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In the Future, Even the Broken Can Make a Change...

When Molly gets called onto a case that she is uniquely qualified for, the team discovers a little more about her past.

In the race against the clock to prevent the city of Spire from being subjected to a deadly toxin, it takes both new team members and new allies working together in order to save the millions of lives.

Meanwhile, problems continue on the political scene, and exciting progress is made with the investigation into the strange door in the safe house basement.

Set on the foundation laid by the Kurtherian Gambit Series, Activated tells an entirely new story in the Age of Expansion--when the Etheric Empire is fast becoming the Etheric Federation with all of the trials and tribulations that come with bringing together different peoples, systems, and ideals.

456 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2017

556 people are currently reading
167 people want to read

About the author

Ell Leigh Clarke

70 books126 followers
Relapsing theoretical physicist, professional geek, sci fi novelist, and Doctor Who fan.

Though she is originally from England, she is mostly what her friends call a “digital nomad”, hanging in whichever country calls to her… as long as it has good wifi, and coffee.

@ellleighclarke

Official Ell Leigh Clarke Fan Club for book discussions and shenanigans: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ellle... Join Us <3

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for Craig Martelle.
Author 329 books7,888 followers
May 29, 2017
A great addition to The Age of Expansion.

Well done Ell Leigh Clarke! Your world building skills are superb and you bring your characters to life. Thank you
383 reviews
April 9, 2020
This book was better than the first. It had less things that annoyed me. Still, it once again made me question when this is supposed to take place. Based on the timeline from the Kurtherian website, I would think this book takes place just after the Kurtherian Gambit series ended. That would be a bit over 170 years since BA and her fleet of people left Earth. This book has Molly actually question whether BA was even real. For a human living outside of Earth, and therefore having descended from one of the humans in the fleet that BA took from Earth, you would think Molly would know about BA from history books at the very least. BA would be at least as famous as Christopher Columbus to humans living in space. Nobody doubts that Christopher Columbus was real or that he arrived at America and spurred expansion to America. There is controversy over the guy, rightly so in my opinion, but still, the facts are known and understood to be facts. I would think the same would go for BA's expansion to the stars, especially with less than two centuries since it happened having passed, in comparison to the over five centuries since Christopher Columbus arrived in America. BA's existence should be doubted even less because she had been doing stuff and appearing in the news every once in awhile since she left Earth. There was plenty of documentation of her existence. I can think of only two ways that Molly or any humans outside of Earth would doubt BA's existence. One possibility is that the non-humans on the planet Molly lives on have been suppressing and changing all information on BA since humans arrived on planet so as to make them question BA's existence. The other possibility is that the book takes place way after the Kurtherian Gambit series, like thousands of years after, and people have started to question stories from the past that sound a bit fantastic. No mention of information suppression outside of activities related to the Syndicate have been mentioned, so I wonder whether the timeline being off on the Kurtherian website is the case.

Aside from my rant about the messed up plot point, the book was good. It had an awesome epilogue, and I can't wait to see what happens. I also think Ell Leigh Clarke needs to read the 21 Kurtherian Gambit books. Her past author notes suggest she doesn't have much of a grasp on the Kurtherian Universe despite writing books in it. I would like frustrating things she writes that don't mesh well with the universe to happen less frequently, and her actually reading the core books for the universe would help with that. I know that Michael Anderle and others help edit the books, but I guess Ell Leigh Clarke makes so many problems that not everything gets caught. She is a talented author, and I know she can do better. I don't want her work to inadvertently cause a number of problems in the Kurtherian Universe that bring it to a point of senselessness that needs correcting through some sort of parallel universes scenario with Molly books taking place in a parallel universe where BA died back on Earth and others from TQB took humans to the universe or something. Still, this series shows potential, especially with the awesome epilogue.
Profile Image for Gizzy.
35 reviews
May 22, 2017
Christmas in May

I'm so excited to watch where this series arc is going, and what kind of adventures Molly and her team are going to get up to... ESPECIALLY now! I don't want to include any spoilers, but I have to say that what was found behind the door was both a surprise and NOT surprising at all. I knew it would have 'something' to do with what it did...but I did not expect it to be quite so extensive.

I really can't wait to see Molly and Joel (and Crash!!) and all the rest put these new resources to good use. And I am positively giddy at the prospect that there may be some future bonding moments between a few beloved AIs! Crossing my fingers on that one.

I am just loving everything about the Ascension Myth arc. Ellie makes it so easy to emotionally invest in the characters, nearly from the moment they are introduced. I have only one tiny complaint for this book - I wanted to know a bit more about Pieter and Sean as individuals. I'm not sure what exactly I want to know...just maybe a bit more insight into their thought process or their perceptions of events. I'll say this - if Ellie wasn't so good at making us care about the characters we meet, right off the bat, then I wouldn't be "complaining" about wanting to know more about a couple of them! LOL

I'm fully hooked on this arc. I am nearly as anxious for book three as I am for the next Michael or TH book! Poor Yoda...next thing you know, he's going to be complaining that his padawan is surpassing him! ;) Ok, not really...but she's definitely coming close! Michael's talent for finding new authors to write in his Universe leaves me awestruck. It leaves his readers feeling like Christmas morning, again and again.
Profile Image for Katy.
1,504 reviews10 followers
April 20, 2022
This second book of the series was a great read. There was a good plot, and plenty of characters to get into the storyline with, and Molly and Joel's group grew bigger, which is great, as the more people, the more things that can go on.

I really enjoyed Maya, the journalist, and I hope she stays as one of the characters in further books, as she has the same kind of vibe I'm getting from Molly and Joel.

I have to admit that I can't see a reason for Paige being part of the group. She seems far younger, and much more inexperienced, compared to the others, and actually sets my teeth on edge with her almost teenager like behaviour. She feels wildly out of place with a group of mature adults, who are determined to try their best to bring justice to their system.

Don't get me wrong, humour is needed as a stress reliever in the kind of work these people are doing, but Paige is all high heels, fashion, giddy no-brainers, and nail polish ffs! I just hope she grows up quickly! Lol

But, apart from that, I enjoyed this second book of the series, and loved the epilogue!

So, now I've finished this, my reading list tells me to go back on over to the Vigilante Chronicles, to read book two of the series : Sentinel.

I'm looking forward to it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
74 reviews
April 30, 2025
The second installment in this electrifying series wastes no time shifting gears from the cliffhanger of the first book. Activated dials up the tension and expands the world, launching us into a tightly paced journey that feels both like an escape and a revelation.

While the action propels us away from the enigmatic ending of book one, we’re never truly free of its shadow. The destination? Somewhere hauntingly familiar—yet now unveiled with chilling clarity. The once-random safe house is no accident. Its secrets crack open a much deeper conspiracy, revealing a long-laid plan orchestrated by a figure with far more reach and intent than we imagined.

The payoff is worth the wait. Layered, smart, and slightly paranoid in all the right ways, Activated delivers twists that don’t just shock—they reframe everything we thought we knew. Clarke continues to build a world of questions and consequences, where safety is a myth and trust is a liability.

If you enjoyed the first book's mystery, this one adds teeth—and a deeper bite.
Profile Image for Tony Hisgett.
3,023 reviews36 followers
June 28, 2017
I had lots of issues with the first book in this series, but it wasn’t all bad so I thought I would give this book a chance, especially as the reviews seemed so good.

This book starts with an uninspiring chapter about trying to open a door and ADAM making an unexplained guest appearance, which involved a bet on how long it would take Molly to try to open the door. My initial concerns about this book seemed justified.

Fortunately the book does improve and I enjoyed most of the rest of the story. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t some concerns. There’s a naivety to the story, it’s a sort of adult, science fiction version of the ‘Famous Five’. I also thought quite a few of the conversations between the team were a bit inane and seemed to be there just to fill in the space.

At the end of the book we finally see the relevance of the door, which may lead the series in a different direction.
46 reviews
July 8, 2017
When something is so good you don't have words...

I feel a so disloyal to BA here but I think Molly might be my favourite character now. Loving this arc and especially Ellie's voice through her characters. The plot has me breaking out in goosebumps and squees I must get right on with the next part! Lovely author's notes as always, I think I may be 'kindle customer' in all my reviews (which seemed to me to baffle Ellie) so I'll introduce myself. I'm Natale (phonetically nah'tah'lae) and I don't communicate well either (gooo spectrum!) which is why Molly resonates so much with me. I'd love if any of the KGU authors (especially Ellie) found a place for me in the universe it would make my world to be even a nominal part of it all.
5 reviews
May 20, 2017
Can't wait for the next book!

Hello. My name is Jenn G and I have a reading problem. Hahaha!
Wow. Yet again, I have read this book in ONE sitting! I'm completely spoiled at this point and I'm not sure how Ms Clarke is going to top her latest masterpiece.
I love how Molly is actively working on developing her people skills and trying to expand and forge her team. The Syndicate will be exposed for their money and power grubbing ways while going down kicking and screaming. ( More like killing and hiding but who cares)
Please keep up the great work. Who needs to eat and sleep? I certainly don't when these books come out.
36 reviews
March 5, 2019
Excellent series that is an offshoot of the Kurtherian Gambit series and universe. This series is a really fast read and if you liked the Michael Anderle series, then this series will help you to get your fix.

The characters develop well over the course of the series and they stay consistent with the overall theme set by Michael Anderle in the Gambit series. This series stands alone well and you don't have to have read the original series to enjoy these books.

I was glad I actually started reading them once the series was complete, it enabled me to get through the entire series in about a month. While I did miss some sleep, I don't regret it.
1 review
May 21, 2017
Luv Molly,loving the story.looking forward to the next book . I wonder with all the new computers in the basement how OZ is going to expand,does he know about other A.I. or are there supposed to be other A.I.. and what's going to happen when he meets Adam. He has a very straight ethnic. Adam is very a around the box to get it done.
So far I've had a blast reading all the book, thanks to you and all the authors in all the book . Christal
Profile Image for Ryan Mangrum.
187 reviews13 followers
September 20, 2017
I'm done with this series. The main character is so ridiculously Mary-Sued that it's not even funny any longer. She beautiful, smart, apparently stronger than a guy, a master hacker, a master geneticist, a master at chemical engineering, a master stock broker, a master of bio sciences, etc, etc. There's nothing she can't do.

She's BORING.

A good character isn't a character that can do everything, it's a character that can do a lot with what little they have.

The narrative and dialogue feel like they were written by a 12 year old boy. The book, and series, are just bad.
Profile Image for Frank Bertino.
1,771 reviews20 followers
May 19, 2017
Molly Aces The Initiation

Molly is an intriguing character. Brilliant beyond measure but clueless when it comes to personal and social relationships. I love the in your face humor of the story. Molly is an excellent alternative for me to get my Bethany Anne fix. They recruit Sean to the team. Will Molly ever look at Joel or Sean as a love interest? Will the reporter Maya end up needing protection and/or be recruited to the team? I very anxiously await the next book.
23 reviews
May 20, 2017
Another great one

Another enjoyable read and, really, what more can a reader ask? I love Molly, Joel (please DO NOT ever kill him off -- ask MA) and the rest of the team. I don't know if I relate to them but I really like them. My only complaint is that I have to wait for the next one. I also love the glimpses of the General and Adam. Net Adam and Oz could become great friends and give their humans fits. Thank you for sharing these stories and your imagination with us.
Profile Image for Eric Rehn.
1 review
May 27, 2017
Good reading.

Good story, and inventive. There is a lack of fantasy concepts of your characters. Marines don't shoot in:
down the hall to keep the bad guys at bay, they are one shot one kill, bad guy thugs aren't shy about hurting people. Maybe some input from a real soldier type to add realism. Your bio reads as a geek type of personality, not really prone towards violence.
I did enjoyed the story it kept me wondering what was coming next.
Profile Image for Jessica Kovacs.
72 reviews
July 13, 2017
Awesome

I might have liked this book better than the first but I'm not sure. I am sure that I love the characters, especially Molly who I can't personally relate with at all, well maybe a little with the smart parts. This was a fun book to read, the relationship between the characters was interesting and helped the story flow nicely. I loved the spicy ending and can't wait to see what ends up happening to Molly now.
Profile Image for Samantha Fraley.
35 reviews2 followers
July 19, 2017
Listen this series is totally fing amazing

Ok so the BA books are some of the best things my eyes have ingested ever, but the age of expansion series is like the delicious topping on the kurtherian Sunday. I have read everything in this universe from Boris to alpha class and AOE is my favorite. It's techie and sciencie and a million other ies. It is worth your time and data space. Read it do it I'm talking now.
Profile Image for Paul.
115 reviews
July 12, 2018
Wonderful

A lot of personal growth in this novel. A bunch of gumshoe detective bits as well.
I appreciate the fact that cis-het is not automatically assumed as normal and anyone deviating from that isn't a buffoon.
I love that Molly is "just" a non-enhanced human but is as badass, in her own way, as anyone else.
This is very Trek-ish as opposed to the Wars heavy vibe of the KGU novels. No space-magic involved.
Excellent second novel!
Profile Image for Z.A. Mackic.
207 reviews24 followers
June 4, 2020
Well, book and character Molly just grabbed me. I could not put this book down. In the beginning, the plot, the development of the main character was done quite nicely.
The end was a bit weak, not really closing up the character arc of the several characters and introducing weakly new characters, and being quite transparent in what is going on. Seemed more like the author was trying to fill up space till the next book and adventure started.
Profile Image for Debra Stubbins.
335 reviews
March 30, 2022
OMG, so brilliant

Out of all the characters in the entire KGU, Molly is the one I can identify the most with. Being introverted, not good with emotions and people. I absolutely love how she is evolving as a team leader and being more in with talking to people and how she is coming out of her shell a little.
Absolutely brilliant storyline and definitely would recommend reading. Now for book 3…
Profile Image for Kris.
47 reviews
June 15, 2025
Excellent, as usual

This is another excellent book from the universe of The Kurtherian Gambit.

As is typical for the books of this universe, this one is not eligible for a bonus star for using chapter titles, not just numbers.

I note in all my reviews of fiction works, but without affecting ratings in any way, if the average chapter length meets my preferred length of taking me about 10-15 minutes to read. This one does.
Profile Image for Iori.
593 reviews4 followers
May 20, 2017
The author doesn't fail us

Great follow up, and wow it was well executed. But there were some typos that need to be taken care of. Molly is even more built up then the last time we read her previous adventures, Paige and the rest are really fleshed out now, we can expect greater things happening later in that series with what we discovered.
The book is worth the money hehe.
115 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2017
This book is an ACTIVE Hit.

Once again this author has scored an interesting and compelling story. We get to see more of Molly's development as leader of her team, with said team accepting her eccentricities and humanity, it may be a little skewed to some, but I think it makes her all the more Real. Great Read!!!
Profile Image for Ann Zdunczyk.
1,162 reviews4 followers
May 22, 2017
Finally

Molly is different but who isn't!! Her team is growing and will probably grow more. They are fighting the good fight even the bad buys keep trying to make her look bad. Lance finally makes contact and they get to see what is behind the DOOR! Ok waiting for number and we all know we are not the most patient group of readers!! Write woman write!!
Profile Image for Sandy Chapman.
240 reviews5 followers
May 25, 2017
Better than the first

Book 1 of The Ascension Myth book was great. But this one grabbed my attention and held it until the last page. Molly and crew are each unique and loveable in their own way. An exciting adventure with just the right amount of humor that never seems forced. Highly recommend.
38 reviews
May 26, 2017
Loved it!

I haven't enjoyed a book this much for a long time. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud. Enjoy the notes after the epilogue a lot. The Molly character is outrageous! Love her! So, will she and Joel ever get together? Or... Swill the sexual tension continue? Inquiring minds want to know!!!! Sylvia Lsmbaria in San Antonio TX
Profile Image for Kat.
103 reviews3 followers
May 27, 2017
Another one to love!

The thing about the Kurtherian series is that if you don't like a particular subseries all you have to do is wait. No, really. Because it actually IS a UNIVERSE! And just like any universe it's chock full of different world's, people, situations etcetera. All you need do is explore.
Profile Image for Nealah Conkey.
4 reviews
June 3, 2017
Smiles and giggles.

The team dynamics are fun and I Ind I giggle with them, I chuckle, I shake my head in exasperation, and even hold my breath with them. This is another wonderful edition to the 'verse created by Michael. Please continue writing I look forward to more stories and hope to see them soon, in whatever 'verse you write them in. Shiny.
Profile Image for David Harrison.
7 reviews
June 6, 2017
Brilliant the link to bbs oops please get writing book three

Iam hanging on every word I picked up by various hints that it would get back to the series these kurtherians are most ellusive. Could it be that they have evolved the passage of time is so huge in space. and are now just free spirits with no material body
Profile Image for Veronica.
1,015 reviews5 followers
May 7, 2018
They were all just following orders.

Well.... Not our team. I'm enjoying the unfolding of the main characters and the introduction on new ones. I'm impressed that Ell is doing such an awesome job as a new author. Also, DEFINITELY read the author notes! Highly entertaining. This promises to be another excellent side bar in the Kurtherian universe.
Profile Image for John DeBlanc.
337 reviews2 followers
July 21, 2018
A great follow up to a wonderful new series! This series is so good I have not been wasting time on things like reviews, there are pages to read (lots and lots of pages ((happy dance)) to read!!) You know that rush you get from finding a new series and a new author? That!! So I am now taking a break after the first Giles book to express my admiration and thanks to Ell and Yoda. Thank you!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews

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