The Lost TreeRunner

The Justar Journal #2

by Brandt Legg

Grandyn Happerman is missing - maybe dead.
The books have all been destroyed.
But there are rumors . . . he may be alive, some books may have survived.

Click now to read the thrilling follow up to the USA TODAY Bestseller The Last Librarian.

Three years after the AOI burned the books, Grandyn Happerman is missing. For more than one thousand days, Lance Miner, Deuce Lipton, Blaise Cortez, PAWN and the AOI have been searching for him. There are rumors that some books survived, books that contain the truth. As Grandyn desperately struggles to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, he attempts to piece together the clues, which will lead to the Justar Journal.

When everything is watched and secrets are illegal, the only thing more dangerous than starting a revolution is stopping one. Allies and enemies are sometimes one and the same, and often it is hard to know the difference. One thing is certain; the AOI will not be deterred from their mission--peace at any price. Locating the books isn’t enough; they also absolutely must find the lost TreeRunner. In a world of lies, how do you know if you’ve found the truth?

This conspiracy thriller will appeal to fans of Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, Marcus Sakey, Ernest Cline, Hugh Howey, Daniel Silva, Clive Cussler, Orson Scott Card, Pierce Brown, Blake Crouch, Douglas E. Richards, A.G. Riddle, Ursula Le Guin, and Suzanne Collins.

Praise for the Justar Journal

"Pushed all the right buttons - SciFi, mystery, techno-thriller, quotes from great authors . . . "
"Fascinating, clever story reminiscent of 1984.”
“Richly deep characters. His words flow smoothly over a textured plot that's interlaced with an imaginative world of science fiction, captivating readers.”
“A complex conspiracy that kept me guessing and reading until I consumed the entire series!"
"Very engaging plot with thought provoking turns. Very exciting read.”

Find out why nearly a million copies of Brandt Legg's books have been sold/downloaded worldwide.

The complete series is available now!

THE LAST LIBRARIAN (Justar Journal #1)
THE LOST TREERUNNER (Justar Journal #2)
THE LIST KEEPERS (Justar Journal #3)

Also By Brandt Legg

CapWar ELECTION (CapStone Conspiracy #1)

CapWar EXPERIENCE (CapStone Conspiracy #2)

CapWar EMPIRE (CapStone Conspiracy #3)

The CapStone Conspiracy (books 1-3)

Cosega Search (Cosega Sequence #1

Cosega Storm (Cosega Sequence #2)

Cosega Shift (Cosega Sequence #3)

Cosega Sphere (Cosega Sequence #4)

The Cosega Sequence (books 1-3)

Outview (Inner Movement #1)

Outin (Inner Movement #2)

Outmove (Inner Movement #3)

The complete Inner Movement trilogy


Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction, Dystopia, Mystery, Books About Books, Thriller

330 pages, ebook

Published October 25, 2015

About the author

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Brandt Legg uses his unusual real life experiences to create page-turning novels. He’s traveled with CIA agents, dined with senators and congressmen, mingled with astronauts, chatted with governors and presidential candidates, had a private conversation with a Secretary of Defense he still doesn’t like to talk about, hung out with Oscar and Grammy winners, had drinks at the State Department, been pursued by tabloid reporters, and spent a birthday at the White House by invitation from the President of the United States.

At age eight, Legg's father died suddenly, plunging his family into poverty. Two years later, while suffering from crippling migraines, he started in business, and turned a hobby into a multi-million-dollar empire. National media dubbed him the “Teen Tycoon,” and by the mid-eighties, Legg was one of the top young entrepreneurs in America, appearing as high as number twenty-four on the list (when Steve Jobs was #1, Bill Gates #4, and Michael Dell #6). Legg still jokes that he should have gone into computers.

By his twenties, after years of buying and selling businesses, leveraging, and risk-taking, the high-flying Legg became ensnarled in the financial whirlwind of the junk bond eighties. The stock market crashed and a firestorm of trouble came down. The Teen Tycoon racked up more than a million dollars in legal fees, was betrayed by those closest to him, lost his entire fortune, and ended up serving time for financial improprieties.

After a year, Legg emerged from federal prison, chastened and wiser, and began anew. More than twenty-five years later, he’s now using all that hard-earned firsthand knowledge of conspiracies, corruption and high finance to weave his tales. Legg’s books pulse with authenticity.

His series have excited nearly a million readers around the world. Although he refused an offer to make a television movie about his life as a teenage millionaire, his autobiography is in the works. There has also been interest from Hollywood to turn his thrillers into films. With any luck, one day you’ll see your favorite characters on screen.

Legg now writes full time – his favorite endeavor ever! For more information, visit BrandtLegg.com, or to contact Brandt directly, email him: Brandt@BrandtLegg.com, he loves to hear from readers and always responds!

Books by Brandt Legg

CapWar ELECTION (CapStone Conspiracy #1)
CapWar EXPERIENCE (CapStone Conspiracy #2)
CapWar EMPIRE (CapStone Conspiracy #3)

COSEGA SEARCH (Cosega Sequence #1)
COSEGA STORM (Cosega Sequence #2)
COSEGA SHIFT (Cosega Sequence #3)
COSEGA SPHERE (Cosega Sequence #4)

THE LAST LIBRARIAN (Justar Journal #1)
THE LOST TREERUNNER (Justar Journal #2)
THE LIST KEEPERS (Justar Journal #3)

OUTVIEW (Inner Movement #1)
OUTIN (Inner Movement #2)
OUTMOVE (the Inner Movement #3)

Follow Brandt:

Amazon - amazon.com/author/brandtlegg
BookBub - bookbub.com/authors/brandt-legg
Twitter - twitter.com/brandtlegg
Facebook - facebook.com/brandtleggauthor

Reviews

[Niki · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's rather a disappointment compared to the first instalment - there is suspense, of course, as to know if grandyn happerman will be found by his enemies or not, but there are a few chapters containing so much new age claptrap, about prophecies and books with changing prophecies, and all that, it bored me to tears -
i hope the third instalment will sound better - up to now it's "the last librarian" that I liked

[Steve Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Justar Journal series, sees the world heading towards a war that will decimate the remaining two billion people on the planet.

A clever series that has the world's controlling powers banning and burning physical books and changing texts in ebooks to suit their own agenda, for example The Hunger Games is, in the future, a book about health and nutrition, instead of about teenagers overthrowing a corrupt government.

Unfortunately there are a lot, even too many similarities with what is actually happening in the world today.

[Quinton Young III · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard Reading

While I very much liked book 1 "The Last Librarian" this 2nd book of the series was a tough read; challenging me to quit reading and put it down many times. I can sum my thoughts up by simply stating that "The Lost Treerunner" took way too long to get to the end. Constantly reading the same ground over and over again. While it has it moments; but the ever present rehashing the same lines time and again got boring fast. The main character was killed dozens of times; but it seemed like 100's. IDK but this book 2 didn't actually accomplish anything that couldn't have been told in just 1small paragraph. I'm sorry; I truly like the author, but I was firmly disappointed in this book. I should get brownie points for finishing it. I do hope that book 3 repeats book 1; because if it doesn't get it's act together I'll never finish it !

[Brenda Westervelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

There are many surprises in this book. Must continue to book 3 to finish this story and see what new twists com3 to life.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Lost TreeRunner” continues the exciting futuristic tale of the “Justar Journal” as the AOI (Aylantic Office of Intelligence) hunts for Grandyn Happerman who with the help of the List Keepers and his duplicates stays one step ahead as he searches for the books that were moved before the library burned. With rebellion looming, the prophetic writings hidden in the books the key to winning the war, Grandyn is determined to decipher their code, and assisted by PAWN, the Creativists, and Rejectionists to end an oppressive society that kills and destroys to enforce the peace.

Set in a world of government surveillance, one currency and language and the issue of climate change, the plot heats up with schemes and betrayal as wealthy Lance Miner uses IMPS implanted with AI systems to hunt for the elusive Grandyn, and Munna the aged figurehead of the PAWN only to have to make a deal with the unpredictable and mercenary Blaise Cortez. Well-written and enthralling, intensity and suspense ramps up with the complexity of interwoven subplots like Polis Drast’s plans for a prison rebellion, and the search for Twain Lipton. With twists and turns Brandt Legg keeps you on the edge of your seat as you wonder if Grandyn will survive and the prophecy decoded as the plot rolls to a cliff-hanger at the end that begs for a third book.

Among the compelling and complex characters that bring the story to life are charismatic, intense and resourceful strategist Grandyn Happerman; the driven, ambitious and by- the-book AOI operative Ander Terik; the controlling,scheming and wealthy A-Council member Lance Miner; and the cocky, and untrustworthy Blaise Cortez.

Imaginative and filled with heart-pounding action “The Lost TreeRunner” is an intriguing second book which I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This follow up to The Last Librarian continues the story of the earth in the not so distant future which seems to be a utopia (no disease, war, pollution, overpopulation) but in fact is divided into many factions all struggling toward their own agenda. It´s pretty convoluted with all the different factions and their different goals, and it took me a few days to get through it, but I´m still interested enough to read the third volume--after a little break.

[Gini · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the second in the series to be slow reading, bookended by the first and third I totally enjoyed.

[Katheyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Lost TreeRunner” is the second book in “The Justar Journal” Trilogy by Brandt Legg and a compelling sequel to “The Last Librarian”, which chronologically takes place three years after the AOI (Aylantic Office of Intelligence) closed the last library and burned the books. Grandyn Happermann (Runit’s son) is in the run for over three month, with everyone on both sides looking for him. Grandyn is searching for the Justar Journal and the books that (allegedly) escaped the fire. The situation has escalated to a point where allies and enemies are much alike, and sometimes even have the same goals. The race to locate and saving the books evolves into a quest to find the ‘lost TreeRunner’.

The story, while being utterly enjoyable, it’s sometimes tough to read, it demands attention, the events turn and twist constantly, with ever recurring (fake) news on Grandyn’s fate, that act as a mirror image of the book’s premise on information tampering and alteration. This is the second book in the series and reminds narratively speaking of Tolkien’s ‘Two Towers’: the premises of the world have already been set on book 1 (The Last Librarian), the conclusion to the story is still to come in the final book of the trilogy (The List Keepers), the present installment manages to link both through a series of interactions and the recurring ‘search’ trope; the hunt for Grandyn, for the books, for the TreeRunner, for the truth, is a labyrinthic quest that highlights the main subject of the series: the meaning of truth.

While “The Lost TreeRunner” doesn’t reach the genius of “The Last Librarian” it offers a coherent, interesting and twisted continuation to the story and sets the ground for the events in the final book of the Trilogy.

At first look this series is a typical example of speculative fiction with some dystopian elements thrown in for good measure. At second glance, though the story delves on some very interesting ideas: the links between information and facts, propaganda, power over knowledge, etc, etc. Only five years after its initial publication, the world of electronic book has grown multifold, physical copies become scarce. Every time your Kindle ‘updates’ one of your books, the previous version is deleted forever…. this are the facts Brandt Legg is crafted his own speculative dystopian tale, and the reason why the book not only works so well but is also a very good modern version of the classical Fahrenheit 451. It’s an interesting premise, a valid one, worth the reading, and at the end of the day an interesting “fiction” story 😉

[Joseph S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series. It contains a lot of action but also contains some real warnings of how in a society those who would wield power may have new weapons to keep people wallowing in ignorance. The premise behind the book is plausible: when anything you read, including books, is in the cloud, itcan be easily edited at any time to remove any passages that could spur people to protest and oppose the government or big corporations that hold the keys to the information we need. In fact, a book you may have read may still exist as a title but may bear little resemblance to the original manuscript. The Librarians are those who are trying to save physical books, risking their lives in the process, to ensure that there will always be a physical backup of the books and other writings that have helped keep people free.

While often I find sequels to a book to be less intriguing than the original, the three books together, The Last Librarian, The Lost Treerunner, and The List Keepers, make for a rip-roaring story with an important message.

It was not lost on me that there is irony in the fact that I was reading the series on my Kindle, so who knows if someone tampered with the books I'm reading, including these! I take heart in the fact that the books are set in 2098 and we're not quite there yet, but maybe they just want us to think that this is not happening yet.

[Manie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Treerunner certainly started of rather tragically. Runit, the Last Librarian, is dead.
Or is he? But then, why would the AOI have lied about it...more so when Runit is but mention a rare few times in book 2 of the Justar series.
But now it is Grandyn that should be catching the eye, being Runit's only son. But Grandyn is nowhere to be found. Nowhere! For three years now. And that after a huge hunt that seemed to have the rebels and their plans to start a war, as was prophesied. And Grandyn was prophesied to be key to finding the prophesies forecasting how the war can be won. But then there are the chronic reports that somebody saw Grandyn.
Of course, all the books were found by the authorities and burnt.
Or were they. Deuce might just about know something more about it. But why hide this knowledge of all the leaders of the various rebel groups?
Author Brandt Legg certainly crafted a devastating questing book that keeps on the edge of your seat to try and discover what is truth and what not and what those prophecies actually said.
Enjoy.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first in this series, The Last Librarian (read my review here)even though the thought of all books being burned made my heart race and not in a good way--as you all know I am a book lover.

How Grandyn manages to escape being killed is nothing short of miraculous--you know he has to be having help. The List Keepers have been helping him--but no one else seems to know who they are, or what they stand for.

War seems inevitable--but can they stop it just in time? Will the Books that hold the key be found--will they be able to decipher it?

There are more twists and turn in this book then in the paths in the Amazonian forests!

I have the third and final book in this series and I really can't wait to find out if the world and all it's inhabitants are saved!
The Lost TreeRunner: An AOI Thriller

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sequel to a book I liked very much, The Last Librarian. Sadly, this book was nowhere near as good. It mostly hinted at some sort of metaphysical awakening that most humans have not accomplished. And I felt the author didn't play fairly with some of the early action and wound me up too many times just to write "nyah, nyah, nyah, tricked you!"

The last half finally saw some action moving the story forward. For that alone, after a good amount of thought, I decided to buy the sequel. I reminded myself that the middle book of a trilogy is often weaker.

I can recommend this only to fans of the first book of the series who are patient enough to wade through a lot of talking to get to action that moves the story forward.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book and could not wait to read this second. It could have used better editing, but overall I have enjoyed the read. Lots of info, and it gets into prophecies and other stretch the imagination stuff,but it is dystopian fiction, so it goes in! Love all the conspiracies and intrigues, it's interesting to watch how it plays out. It predates covid by a few years, so references to disease outbreaks since 2000, and leading up to worldwide pandemic was a bit unsettling (did conspiracy folks read this series?!). Anyway, I enjoy the charachters, even the bad ones! I have the last book ordered and am looking forward to reading it. This series should be made into a movie!

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE JUSTAR JOURNAL - I read The Last Librarian and the author offered me this journal. Although I seldom read this genre, these three books were worth reading. Source: The author. 4*

THE LAST LIBRARIAN, #1 - A rather intriguing read filed with interesting story lines, a variety of characters and alliances, and plenty of twists and surprises. Enjoyable and easy to read. Reminiscent of Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 51 and other books, yet able to hold its own. There are two more books and the ending of TLL sets up the second book. 4*

THE LOST TREERUNNER, #2 - Interesting page turner. 4*

THE LIST KEEPER, #3 - Interesting page turner and ending. 4*

[Dean McIntyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

THE LOST TREERUNNER (THE JUSTAR JOURNAL #2) by Brandt Legg -- Perhaps because this is the second in a series of three and I haven't read the first, this was a book I found it easy to put down and difficult to read on. Set in the year 2098, it is a time when those in authority are disposing of all print books, moving them to the Cloud where they can be edited, altered, and adapted for their own political purposes. But there are some who seek to preserve printed books and their original messages and prophecies. Seems like an undue amount of technology, language, and New Age content. Lots of action, intensity, subplots, twists, turns, and suspense for those who may enjoy dystopian thrillers.

[Angela McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable, fast paced,great book

Love this series......lots of surprises; although I am starting to be able to guess what comes next. Of course this book leaves you hanging at the end just like the first one. I at first didn't consider starting the series as it is called a "thriller" and I had thought thrillers were horror stories. Glad I gave it a chance and found no horror involved.

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot going on

I liked the story that started to unfold in book 1 so I had to read book 2. Now I'm sort of lost. Way too much going on and not a lot happening. I don't know if I'll bother with book 3. The writing is good and the story could be great but there's so much extra at play that it's hard to love. I thought I knew who I was rooting for after book 1 but now I don't know if I care at all.

[Ross Argabrite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading book 1 and book two nonstop and now most have number 3

An engaging series of books. As the story progresses you become drawn deeper and deeper into this dystopian world.
Brandt Legg has created a well fleshed world filled with believable characters that I am having no desire to stop reading about.
Fortunately there is a third book.
Definitely a 5 star reading experience.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follows the 1st vol and I think it expands on both our idea of the present, human capabilities, man's desire for power and just how people looking to get in charge will go to any extent to grab more power and get rich. Although there are many different characters and some who seem to be the person in question- but are not, this is a really involved story and also has secondary topics of books, ecology, the rain forest and technology. Now I have to read the third...,

[Robert C Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science fiction thriller

I found this book more enjoyable than the first in the series, the last librarian. Perhaps it was related in part to my increased comfort with the new world created by the author.
The characters seemed more believable as did the plot. Be prepared to stay riveted, you may not be able to put it down until you finish the book. Then you'll want the next.

[Marie Winger · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the middle book of a trilogy this one didn't have the character growth I would have expected. Our reluctant hero, Grabdyn Happerman, is reportedly killed many times as the crackdown on the rebels intensifies. Meanwhile the good guys try to find the prophecies that are supposed win them the war. I liked this one enough to get the next but not as much as the first.

[Teresa Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

The middle is always the slowest

Th his book kind of grudges along building up slowly. It's a little confusing keeping up with some of the characters. One of the characters appears to be bipolar at the very least for how he keeps changing. But I'll keep reading them to see how this transcendental piece comes together.

[Diane E]

Good sequel

In this story Grandru (?) is missing . Throughout the entire book he is sought after . Several of him died frustrating AOI, Deuce and Miner . The books /prophesies are still being looked for . So many questions and complications . To have a war or not . The strong vote is no war.

[Jon Browning · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're writing part 2 of a trilogy, I really don't think you need to write explanations of everything that happened in part 1, almost in exactly the same language, all over again.

This book should've been about 100 pages shorter, especially considering how fast we got to the rapidly wrapped up expositional conclusion.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had difficulty reading this book until the very end. I felt that the author had struggled, but the editing was better. In the first book I would read the very same words at least two times as some pages were repeated and added on at the end of a chapter. I was ready to skip the final book, until the end of book two made me want to see what happens.

[Jeanne Lambrianou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't read fast enough!

This second book in the series was faster, more tightly woven, surprising, and intense from the perspective of an avid reader. Cultural references to other books will make you want to buy and read them, to fill in your self-education. Do it! Can't wait to buy #3. Will re-buy in hard copy, and send a set to my son.

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I am freaking impressed with Grandyn, Fye, and the List Keepers. I actually loved being surprised after each capture and death of Grandyn. I REALLY loved the twist. There was also one chapter with a surprise. I can’t wait to find out how that will fit in. This is such an addicting, engrossing, and exciting story! I absolutely LOVE IT!

[Mike Brannick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Librarian continues. The same great characters. More action, more mystery. More intrigue. Some questions from the previous book are answered, more are asked. This whole series is downright scary because it's not too different, except in degree, from what's happening now. I can easily imagine much of this happening in the near future. But I sure hope none of it does.

[Dianna Steiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running

I have to say that so far...what's ride. Great characters with depth that makes you feel the limbs as the hit your face, the winds moving you ever forward. Looking forward to The List Keepers!!

[Bert DeLoach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting.

The characters are (for the most part) likeable.
The story is fast paced, and full of action. A few too many made up technical terms for my liking/easy remembrance.
All in all, an interesting read.