪😎🍔

(I received an EARC copy of The Crier Stone from the author for an honest review, and here it is!)

[Samantha Mendell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️s! This sequel was just as fast paced and high stakes as the first installment in the duology. That ending?! PERFECT.🥹

This one picks up immediately after book one and throws you right into the adventure. If you haven’t read The Chaos Grid in a while, I highly recommend rereading before starting this one.

Excellent, excellent job by Lewellen, who will now be an auto-buy author for me.👏🏽

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an epic sequel to The Chaos Grid! This high-stakes story exceeded all my expectations! I was hooked from the very first sentence and flew through the pages. The lightning-fast pace had me catching my breath as I tried to keep up!

The worldbuilding in this series is fantastic! As a lifelong Texas native, it’s been really interesting to see this possible future! Slightly terrifying too, lol!

I loved how, despite all the dangerous and crazy things Juna encountered, she still trusted God and His plans. She might not have understood why He was calling her to do it, but she knew there was a purpose to it all. I absolutely loved seeing that kind of strong faith!

This is one of the most imaginative dystopias that I’ve read. If you’re a fan of this genre, pick up a copy of this series! You won’t be disappointed. Be sure to start with book one.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

[Suzanne Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fasten Your Seat Belts!

In Lyndsey Lewellen’s first YA dystopian sci-fi book, The Chaos Grid, she took us through a Mad Max type ride through 2224 Texas, complete with weather fluxes and strange monster-like creatures. In the second book of this duology, THE CRIER STONE, her main character Juna must face her worst fears in the domed cities of the Plex.

If you love page-turning, non-stop action, and a cast of characters who will have you rooting for them every step of the way, you’re going to love this book and all its Blade Runner vibes. Be warned, the rollercoaster ride to the climax of this book will have you holding onto your seat and catching your breath.

Can’t wait for more books by Ms. Lewellen.

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zinnia Peanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Chaos Grid, I loved the whole story of how Juna is like Jonah from the Bible, and this book was a continuation of that, but I felt like it wasn't as Biblically... interesting? That's a terrible way of putting it, but I do wish it had more details on the plot, rather than just how she was thinking. I mean it was like Jonah, but still.
I absolutely loveeeee Dax and was worried the whole time him and Juna where going to have a miscommunication (trust me, I hate that trope), but they didn't, so that made me so happy. The book was such a great ending to the duology, even though I wish there would be more. Loved the whole plot (despite how it felt like it was missing something).
There were a few things that kind of seemed all over the place, and were a bit confusing, and some things I felt didn't get resolved, but nothing too big or cliffhanger-y.
Despite the small things I "didn't like", I loved this book so much gaaaaaaaahhh!!!!!! Please go read this series so I can talk about it with someone

[Kelly Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Crier Stone is a gripping YA dystopian adventure that blends high stakes action with deep character exploration. Lyndsey Lewellen crafts a world both perilous and vivid, where survival depends as much on courage and ingenuity as it does on loyalty and trust. Juniper Conway’s journey through the Texas Outer Grid, guided by a mysterious crier stone, captivates with suspense, moral dilemmas, and unexpected alliances.

A must read for fans of dystopian fiction, adventure-driven YA, and stories where heart and action collide.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

They took it all, now she must save them....

When I finished The Chaos Grid I thought it was a one off. Though, I certainly wanted more of the fascinating characters and futuristic Texas, I figured the story was complete. And then I saw The Crier Stone and it immediately shot way up and took a top spot spot my rather long want to read list.

And, oh, did it live up to expectation and then some! Lyndsey Lewellen deposited me back into her exquisitely crafted world of 2-headed birds, domed cities, teleportation, stunning tech, holographic clothing, robots, and oddly enough, purple cats. I couldn't put it down. All of the things that I needed to get done? Yeah, none of those things were actually done. Oh well, I had something more important to do. I had to 'help' Juniper save the Plex, her friends, and maybe her own life.

While this book is intended for a YA audience, probably middle to older end of the scale, as 30-something reader I still loved it. As I mentioned before, Lyndsey Lewellen is very skillful in her worldbuilding. She gives enough description to immerse the reader while still allowing the reader's own imagination to soar while visualizing each page. I was quite invested in this story as well. The wild differences in landscape between the desolate Grid and the glittering, though vicious, Plex provide the perfect backdrop for Juniper's emotional struggles as she grapples with 2 things that we humans find difficult – forgiveness and mercy. Wrapped within this futuristic fantasy novel is the retelling of a well known story and I found that reimagining to be very well done indeed.

Full of danger and adventure, The Crier Stone was an excellent read that I wholeheartedly give 5 stars. It is easily one of my favorite reads so far for this year. Now that I've read it, and The Chaos Grid, I will be intensely anticipating more from this author. Pretty much, ifI see her name on it I will read it....

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)