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Face-to-face with her past, Audra Ellison now knows the secret she gave up everything—including her memory—to protect. A secret made vulnerable by her rediscovery, and so powerful neither the Historian nor the traitor Prince Nikola will ever let her live to keep it.
With Luka in the Historian’s custody and the clock ticking down on his life, Audra only has one impossible chance: find and kill the Historian and end the centuries old war between the Progeny and Scions at last—all while running from the law and struggling to control her growing powers.
With the help of a heretic monk and her Progeny friends Claudia, Piotrek, and Jester, Audra will risk all she holds dear in a final bid to save them all and put her powers to the ultimate test.
With Luka in the Historian’s custody and the clock ticking down on his life, Audra only has one impossible chance: find and kill the Historian and end the centuries old war between the Progeny and Scions at last—all while running from the law and struggling to control her growing powers.
With the help of a heretic monk and her Progeny friends Claudia, Piotrek, and Jester, Audra will risk all she holds dear in a final bid to save them all and put her powers to the ultimate test.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2017
57 people are currently reading
2251 people want to read
About the author
Tosca Lee
24 books3,369 followers"Superior storytelling."
-Publishers Weekly starred review
Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, Havah: The Story of Eve, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, The Long March Home (with New York Times bestselling author Marcus Brotherton) and others. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and been optioned for TV and film.
She is the recipient of three International Book Awards, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion, ECPA Book of the Year, and the Nebraska Book Award, and has finaled for numerous others including the Library of Virginia People's Choice Award, the High Plains Book Award, a second Silver Falchion, a second ECPA Book of the Year, and the Christy. The Line Between was a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery/Thriller of 2019.
You can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the nearest snack table. To learn more, please visit ToscaLee.com
For book release news and giveaways, join Tosca Lee's Nocturnal Cafe.
-Publishers Weekly starred review
Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, Havah: The Story of Eve, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, The Long March Home (with New York Times bestselling author Marcus Brotherton) and others. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages and been optioned for TV and film.
She is the recipient of three International Book Awards, Killer Nashville's Silver Falchion, ECPA Book of the Year, and the Nebraska Book Award, and has finaled for numerous others including the Library of Virginia People's Choice Award, the High Plains Book Award, a second Silver Falchion, a second ECPA Book of the Year, and the Christy. The Line Between was a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery/Thriller of 2019.
You can find Tosca at ToscaLee.com, on social media, or hanging around the nearest snack table. To learn more, please visit ToscaLee.com
For book release news and giveaways, join Tosca Lee's Nocturnal Cafe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
April 23, 2017
Not a huge fan of this cover. It's a little TOO busy in my opinion. I much prefer the cover for book one.
After I finished book one (The Progeny) last year I wanted to cry over the cliffhanger we were left with. Now finally a year later we have book two. And I LOVED it. Not as much as book one, but it was still a phenomenal follow-up (conclusion??) to this series. 
Again we have the same fantastic writing. Crazy breakneck pace (more about this in a minute). Twists and turns. Great main characters and an excellent array of secondary characters. So what not 5-Stars? This one had a little less "meat" if you will. The pace was SO fast it was RUN RUN RUN for the entire book. I missed the history and background the first book had. Everything from the characters, the history, even the romance between Audra and Luka seemed to take a backseat to the action. That certainly wasn't a bad thing per se, just made this one slightly less preferable to the first.
That said this one was still a fabulous read. I am not sure if there will be more in this series. I hope so. We are saved from a crazy cliffy, but it still felt like there was more story yet to be told as there were a few loose ends still flapping in the wind. All in all two thumbs up from your truly!
June 12, 2017
Full review now posted!
Original review can be found at Booknest.
It’s always fun to find a duology. They are one of the more uncommon story forms, and I think that’s sad. It’s an under appreciated method of storytelling, and I’m excited to seem more of them being written. I didn’t know going into The Progeny that it was the first of a duology, so that was a pleasant surprise. Firstborn was actually more enjoyable and faster paced than its predecessor, which was a surprise.
Again, Lee’s work was better than I expected. As with the first book of this duology, it took me a little while to get into, or in this case back into, the story. Once again, I failed to connect with the characters until almost midway into the book. There is a memory sequence around the middle of the story that made the main characters feel much more real. And once I did connect thanks to this memory sequence, I was invested until the end. Like, read the last two hundred pages in a couple of hours without blinking levels of invested.
Even though I did end up really enjoying this duology, I still didn’t love it. And the main reason for that is that I believe this story would actually work better as a movie. Which is weird for me to say, since I almost always prefer books to movies. But I feel like the plot and the action would’ve just been more successfully communicated through film than through the written word.
That being said, this was an enjoyable read. Fast-paced and intense with a healthy helping of romance. It was almost like a (loosely) Christian version of The Da Vinci Code or something. If you’re looking for a fun, edge-of-your-seat adventure this summer, Tosca Lee’s series is well worth your consideration.
Original review can be found at Booknest.
It’s always fun to find a duology. They are one of the more uncommon story forms, and I think that’s sad. It’s an under appreciated method of storytelling, and I’m excited to seem more of them being written. I didn’t know going into The Progeny that it was the first of a duology, so that was a pleasant surprise. Firstborn was actually more enjoyable and faster paced than its predecessor, which was a surprise.
Again, Lee’s work was better than I expected. As with the first book of this duology, it took me a little while to get into, or in this case back into, the story. Once again, I failed to connect with the characters until almost midway into the book. There is a memory sequence around the middle of the story that made the main characters feel much more real. And once I did connect thanks to this memory sequence, I was invested until the end. Like, read the last two hundred pages in a couple of hours without blinking levels of invested.
Even though I did end up really enjoying this duology, I still didn’t love it. And the main reason for that is that I believe this story would actually work better as a movie. Which is weird for me to say, since I almost always prefer books to movies. But I feel like the plot and the action would’ve just been more successfully communicated through film than through the written word.
That being said, this was an enjoyable read. Fast-paced and intense with a healthy helping of romance. It was almost like a (loosely) Christian version of The Da Vinci Code or something. If you’re looking for a fun, edge-of-your-seat adventure this summer, Tosca Lee’s series is well worth your consideration.
January 3, 2017
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
So, I'm a big fan of Tosca Lee, and loved the first book in the series, The Progeny, was very good. This second book was kind of disappointing. I don't know if it was the time between the first volume and this one, but I felt lost for most of the book. Aside from a few surprises, it felt like I was stuck in a game of World of Warcraft: running, running, running, talk a few minutes, running, running running, talk a few minutes... you get the idea.
I'll probably reread this series from the start when the final book is released. There's too much story/plot to lose waiting for the next volume to be published.
So, I'm a big fan of Tosca Lee, and loved the first book in the series, The Progeny, was very good. This second book was kind of disappointing. I don't know if it was the time between the first volume and this one, but I felt lost for most of the book. Aside from a few surprises, it felt like I was stuck in a game of World of Warcraft: running, running, running, talk a few minutes, running, running running, talk a few minutes... you get the idea.
I'll probably reread this series from the start when the final book is released. There's too much story/plot to lose waiting for the next volume to be published.
December 18, 2017
I can't tell you how excited I was to finally get my hands on a copy of this book. There were so many questions left by the first book that I just needed to be answered. And boy was this one a whirlwind of a story.
The settings (and clothing) were once again beautifully laid out. And the pacing of this book, holy cow, you could never stop to breathe. The action, and hits, just kept on coming.
I struggled a bit with the pacing because of that. At points, the continues running got repetitive and frustrating. I wanted to learn things and get to know the characters but it never felt like I did. I wanted to make connections that never felt fully flushed out. Everything felt surface level.
While the story did get rounded out there were still some ends that I wanted to be wrapped up, or just further information on. It all felt so open-ended. And I guess to some extent that is what life is, but here it left me a little bereft. All this build up and then... well one simple thing and that was it.
Now I do like some of the things that the story brought up, the struggle of looking at the world as black and white, what it means to be in the wrong or right side. There is a lot there, but I feel like there could have been more.
Overall I did enjoy this read and the story it was trying to tell, I just felt like there could have been more.
Full Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvohs...
The settings (and clothing) were once again beautifully laid out. And the pacing of this book, holy cow, you could never stop to breathe. The action, and hits, just kept on coming.
I struggled a bit with the pacing because of that. At points, the continues running got repetitive and frustrating. I wanted to learn things and get to know the characters but it never felt like I did. I wanted to make connections that never felt fully flushed out. Everything felt surface level.
While the story did get rounded out there were still some ends that I wanted to be wrapped up, or just further information on. It all felt so open-ended. And I guess to some extent that is what life is, but here it left me a little bereft. All this build up and then... well one simple thing and that was it.
Now I do like some of the things that the story brought up, the struggle of looking at the world as black and white, what it means to be in the wrong or right side. There is a lot there, but I feel like there could have been more.
Overall I did enjoy this read and the story it was trying to tell, I just felt like there could have been more.
Full Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvohs...
October 14, 2017
While this is a sequel, Tosca Lee has included a great recap of The Progeny at the beginning of this book so it could be read as a standalone -- though I think the story is so complex and fantastical that readers will get much more out of it if they've read The Progeny first. And, because of those complexities, I really appreciated the recap -- even though I read the first book. Great way to kick-start my memory and get all the players in place in my mind.
A fast paced thriller with so many twists and turns I'm still a bit breathless. Including a couple of sucker-punch moments towards the end. Lee has created an intriguing underworld - a community in constant danger of being hunted and killed. Audra and Luka find themselves thrust into the fray as they fight to end the conflict and bring longed for peace after centuries of carnage.
Side note: Occasional mild language
A fast paced thriller with so many twists and turns I'm still a bit breathless. Including a couple of sucker-punch moments towards the end. Lee has created an intriguing underworld - a community in constant danger of being hunted and killed. Audra and Luka find themselves thrust into the fray as they fight to end the conflict and bring longed for peace after centuries of carnage.
Side note: Occasional mild language
June 10, 2018
I really enjoyed the character, Audra Ellison, in this book. There were some unexpected things happen in this book for me some good and some not so good. I think that made this book so much better. This set of book has some magic and great characters and supernatural and more. I was blown away by how much I loved this series. Great job, Tasca Lee! *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
January 11, 2022
Lots of twists and turns. Right up to the very end. Action packed. Friendships. Family. Will the Scion/progeny enmity ever end?
Audiobook from the library.
Audiobook from the library.
May 18, 2017
Tosca Lee has done it again! This sequel to The Progeny is just as fast-paced and thrilling as its predecessor, and the surprises and revelations keep coming! If you haven’t read The Progeny yet, I strongly suggest you do so before picking this one up. If, like me, it’s been over a year since you read The Progeny, never fear; Firstborn provides a succinct recap that will put you straight back into the story, and then picks up right where The Progeny left off.
There is very little I can say about this novel without giving spoilers, and if you've already read The Progeny, chances are you need no convincing to pick this book up! But for those who aren’t familiar with the basic premise of this novel, here’s the low-down: The Countess Elizabeth Báthory (1560-1614) has gone down in history as the most prolific serial killer of all time (she’s a real person, by the way, and although the precise number of victims is debated, the highest number cited in her trial was 650). The premise of this novel is that the descendants of her victims banded together to form the Scion of the Dispossessed, and for every one of Báthory’s descendants (known as a Progeny), a Hunter is assigned whose sole job it is to kill that descendant.
But wait; there’s more. Progeny have heightened powers of persuasion and are savants. If they make eye-contact with someone, they can project their thoughts and persuade that person to think or see whatever suits their purpose—unless, of course, they are a Hunter. They live their lives in a heightened state of alert, seeking out other Progeny through the European underground. At the time of their death, their incredible ability to project thought becomes their downfall, and their Hunter can harvest their memory, making every other Progeny they have ever met vulnerable to discovery and death.
At the beginning of The Progeny, Audra has had the last two years of her memory erased, along with all names, faces, and other identifiers from her life prior to that. She was protecting someone or something and has no idea whom to trust. With the big reveal on the very last page of The Progeny, she now knows exactly what she was trying to protect, and the stakes are higher than ever. It’s no longer enough to simply stay alive. She must end the Scions, and the only way to do that is to find and kill the Historian.
It’s an intense thrill-ride across Europe, with Audra hunted not only by the Scion, but also by law enforcement, who have branded her a suspected terrorist. Buckle up and hang on! And just wait for the ending. 😮 Could not have been better!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
There is very little I can say about this novel without giving spoilers, and if you've already read The Progeny, chances are you need no convincing to pick this book up! But for those who aren’t familiar with the basic premise of this novel, here’s the low-down: The Countess Elizabeth Báthory (1560-1614) has gone down in history as the most prolific serial killer of all time (she’s a real person, by the way, and although the precise number of victims is debated, the highest number cited in her trial was 650). The premise of this novel is that the descendants of her victims banded together to form the Scion of the Dispossessed, and for every one of Báthory’s descendants (known as a Progeny), a Hunter is assigned whose sole job it is to kill that descendant.
But wait; there’s more. Progeny have heightened powers of persuasion and are savants. If they make eye-contact with someone, they can project their thoughts and persuade that person to think or see whatever suits their purpose—unless, of course, they are a Hunter. They live their lives in a heightened state of alert, seeking out other Progeny through the European underground. At the time of their death, their incredible ability to project thought becomes their downfall, and their Hunter can harvest their memory, making every other Progeny they have ever met vulnerable to discovery and death.
At the beginning of The Progeny, Audra has had the last two years of her memory erased, along with all names, faces, and other identifiers from her life prior to that. She was protecting someone or something and has no idea whom to trust. With the big reveal on the very last page of The Progeny, she now knows exactly what she was trying to protect, and the stakes are higher than ever. It’s no longer enough to simply stay alive. She must end the Scions, and the only way to do that is to find and kill the Historian.
It’s an intense thrill-ride across Europe, with Audra hunted not only by the Scion, but also by law enforcement, who have branded her a suspected terrorist. Buckle up and hang on! And just wait for the ending. 😮 Could not have been better!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 5, 2017
Seek and you will find!
“Firstborn”
By: Tosca Lee
Book two of the continuing saga of Audra, Luka and the whole gang. Traveling from country to country, running to save their lives at times and seeking answers as they go. Many plots and twists unravel as Audra’s memory slowly returns. How can they really keep going and survive the journey, and how can they trust anyone?
The first book in the series was called “The Progeny”, and I wondered how could the story be even better in the second book. I loved the book “Firstborn”. The story is a very good story and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and you will lose sleep until the book is completed. The main character was well developed in the first book “The Progeny”, the development of the supporting characters was even more broadened in “Firstborn”.
Tosca Lee keeps churning out masterpiece after masterpiece. I look forward to the next work by this outstanding author. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story of mystery, suspense or thrillers. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
“Firstborn”
By: Tosca Lee
Book two of the continuing saga of Audra, Luka and the whole gang. Traveling from country to country, running to save their lives at times and seeking answers as they go. Many plots and twists unravel as Audra’s memory slowly returns. How can they really keep going and survive the journey, and how can they trust anyone?
The first book in the series was called “The Progeny”, and I wondered how could the story be even better in the second book. I loved the book “Firstborn”. The story is a very good story and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat and you will lose sleep until the book is completed. The main character was well developed in the first book “The Progeny”, the development of the supporting characters was even more broadened in “Firstborn”.
Tosca Lee keeps churning out masterpiece after masterpiece. I look forward to the next work by this outstanding author. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story of mystery, suspense or thrillers. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
December 14, 2019
I enjoyed the second book as much as the first. If you're looking for a super fast paced thriller this series is for you. The world is very unique and fascinating. It's set in present day and takes place in several countries. You do get know the MC, but it's the story is driven by action. Please give us a third book.
July 12, 2017
For four hundred years this entire thing has been about making wrongs right, and taking revenge and saying who's better and who deserves what for being innocent or guilty. Looking for a diary to prove who's wrong. The entire things is wrong. Tosca Lee, Firstborn
After two weeks, I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of this. It sucks that the first book is a paperback, and the sequel is a hardback and the covers don't match at all but I couldn't wait any longer. I also read this one pretty fast but not as fast as The Progeny. As much as I enjoyed this book, it left me with questions that weren't really answered by the end of this book. Another hangover? Will there be a book three?
The sequel centres on Audra Ellison (Emily Porter) discovering the secret that she gave up everything for. It is basically a continuation of the last book wherein Audra is searching and attempting to save Luka as well as finding and killing the Historian to end an age old war between the Progeny and the Scions.
I loved this book enough to give it a 4 out of 5 stars. Tosca Lee never failed in keeping me on the edge of my seat. While reading through this, it felt more emotional as Audra now knows about the truth, the reason behind erasing her memories which was greater than her, than Luka, and the current situation they are in. Let's give it a name then..."Eva". OMG you guys, you have no idea how I felt after the ending of the first book and while reading the first few chapters of Firstborn. It was too much for me, I mean, all those revelations in The Progeny and this one to top it of! The adrenaline rush in every page was intense. All I could think about is "can the author give them a break already?". It was definitely "unputdownable" as I always wanted to know what would happen next thus it kept my interest until the very end.
I have to admit though that after reading it, I had some questions that were't really answered. Let me list some here:
1. Would Audra be able to control her powers in the future? and if yes, how so?
2. What the hell happened to Piotrek in the end? It was so sudden, I wasn't prepared.
3. What happened to the Scions after the Historian died?
4. For that matter, what happened to the Progeny and Nikola? (Nikola just freakin' disappeared)
5. Lastly, So Amerie is alive. Hoorah for that, but HOW?
The list of questions would go on but for now, these are the top 5 that needs to be answered. A book 3 would be really great right now. As far as endings go, I must say this has a happy one despite the many questions I have.
After two weeks, I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of this. It sucks that the first book is a paperback, and the sequel is a hardback and the covers don't match at all but I couldn't wait any longer. I also read this one pretty fast but not as fast as The Progeny. As much as I enjoyed this book, it left me with questions that weren't really answered by the end of this book. Another hangover? Will there be a book three?
The sequel centres on Audra Ellison (Emily Porter) discovering the secret that she gave up everything for. It is basically a continuation of the last book wherein Audra is searching and attempting to save Luka as well as finding and killing the Historian to end an age old war between the Progeny and the Scions.
I loved this book enough to give it a 4 out of 5 stars. Tosca Lee never failed in keeping me on the edge of my seat. While reading through this, it felt more emotional as Audra now knows about the truth, the reason behind erasing her memories which was greater than her, than Luka, and the current situation they are in. Let's give it a name then..."Eva". OMG you guys, you have no idea how I felt after the ending of the first book and while reading the first few chapters of Firstborn. It was too much for me, I mean, all those revelations in The Progeny and this one to top it of! The adrenaline rush in every page was intense. All I could think about is "can the author give them a break already?". It was definitely "unputdownable" as I always wanted to know what would happen next thus it kept my interest until the very end.
I have to admit though that after reading it, I had some questions that were't really answered. Let me list some here:
1. Would Audra be able to control her powers in the future? and if yes, how so?
2. What the hell happened to Piotrek in the end? It was so sudden, I wasn't prepared.
3. What happened to the Scions after the Historian died?
4. For that matter, what happened to the Progeny and Nikola? (Nikola just freakin' disappeared)
5. Lastly, So Amerie is alive. Hoorah for that, but HOW?
The list of questions would go on but for now, these are the top 5 that needs to be answered. A book 3 would be really great right now. As far as endings go, I must say this has a happy one despite the many questions I have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2017
My rating is 4.5. The only deduction I have is for a few places where the flow was a little off due to, I think, editing.
Audra is back, and she's on the run. Luka has been captured. Some of her friends are dead. She's no longer sure who is on her side and who isn't. But she finally knows why she had her memory erased-- and she's willing to fight to keep that reason safe.
But the Historian has Luka, the man she loves, and she will fight for him, too. In fact, she's going to fight for all the Progeny, but not the way everyone expects. She's going to end the battle between Progeny and Scions once and for all... or die trying.
This was a rollercoaster ride from the first page to the end, and I felt like I was in one of the underground clubs, dancing away my cares to the beat of this book. Like the first book, this one kept me reading in spite of other obligations: I finished it in just two days. And, like the first, I think I'll be re-reading it in the future.
Strongly recommend to fans of Dan Brown (but with better characters and writing) or anyone who likes a book that is part history, part conspiracy thriller, and 100% exciting to read.
Audra is back, and she's on the run. Luka has been captured. Some of her friends are dead. She's no longer sure who is on her side and who isn't. But she finally knows why she had her memory erased-- and she's willing to fight to keep that reason safe.
But the Historian has Luka, the man she loves, and she will fight for him, too. In fact, she's going to fight for all the Progeny, but not the way everyone expects. She's going to end the battle between Progeny and Scions once and for all... or die trying.
This was a rollercoaster ride from the first page to the end, and I felt like I was in one of the underground clubs, dancing away my cares to the beat of this book. Like the first book, this one kept me reading in spite of other obligations: I finished it in just two days. And, like the first, I think I'll be re-reading it in the future.
Strongly recommend to fans of Dan Brown (but with better characters and writing) or anyone who likes a book that is part history, part conspiracy thriller, and 100% exciting to read.
January 14, 2019
This is the second book in the series, which runs very smoothly from the first book, although the background information is enough to make it a stand alone read too. This story is mixed with an account from the history books, the story of Elizabeth Bathory, who was said to be an Hungarian noble woman that was also a serial killer between 1590-1609, murdering over 650 people.
The murky waters clear a little more in this book and the reasons behind Audra’s drastic measures to cover up who she is becomes clear. There have been shocking revaltions that took the story on a new direction. I grew to love some characters as my opinions changed the more I knew about them. This book has its hair raising moments as deals with the devil have to be made, An exciting and gripping conclusion before a real shocking ending.
I must say that I didn’t see this ending coming, I was quite blown away, loved it!
I wish to thank Mickey Mikkleson of Creative Edge Publicity for inviting me to read this ebook which I have reviewed honestly.
The murky waters clear a little more in this book and the reasons behind Audra’s drastic measures to cover up who she is becomes clear. There have been shocking revaltions that took the story on a new direction. I grew to love some characters as my opinions changed the more I knew about them. This book has its hair raising moments as deals with the devil have to be made, An exciting and gripping conclusion before a real shocking ending.
I must say that I didn’t see this ending coming, I was quite blown away, loved it!
I wish to thank Mickey Mikkleson of Creative Edge Publicity for inviting me to read this ebook which I have reviewed honestly.
January 9, 2018
The hunt continues...
Ending Progeny on such a cliff-hanger made the time between finishing it and starting Firstborn excruciating!
Sometimes authors can't pull off the epic adventure they begin and sequels sometimes lag but not this one. From page one I was thrust back into Audra's world and the hunt for the Historian at the cost of many lives. The pacing along with the action kept me turning the pages, "Just one more chapter" until the jaw-dropping conclusion. The unique development of each character heightened the emotional draw of the plot giving this story an incredible balance of suspense, history, mystery, and romance.
Ending Progeny on such a cliff-hanger made the time between finishing it and starting Firstborn excruciating!
Sometimes authors can't pull off the epic adventure they begin and sequels sometimes lag but not this one. From page one I was thrust back into Audra's world and the hunt for the Historian at the cost of many lives. The pacing along with the action kept me turning the pages, "Just one more chapter" until the jaw-dropping conclusion. The unique development of each character heightened the emotional draw of the plot giving this story an incredible balance of suspense, history, mystery, and romance.
April 12, 2019
Consider this the review for both The Progeny and Firstborn as one whole story.
Fast paced, high stakes, action, romance, a little bit of fantasy thrown in...what more could I want in a set of books? This story had me hanging on every word. The blending of history with a little modern day fantasy is, at least to my knowledge, wholly original and incredibly clever. The conclusion was everything I hoped for. The twists and turns were never predictable (or at least I never guessed at it). Another of my top reads for 2019. The kind of story I couldn't put down.
Fast paced, high stakes, action, romance, a little bit of fantasy thrown in...what more could I want in a set of books? This story had me hanging on every word. The blending of history with a little modern day fantasy is, at least to my knowledge, wholly original and incredibly clever. The conclusion was everything I hoped for. The twists and turns were never predictable (or at least I never guessed at it). Another of my top reads for 2019. The kind of story I couldn't put down.
July 25, 2019
THIS MAY BE THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN.
*ahem*
Fangirling aside, this book is . . . *tears* so good. The characters, the plot, the emotion — the author rips your heart open with deceptively simple language. Forces you to love and fear and grow alongside the characters.
Also, in typical Jacqueline fashion, I somehow managed to read the sequel first?? Thankfully the author weaves the story in such a way that I knew what was happening without being bombarded by backstory.
Now go read this book.
*ahem*
Fangirling aside, this book is . . . *tears* so good. The characters, the plot, the emotion — the author rips your heart open with deceptively simple language. Forces you to love and fear and grow alongside the characters.
Also, in typical Jacqueline fashion, I somehow managed to read the sequel first?? Thankfully the author weaves the story in such a way that I knew what was happening without being bombarded by backstory.
Now go read this book.
February 9, 2020
„ Meile meeldib mõelda, et õpime inimesi tundma. Kuid tegelikult õpime tundma vaid nende lugusid.“
„Esmasündinu“ läheb põnevalt edasi. Tuleb uusi tegelasi, kes ei tee peategelase elu kergemaks, kuigi võiks seda mõnelgi juhul eeldada. Nii mõndagi, mida A. enda mälust kustutas, kerkib siiski esile. See kõik on väga põnev. Kuigi teine osa tundus mulle alguses esimesest nõrgem, siis lõpp on taaskord jahmatav. Sellel korral tõde ette ei aimanud. See jahmatas mind sõnatuks.
„Esmasündinu“ läheb põnevalt edasi. Tuleb uusi tegelasi, kes ei tee peategelase elu kergemaks, kuigi võiks seda mõnelgi juhul eeldada. Nii mõndagi, mida A. enda mälust kustutas, kerkib siiski esile. See kõik on väga põnev. Kuigi teine osa tundus mulle alguses esimesest nõrgem, siis lõpp on taaskord jahmatav. Sellel korral tõde ette ei aimanud. See jahmatas mind sõnatuks.
September 27, 2017
Aglhjriendhchamcgzchx. That's what my brain sounds like right now. Hoooooly cow. I think my brain exploded. At least twice. Usually I can see the plot twists coming. Hahaha NOPE.
*bows in respect*
Tosca Lee, you are the queen of unpredictability. I can't even right now. At all.
Thing I CAN see coming:
Worst. Book hangover. Ever.
Read this humans!!
*bows in respect*
Tosca Lee, you are the queen of unpredictability. I can't even right now. At all.
Thing I CAN see coming:
Worst. Book hangover. Ever.
Read this humans!!
November 8, 2017
Action packed and suspenseful, Tosca creates characters you want to love and a world you have never dreamed of before; She pulls you into it with vivid imagination and creativity, and makes you want to scream or cry or laugh throughout the journey. Once I started it I could not put it down! A very great finish to an enticing and fresh idea in literary form!!! Bravo Tosca Lee- I’m a fan for life!
May 28, 2020
Even though this was a rather satisfying ending, I would have loved a few more books in this series. I really grew to enjoy the cast of characters and their relationships. I was bummed that we didn’t have more time to delve into those complexities and dynamics. These books are rather short. I also loved Audra and Luka’s relationship. I desperately wanted more from them as well. The ending was satisfying and fulfilling, but it felt a little rushed. A little too quickly wrapped up. I feel like we could have benefited from a longer book or another book. Regardless, I love conspiracies and historical secret societies and treasure hunts, so there wasn’t much I didn’t love about this.
March 31, 2018
An unbelievable ending to a fascinating storyline! Tosca does it again. She takes us all over Europe and back again as we continue the journey we began in Progeny. Action-packed, unique characters, and a ticking time bomb (not literally) will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the last page. I've always loved Tosca's attention to detail and this story doesn't disappoint. Can't wait to see what's next!
February 7, 2019
I've been waiting a long time to read Tosca's follow-up to Progeny... And every moment of anticipation was worth it! I love Tosca's writing, and this book pairs her gorgeous prose with a gripping plot that kept me turning pages way past my bedtime. Exotic, exciting, and filled with heart, Firstborn is a thrilling conclusion.
June 11, 2017
Amazing duology!!
December 17, 2019
I rarely rate a book 5 stars but this was truly amazing! It ended in a way v that I feel really satisfies all the readers questions. The book itself is exciting, captivating, romantic and cerebral. I love the incorporation of other culture and language. It inspired me.
October 25, 2019
This sequel to The Progeny is absolutely everything that I had hoped that it would be. Picking up right where the first book left off, the reader is not left wanting for adrenaline very long. Just like The Progeny, this book is packed from cover to cover with action, adventure, and twists that are pretty much impossible to guess. Do NOT read any further if you don't want this book spoiled for you.
Finding out the Historian's identity was one of the biggest reveals, and shocking points, of this book. What ensued after was both heart-wrenching and satisfying. Throughout the series, the reader has been conditioned to hate the Historian and everything she stands for, as a murderess of the Progeny. However, finding out that she is Luka's mother almost makes the reader hesitate, and wonder if there could be redemption. There was redemption for Luka. Why not for his mother? Of course, that option is swiftly taken away. Audra gets the last laugh on that one, though!
The last few pages were the most satisfying ending I've read in a while, and also upsetting because I wanted to read more! Audra and Luka finally being reunited with their daughter, and Audra finding her mother…it is just beautiful in a way that can't be described better than it was written, so just read the book! All of the loose ends were tied up so nicely, but in the end, the reader is left craving more. What happens to the Progeny now? And who will Audra and Luka's daughter grow up to be? I honestly hope that there is another full-length novel set in this universe, because the potential is definitely there!
Finding out the Historian's identity was one of the biggest reveals, and shocking points, of this book. What ensued after was both heart-wrenching and satisfying. Throughout the series, the reader has been conditioned to hate the Historian and everything she stands for, as a murderess of the Progeny. However, finding out that she is Luka's mother almost makes the reader hesitate, and wonder if there could be redemption. There was redemption for Luka. Why not for his mother? Of course, that option is swiftly taken away. Audra gets the last laugh on that one, though!
The last few pages were the most satisfying ending I've read in a while, and also upsetting because I wanted to read more! Audra and Luka finally being reunited with their daughter, and Audra finding her mother…it is just beautiful in a way that can't be described better than it was written, so just read the book! All of the loose ends were tied up so nicely, but in the end, the reader is left craving more. What happens to the Progeny now? And who will Audra and Luka's daughter grow up to be? I honestly hope that there is another full-length novel set in this universe, because the potential is definitely there!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2022
Love the cover for the hardback book; it's beautiful. I read this book shortly after finishing the first book; I think that was a bit of an advantage for me as I had not forgotten too much of the important parts of the first story before reading this book. Also, this book has a nice (decent) recap at the start before it gets moving. One thing that disappointed me was how it is a semi-satisfying conclusion to the overall story (considering the first book ends on a cliff-hanger). I felt it moved at a fast and was pretty much gogogogo from start to finish. It held my interest from start-to-finish, and I found myself enjoying this one a little bit more than the first one (despite the numerous "plot twists" that felt unneeded).
It is interesting - I felt like the first book was 'darker' in tone whereas this book felt 'lighter' in tone. I also felt like this book had more humor in it, but the humor probably does not appear until more towards halfway through the story. There was also a sense of "hope" in the book, too, as the book progressed. I can't say it was there the entire time in the book, but you do get a sense of hopefulness that things will change and good times are ahead.
It's also mildly amusing that the protagonist still spends so much time trying to remember what she deliberately erased from her memory prior to the start of the first book.
I liked how her friends refused to abandon her in her time of need. (What kind of friends would they be if they did, right?)
So why did I feel like the ending was less-than-satisfying? Well, it did not wrap up all of the loose ends nearly as nicely as I would have liked; instead, the book leaves things, the whole situation, very open-ended. I know the argument can be made that "that is life", that life is rarely ever "cut-and-dry" and does not have "satisfying endings" with everything packaged nicely and wrapped with a bow tie.
Also,
Probably the "best" best part of the book was the "Author's Note." She talks about the history of Elizabeth Bathory and what she suspects to be the "true truth" behind what history records (and considering how biased men tend to be towards women, especially that many centuries ago, I would agree with her assessment of the situation). I loved how she ends it, though (especially since "we" who consider ourselves as "normal" tend to see those as "different than us" as being somehow "less than us" because of whatever that difference is, especially when it comes to various disorders): It's all about genius in all its forms - some more obvious than others. Maybe you, like me, have OCD. Or have contended with something unseen by others, in secret, for years. Maybe you've struggled with it through your life to the point that it's interfered with your daily existence. Whether it's ADHD, addition, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, autism, a chronic illness - whatever it is - I believe it informs your particular genius. The thing that causes you to see the world in a way that others can't. I wrote this book as a reminder that the way you - and I - see this world is a gift. You are amazing. You are Progeny.
Use your powers for good, people.
I was surprised that she comes across as giving thanks (expressing gratitude) to God in her "Acknowledgements". She does not come outright and say, "I'd like to thank Jesus" for this or "I'd like to thank God" for that; she thanks "the Ultimate Author" for loving her to the very last line, which is cool and all that, but I would have half-expected there to be more of a "Christian message" to the story if that is the case. Of more talk about forgiveness and letting go of the past, of things of eternal import instead of ending the book like it does . Even if the main characters "do not become Christians" and all that, there are a few monks in the story and none of them seem too concerned with the spiritual state and future destination of Audra's soul, of where she and Luka and the others will spend eternity. I realize I am assuming the author is thanking either Yahweh or Jesus for being with her as she wrote as she told this two-book story, and while it was still an "exciting" story told over two books, it still felt like it was missing something as I was reading it.
I felt this book was "better" than the first book. I enjoyed it more (despite its unsatisfying conclusion and the lack of resolution that I wanted). I would probably rate it a strong 3.5 stars but rounded down to 3 stars (partly because of my disappointment with the ending and partly because of how she went for a bit without too many "plot twists" before starting them back up again to the point of it being distracting from the story). I could see myself maybe rereading this storyline in the future, and I am glad that I took a chance on reading it "today" (I am also glad that I found a copy of this book in the clearance section at a local bookstore shortly after I finished the first book so that I did not have to spend a lot of time waiting to read the second half of the story and forget most of what happened in the first book, lol).
It is interesting - I felt like the first book was 'darker' in tone whereas this book felt 'lighter' in tone. I also felt like this book had more humor in it, but the humor probably does not appear until more towards halfway through the story. There was also a sense of "hope" in the book, too, as the book progressed. I can't say it was there the entire time in the book, but you do get a sense of hopefulness that things will change and good times are ahead.
It's also mildly amusing that the protagonist still spends so much time trying to remember what she deliberately erased from her memory prior to the start of the first book.
I liked how her friends refused to abandon her in her time of need. (What kind of friends would they be if they did, right?)
So why did I feel like the ending was less-than-satisfying? Well, it did not wrap up all of the loose ends nearly as nicely as I would have liked; instead, the book leaves things, the whole situation, very open-ended. I know the argument can be made that "that is life", that life is rarely ever "cut-and-dry" and does not have "satisfying endings" with everything packaged nicely and wrapped with a bow tie.
Also,
Probably the "best" best part of the book was the "Author's Note." She talks about the history of Elizabeth Bathory and what she suspects to be the "true truth" behind what history records (and considering how biased men tend to be towards women, especially that many centuries ago, I would agree with her assessment of the situation). I loved how she ends it, though (especially since "we" who consider ourselves as "normal" tend to see those as "different than us" as being somehow "less than us" because of whatever that difference is, especially when it comes to various disorders): It's all about genius in all its forms - some more obvious than others. Maybe you, like me, have OCD. Or have contended with something unseen by others, in secret, for years. Maybe you've struggled with it through your life to the point that it's interfered with your daily existence. Whether it's ADHD, addition, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, autism, a chronic illness - whatever it is - I believe it informs your particular genius. The thing that causes you to see the world in a way that others can't. I wrote this book as a reminder that the way you - and I - see this world is a gift. You are amazing. You are Progeny.
Use your powers for good, people.
I was surprised that she comes across as giving thanks (expressing gratitude) to God in her "Acknowledgements". She does not come outright and say, "I'd like to thank Jesus" for this or "I'd like to thank God" for that; she thanks "the Ultimate Author" for loving her to the very last line, which is cool and all that, but I would have half-expected there to be more of a "Christian message" to the story if that is the case. Of more talk about forgiveness and letting go of the past, of things of eternal import instead of ending the book like it does . Even if the main characters "do not become Christians" and all that, there are a few monks in the story and none of them seem too concerned with the spiritual state and future destination of Audra's soul, of where she and Luka and the others will spend eternity. I realize I am assuming the author is thanking either Yahweh or Jesus for being with her as she wrote as she told this two-book story, and while it was still an "exciting" story told over two books, it still felt like it was missing something as I was reading it.
I felt this book was "better" than the first book. I enjoyed it more (despite its unsatisfying conclusion and the lack of resolution that I wanted). I would probably rate it a strong 3.5 stars but rounded down to 3 stars (partly because of my disappointment with the ending and partly because of how she went for a bit without too many "plot twists" before starting them back up again to the point of it being distracting from the story). I could see myself maybe rereading this storyline in the future, and I am glad that I took a chance on reading it "today" (I am also glad that I found a copy of this book in the clearance section at a local bookstore shortly after I finished the first book so that I did not have to spend a lot of time waiting to read the second half of the story and forget most of what happened in the first book, lol).
March 12, 2024
By far the best I’ve read in a long time
This book along with the first, The Progeny, are the best books I’ve read in a long time. The writing is amazing and there were several moments in both books that caused me to catch my breath. Well done. My only complaint is I can’t go back and read them for the first time again.
This book along with the first, The Progeny, are the best books I’ve read in a long time. The writing is amazing and there were several moments in both books that caused me to catch my breath. Well done. My only complaint is I can’t go back and read them for the first time again.
May 11, 2018
4 Stars
I was provided an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a lot of what I really loved in the first book – action, adventure, and travelling through Europe. Despite this, it did not hold the same emotional punch as the first book (romantically and otherwise). I think this was okay though, since the emotions were built up so well in Progeny that I still knew where everyone stood in this installment. This book simply didn’t have the same depth as the first, either emotionally or historically, but I was still really pleased with the plot and ending of this sequel.
I do feel like Firstborn, just like the first book, did maintain its uniqueness and charm. The concept of this book, and the historical background, are so interesting and unique to this story that it still feels fresh and individual. I also still continue to love Tosca’s writing style – how it isn’t bogged down and flows extremely well. This book was action packed and kept me engaged while reading – I had to find out what was going to happen next!
If you want to read the rest of my review, please go check out my blog post here!
https://amandasafterword.wordpress.co...
I was provided an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a lot of what I really loved in the first book – action, adventure, and travelling through Europe. Despite this, it did not hold the same emotional punch as the first book (romantically and otherwise). I think this was okay though, since the emotions were built up so well in Progeny that I still knew where everyone stood in this installment. This book simply didn’t have the same depth as the first, either emotionally or historically, but I was still really pleased with the plot and ending of this sequel.
I do feel like Firstborn, just like the first book, did maintain its uniqueness and charm. The concept of this book, and the historical background, are so interesting and unique to this story that it still feels fresh and individual. I also still continue to love Tosca’s writing style – how it isn’t bogged down and flows extremely well. This book was action packed and kept me engaged while reading – I had to find out what was going to happen next!
If you want to read the rest of my review, please go check out my blog post here!
https://amandasafterword.wordpress.co...
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