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Betrayal. Sacrifice. Survival. Welcome to The Extinction Trials.
After surviving on Piloria once, Storm and Lincoln are the obvious candidates to return to the dinosaur continent to test the new virus that should clear the way for human settlement. But they have their own priorities – finding a cure for the plague that’s sweeping Earthasia, and keeping themselves alive.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
January 3, 2019
5 Words: DINOSAURS. Family, friendship, betrayal, survival.
Book Review: Exile by SM Wilson
Honestly, I missed this world so much that less that six months after first reading The Extinction Trials, I read it again so I could jump back into the world with it all fresh in my memory. I thought the first book was just as excellent the second time and I loved being able to carry straight on with the story.
We were back with Storm and Lincoln, and again I preferred Storm. I just love her, OK?
Exile was just as fast paced as the first book. Despite a lot of the book being set back in Earthasia, I loved how the politics of the world were explored, the nuances of society. And once the story moved to Piloria I was in my element.
Piloria as such an exciting and scary place, and the setting drives the pace as much as the story itself. It was intense, it just kept building and building until the end. And wow, what a ending.
Again, I was on Google searching up dinosaurs to get a clearer picture of those I was unfamiliar with and damn, they are described so well that I didn't really have to bother.
I need more. Now.
Book Review: Exile by SM Wilson
Honestly, I missed this world so much that less that six months after first reading The Extinction Trials, I read it again so I could jump back into the world with it all fresh in my memory. I thought the first book was just as excellent the second time and I loved being able to carry straight on with the story.
We were back with Storm and Lincoln, and again I preferred Storm. I just love her, OK?
Exile was just as fast paced as the first book. Despite a lot of the book being set back in Earthasia, I loved how the politics of the world were explored, the nuances of society. And once the story moved to Piloria I was in my element.
Piloria as such an exciting and scary place, and the setting drives the pace as much as the story itself. It was intense, it just kept building and building until the end. And wow, what a ending.
Again, I was on Google searching up dinosaurs to get a clearer picture of those I was unfamiliar with and damn, they are described so well that I didn't really have to bother.
I need more. Now.
August 1, 2018
✨3.5 stars✨
Hi, hello, yes, welcome to a real let down of a sequel. I feel like I’m so sick of saying the phrase ‘not bad but also not good’ at this point, but it’s exactly how I feel about this book. It was just average. In the acknowledgements, the author says that when she started writing the book, she didn’t have any real plan as to where it would go and boy does that explain a lot. It felt so on-the-spot and underdeveloped, and honestly, at times it just felt like a slightly altered copy of the first book in the series. It was like a cluster of events from the first book strung together by vaguely different, but altogether the same, reasoning for being there, hung up with barely any character development. But there were dinosaurs, so I suppose I can’t complain too loudly.
Storm went on a journey with her stance on the dinosaurs in the first book, but it felt like she was going nowhere in this one, just kind of zipping back and forth with no real purpose. There wasn’t any development to her character, she’s exactly the same at the end of this book as she is at the beginning, and it felt like such a backwards step for her. Lincoln, weirdly enough, had more of an arc in this one, and it’s largely evident through his observations of people and relationships- noticing Storm and Reban’s changing dynamic, noticing Jesa needing help/support, understanding Leif’s attitude towards him and letting it play out. He’s definitely much more three dimensional in this, and I’m ridiculously grateful for it, as he was a bit of an asshole in the first book. I still don’t fully understand what’s supposed to be going on with Linc and Storm though. It’s written as though they’re each other’s love interests, but there’s never any indicator that either of them actually does feel that way (it’s told in the form of Reban telling Storm that Linc clearly likes her, but we never see anything that could make Reban actually believe that).
Jesa and Leif didn’t make sense either- and I swear Leif is way older than them?? That’s the vibe I got from the first book, but H E Y it’s entirely possible that I’m wrong. There was absolutely zero dynamic between them until the end in the form of a sudden attraction to each other, and it felt very forced and bizarre. I didn’t really find myself invested in either of them, they were both a bit whiny and boring, and to be quite honest I just didn’t really care. They played their part in the story but they weren’t really fleshed out all that much. Reban and Storm were definitely more interesting, although you could tell the progression of their father/daughter dynamic wasn’t hugely planned out, as it felt a bit flat and underwhelming by the end. I was glad they were getting to know each other and we were finding out more about Storm’s mother, but Storm remaining on the island just felt like such a random jump, and it could have really done with more expanding on their relationship before that ending to be honest.
The whole plot revolves around them going back to Piloria to wipe out the dinosaurs, and yet there was no real resolve, no clear point where anything happened. Storm is conflicted about killing the dinosaurs the whole time, but that never reaches a conclusion, she never decides which side she stands on, and whilst I do appreciate the reality of her ambiguity, it just felt a bit pointless. Why bother, if it doesn’t lend itself to the plot at all? She goes along and helps them, she is frequently relieved about the prospect of the dinosaurs dying, so what’s the point of her occasional conflicting thoughts if they don’t actually do anything? It just didn’t work for me here, annoyingly enough. Aside from this, the book follows no real plot. There’s a story, sure, but it doesn’t follow any real purpose, and the ending feels too much like it’s only there to be a cliffhanger, rather than actually holding any meaning. The only 2 real plot twists are Galen appearing, and Storm staying with Reban, and neither of them were much of a surprise to me. I’m so annoyed at how mediocre this book was because I really wanted to love it- I mean HELLO, dinosaurs! To be fair, I did adore the dinosaur elements, and I did really love watching Storm get to know Arta, seeing why Linc did what he did for her, and them then working together to get the plants they need to save her. It was entertaining, and like I said, it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t overly amazing. I’m assuming there’s going to be a third in the series, and I probably will read it, I just hope it’ll be a bit better than this one!😂
Hi, hello, yes, welcome to a real let down of a sequel. I feel like I’m so sick of saying the phrase ‘not bad but also not good’ at this point, but it’s exactly how I feel about this book. It was just average. In the acknowledgements, the author says that when she started writing the book, she didn’t have any real plan as to where it would go and boy does that explain a lot. It felt so on-the-spot and underdeveloped, and honestly, at times it just felt like a slightly altered copy of the first book in the series. It was like a cluster of events from the first book strung together by vaguely different, but altogether the same, reasoning for being there, hung up with barely any character development. But there were dinosaurs, so I suppose I can’t complain too loudly.
Storm went on a journey with her stance on the dinosaurs in the first book, but it felt like she was going nowhere in this one, just kind of zipping back and forth with no real purpose. There wasn’t any development to her character, she’s exactly the same at the end of this book as she is at the beginning, and it felt like such a backwards step for her. Lincoln, weirdly enough, had more of an arc in this one, and it’s largely evident through his observations of people and relationships- noticing Storm and Reban’s changing dynamic, noticing Jesa needing help/support, understanding Leif’s attitude towards him and letting it play out. He’s definitely much more three dimensional in this, and I’m ridiculously grateful for it, as he was a bit of an asshole in the first book. I still don’t fully understand what’s supposed to be going on with Linc and Storm though. It’s written as though they’re each other’s love interests, but there’s never any indicator that either of them actually does feel that way (it’s told in the form of Reban telling Storm that Linc clearly likes her, but we never see anything that could make Reban actually believe that).
Jesa and Leif didn’t make sense either- and I swear Leif is way older than them?? That’s the vibe I got from the first book, but H E Y it’s entirely possible that I’m wrong. There was absolutely zero dynamic between them until the end in the form of a sudden attraction to each other, and it felt very forced and bizarre. I didn’t really find myself invested in either of them, they were both a bit whiny and boring, and to be quite honest I just didn’t really care. They played their part in the story but they weren’t really fleshed out all that much. Reban and Storm were definitely more interesting, although you could tell the progression of their father/daughter dynamic wasn’t hugely planned out, as it felt a bit flat and underwhelming by the end. I was glad they were getting to know each other and we were finding out more about Storm’s mother, but Storm remaining on the island just felt like such a random jump, and it could have really done with more expanding on their relationship before that ending to be honest.
The whole plot revolves around them going back to Piloria to wipe out the dinosaurs, and yet there was no real resolve, no clear point where anything happened. Storm is conflicted about killing the dinosaurs the whole time, but that never reaches a conclusion, she never decides which side she stands on, and whilst I do appreciate the reality of her ambiguity, it just felt a bit pointless. Why bother, if it doesn’t lend itself to the plot at all? She goes along and helps them, she is frequently relieved about the prospect of the dinosaurs dying, so what’s the point of her occasional conflicting thoughts if they don’t actually do anything? It just didn’t work for me here, annoyingly enough. Aside from this, the book follows no real plot. There’s a story, sure, but it doesn’t follow any real purpose, and the ending feels too much like it’s only there to be a cliffhanger, rather than actually holding any meaning. The only 2 real plot twists are Galen appearing, and Storm staying with Reban, and neither of them were much of a surprise to me. I’m so annoyed at how mediocre this book was because I really wanted to love it- I mean HELLO, dinosaurs! To be fair, I did adore the dinosaur elements, and I did really love watching Storm get to know Arta, seeing why Linc did what he did for her, and them then working together to get the plants they need to save her. It was entertaining, and like I said, it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t overly amazing. I’m assuming there’s going to be a third in the series, and I probably will read it, I just hope it’ll be a bit better than this one!😂
March 17, 2019
Love these books so much, they are unreal.
June 9, 2018
I'm definitely continuing this series because DINOSAURS, but Exile felt a bit lacking. It took nearly half the book to get back to the dinosaur continent in the first place. Once there, I definitely enjoyed the story more, but while there were many dinosaurs, their scenes weren't as grand and exciting as in The Extinction Trials. I liked the returns of several big baddies from book one, but felt they were dealt with too easily. I did love both father-daughter storylines and thought their development was really nice. I'm still intrigued and excited enough to look forward to the next book.
December 20, 2024
2.5 stars
June 10, 2018
This was so fantastic and lived up to the first novel. Now I don't mind if there is a sequel to this cause it could have just left where the ending was in this book but I would like a continuation.
August 6, 2019
While I did enjoy some aspects of this book, getting to Piloria took FOREVER and I am here for the dinosaurs. I am not here waiting until the 50% mark for them to even land on the island when the title of this one is 'Exile'. Hmph.
That aside, I loved when they finally got there and the characters could interact while almost getting chomped by a variety of dinosaurs. There is more danger than previously thought, with different predators around that no one had recorded. I do think the virus thing isn't going to work, and I am super confused because I thought they didn't get a pterosaur egg and yet they made a virus specific to it? What? Did I miss something somewhere?
This sets up book three nicely as well, but it's going to have to wait until pay day next week. I want to know what happens, but then money strikes. Oh well. Three stars, looking forward to the next one even if this was just a bridging novel.
That aside, I loved when they finally got there and the characters could interact while almost getting chomped by a variety of dinosaurs. There is more danger than previously thought, with different predators around that no one had recorded. I do think the virus thing isn't going to work, and I am super confused because I thought they didn't get a pterosaur egg and yet they made a virus specific to it? What? Did I miss something somewhere?
This sets up book three nicely as well, but it's going to have to wait until pay day next week. I want to know what happens, but then money strikes. Oh well. Three stars, looking forward to the next one even if this was just a bridging novel.
April 7, 2020
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars [rounded up!]
This was SO much better than the first book!!! I enjoyed it SO much. DINOSAURS, PEOPLE ! This one had SO many. Survival of the fittest!
Recommend!
This was SO much better than the first book!!! I enjoyed it SO much. DINOSAURS, PEOPLE ! This one had SO many. Survival of the fittest!
Recommend!
August 17, 2018
[3,75 stars]
This is what I call a wild ride!
Exile definitely was a lot more adventurous and exciting than book one (which was also not bad btw!) but still it was not as good as I would have liked. Unfortunately, the writing style didn't get any better, or at least for me but I study languages so I am constantly surrounded by grammar and know how it works and should work. The writing style felt dull at times, the syntax was just meh. But again, if you have no idea of grammar or like super short sentences or if you're a younger reader I think it's a great way to start your booknerd journey; or if English isn't your first language, I think the easy writing will definitely help you to get used to the language as it is really easy to understand because there are no multi-clause sentences or stuff like that.
Okay sorry for the grammar rant but ugh it could have been so much better! Just like the first book, Exile has so much potential but for me the writing simply didn't work and that also kind of ruined the overall experience of reading it, at least for me.
BUT (yes, I actually have something positive to say lol) the story was way more interesting than in book one, I would have liked a little more in-depth information but it was definitely an improvement!
There were a few things that kind of happened out of nowhere or were simply unnecessary in my opinion and other things were completely ignored but would have been so interesting to know more about! That's what I meant with in-depth information. What happened with Dell? He was mentioned ...twice? and wasn't mentioned afterwards at all? Just some small things that were touched on but weren't mentioned again. Long story short, there were some trails of thought that weren't picked up again.
Okay so Exile was definitely an improvement to book one but I still had/have some small issued with it - which is absolutely okay, no one is perfect (not even a book!) and enjoying the story that is being told (and I did enjoy it!) is far more important than ranting about small grammar issues lol.
Soo apparently there will be a third book next year? I really hope so because Exile has left me like this:
This is what I call a wild ride!
Exile definitely was a lot more adventurous and exciting than book one (which was also not bad btw!) but still it was not as good as I would have liked. Unfortunately, the writing style didn't get any better, or at least for me but I study languages so I am constantly surrounded by grammar and know how it works and should work. The writing style felt dull at times, the syntax was just meh. But again, if you have no idea of grammar or like super short sentences or if you're a younger reader I think it's a great way to start your booknerd journey; or if English isn't your first language, I think the easy writing will definitely help you to get used to the language as it is really easy to understand because there are no multi-clause sentences or stuff like that.
Okay sorry for the grammar rant but ugh it could have been so much better! Just like the first book, Exile has so much potential but for me the writing simply didn't work and that also kind of ruined the overall experience of reading it, at least for me.
BUT (yes, I actually have something positive to say lol) the story was way more interesting than in book one, I would have liked a little more in-depth information but it was definitely an improvement!
There were a few things that kind of happened out of nowhere or were simply unnecessary in my opinion and other things were completely ignored but would have been so interesting to know more about! That's what I meant with in-depth information. What happened with Dell? He was mentioned ...twice? and wasn't mentioned afterwards at all? Just some small things that were touched on but weren't mentioned again. Long story short, there were some trails of thought that weren't picked up again.
Okay so Exile was definitely an improvement to book one but I still had/have some small issued with it - which is absolutely okay, no one is perfect (not even a book!) and enjoying the story that is being told (and I did enjoy it!) is far more important than ranting about small grammar issues lol.
Soo apparently there will be a third book next year? I really hope so because Exile has left me like this:
July 2, 2018
4.5 stars
Even better then the first book! To me it wasn't slow at all. Can't wait till 2019 for book 3
Even better then the first book! To me it wasn't slow at all. Can't wait till 2019 for book 3
June 8, 2018
a fun sequel to the Extinction trials.
I have to admit, I expected a bit more I guess. And it's really hard to pinpoint what it is exactly that made me feel this way.
I missed the presence of dinosaurs on a more frequent level I guess. I mean, they ARE present, don't get me wrong. And they are off on a killing spree, as usual, which is 10 different kinds of awesomeness, lol. But I just expected more grandeur I guess? More T-Rex? It felt a bit mellow in comparison to book 1. And most of all: WHERE IS MILO?! <- me sad! I hope he returns in the next book. @author: please, don't let me hanging here? I loved Storm's relationship with Milo and the fact that because of Milo there's a whole other 'side' of the dinosaurs to learn about, despite of only thinking they can be brutal killing machines.
I did like the development of the 'relationship' between Storm and her father throughout this book and I'm really looking forward to reading more about these two characters in the next installment. Lincoln was a joy to read about again and I just love his determination of helping his sister in any way he can, even by going back to the Dinosaur continent. He's such a sweet, brave guy and I also can't help shipping him with Storm, even though there isn't really a developed romance present. But they have such an amazing bond, regardless of how things ended in book 1, that just needs to be explored further I think. So I haven't given up hope yet, lol.
Overall it was a fun, fast-paced read just as the first book. I liked it okay enough, definitely, but it just didn't wow me as much as the first book did though. Mostly because there weren't a lot of surprises in comparison to book 1 and because of what I talked about earlier; the mellowness of it all - at least, that's what it felt like to me while reading this book. It feels like a typical #2 in a series/trilogy in which the story expands and is building up towards a final installment. But I'm definitely curious to see how it all continues in the next book; the story-line and the character developments and hopefully some more vicious dinosaur encounters!
I have to admit, I expected a bit more I guess. And it's really hard to pinpoint what it is exactly that made me feel this way.
I missed the presence of dinosaurs on a more frequent level I guess. I mean, they ARE present, don't get me wrong. And they are off on a killing spree, as usual, which is 10 different kinds of awesomeness, lol. But I just expected more grandeur I guess? More T-Rex? It felt a bit mellow in comparison to book 1. And most of all: WHERE IS MILO?! <- me sad! I hope he returns in the next book. @author: please, don't let me hanging here? I loved Storm's relationship with Milo and the fact that because of Milo there's a whole other 'side' of the dinosaurs to learn about, despite of only thinking they can be brutal killing machines.
I did like the development of the 'relationship' between Storm and her father throughout this book and I'm really looking forward to reading more about these two characters in the next installment. Lincoln was a joy to read about again and I just love his determination of helping his sister in any way he can, even by going back to the Dinosaur continent. He's such a sweet, brave guy and I also can't help shipping him with Storm, even though there isn't really a developed romance present. But they have such an amazing bond, regardless of how things ended in book 1, that just needs to be explored further I think. So I haven't given up hope yet, lol.
Overall it was a fun, fast-paced read just as the first book. I liked it okay enough, definitely, but it just didn't wow me as much as the first book did though. Mostly because there weren't a lot of surprises in comparison to book 1 and because of what I talked about earlier; the mellowness of it all - at least, that's what it felt like to me while reading this book. It feels like a typical #2 in a series/trilogy in which the story expands and is building up towards a final installment. But I'm definitely curious to see how it all continues in the next book; the story-line and the character developments and hopefully some more vicious dinosaur encounters!
August 3, 2019
The Extinction Trials 3 Stars (If I had written a review for it...)
1 Star
I have never read a book that was just.. so full of nothing. It's classic Second Book Syndrome: it hints at a lot of the plot points from Book 1 and the plot points for Book 3, but still nothing happens!?
They thought they were safe. The had done what the "big, generic, evil, corrupt government" had asked, now they could have some peace. Yeah, well guess what sweetheart, the government lied!
Characters I mean, do I have to talk about them?
Every time there's a chance for Storm to have some agency, she has to be saved or encouraged a lot to move. And her relationship with her father is super weird. We don't care! Ok? We want dinosaurs! DINOSAURS
Lincoln motivation is still "save his sister" but I truly think his life goal is "BEING A HUGE JERK!"
I don't even know what else to mention.. it just didn't hold up. At. All
***Please note, I was incredibly sleep deprived when I drafted this up, so if it seems thrown together, and generally in shambles, it's cause it is!
***Spoilers***
I understood the need to kill off Blaine but to bring back Galen? Who then proceeds to die IMMEDIATELY?!?!? Lovely...
1 Star
I have never read a book that was just.. so full of nothing. It's classic Second Book Syndrome: it hints at a lot of the plot points from Book 1 and the plot points for Book 3, but still nothing happens!?
They thought they were safe. The had done what the "big, generic, evil, corrupt government" had asked, now they could have some peace. Yeah, well guess what sweetheart, the government lied!
Every time there's a chance for Storm to have some agency, she has to be saved or encouraged a lot to move. And her relationship with her father is super weird. We don't care! Ok? We want dinosaurs! DINOSAURS
Lincoln motivation is still "save his sister" but I truly think his life goal is "BEING A HUGE JERK!"
I don't even know what else to mention.. it just didn't hold up. At. All
***Please note, I was incredibly sleep deprived when I drafted this up, so if it seems thrown together, and generally in shambles, it's cause it is!
***Spoilers***
I understood the need to kill off Blaine but to bring back Galen? Who then proceeds to die IMMEDIATELY?!?!? Lovely...
March 29, 2020
5 beautiful stars. I loved the second book in this series just as much as the first one. It's filled with action packed scenes, characters that you cannot stop rooting for, plenty of mystery, twisty plot reveals and dinosaurs! Oh, my Lost World inner geek is thriving right now. Going straight to the third book, which I'm so stupidly excited about :)
May 14, 2018
As you all are probably aware, Jurassic World 2 is going to be hitting the big screens this Summer, unfortunately I didn't get to be involved with the movie to my constant disappointment, BUT I did get to read the sequel to Extinction Trials! If you're a fan of Jurassic Park or eagerly awaiting the next Jurassic World movie...you need to get on this series!
Huge Jurassic Park fan that I am....I freaking love dinosaurs and honestly...this is the only YA book I know of with dinosaurs in it, which I find ridiculous because how has no-one done dinosaurs before!? But The Extinction Trials kinda makes my life complete and brings dinosaurs to the YA genre perfectly!
Both of our narrators, Lincoln and Storm, are back and they're still haunted by the island and what they went through there. Storm is now an aide to the Captain Regent...at least on paper. But really she's mapping Piloria and telling him all she knows about the dinosaurs, while mourning the loss of Milo who's disappeared. Meanwhile Lincoln is working in the lab on the T-Rex virus, but the scientist in charge has them start investigating human DNA, in hopes of finding out more about the blistering plague...and a cure, when his daughter is struck with it.
But that's just the start of everything. We have a new and rather unpleasant character in the form of Silas, who's after Reban's job and thanks to the DNA research he knows exactly how to get it. He's most certainly shady AF, and he's out to get Storm...or at least her father. I really don't like him, nor do I trust him. He decides it's time to crack out the dinosaur viruses and basically grabs and kidnaps all the previous finalists because they're getting a nice little return trip to Plioria to plant the virus and they don't have a lot of say in the matter.
That does mean we get to see Leif again, and it was interesting to see the relationship between the three of them after the events of the previous book. They had to work at their friendship, but it was heart warming to see them working as a team again! Plus Leif and new character Jesa where totally cute together! Jesa is Blaine's daughter, oh yeah, his family is coming in to play in this book! I wasn't sure I liked her at first but I ended up loving her, she was scared but she persevered and she was actually kinda like Storm! Which is just as well because they buddy up! I'm hoping we get to see more of her in the next book!
Reban was an interesting addition to the cast, I know he was in the last book but we didn't get to see much of him, and in this book we really get to know him and see what he's like. We also get to see him interacting with Storm, which was an interesting development and we learned a few revelations about Storm's family. I was rooting for him and Storm to establish some kind of relationship bt it was a tough road, I can't say I was surprised by Storm's decision at the end, but it's certainly opened up an interesting avenue for the next book!
I have to say, I do kind of ship Storm and Lincoln after this book. There's no more lies between them, and no-one's hiding anything and they gradually get back to a good place. They hit me in the feels more than once, but don't get me wrong...there's no glaring, in your face romance. The feelings and relationship are very subtle, it's only really with this book that I started to ship them in earnest!
Exile has a steady pace, the first half has us getting to grips with how things are in the aftermath of the previous book, meeting some shady characters and getting clued in that something is going on...something possibly not quite right, as well as some clues about a potential cure.
The second half of the book sees us back on Piloria, and the author really comes through for us, hitting us with some new dinosaurs, including my favourite from Jurassic Park, although I doubt I'll cackle quite so much at that scene after reading about them in this book. You know the one....the dude that totally deserves it at the beginning of the movie....
Exile gives us some new characters, some interesting and hopefully coming in to play in the next book and some shady, we're also provided with some new plot openings, and plot threads to carry on in the next book, as well as having some from the last book carried on and expanded upon. There's action, danger and adventure and we're left, once again, wanting more. Things are starting to head in a certain direction, one that might not be so good for the dinosaurs and I'm excited to see how it plays out...not to be mean to the dinosaurs or anything!
This is one of my favourite new series, I have to say, I mostly love this series because it's like a YA Jurassic Park mixed with the Hunger Games, although this book has none of the Hunger Games vibe of the previous one. This one lets us explore the science and Piloria more, as well as the dinosaurs. Like I said...there aren't enough YA books about dinosaurs, and this has such a brilliant mix of elements to it, it keeps drawing you in, and Piloria is a very vivid place. The mystery, and the foreboding, and the danger and tension...and the whole "what happens next?!" of it all keeps you hooked in to the story!
Huge Jurassic Park fan that I am....I freaking love dinosaurs and honestly...this is the only YA book I know of with dinosaurs in it, which I find ridiculous because how has no-one done dinosaurs before!? But The Extinction Trials kinda makes my life complete and brings dinosaurs to the YA genre perfectly!
Both of our narrators, Lincoln and Storm, are back and they're still haunted by the island and what they went through there. Storm is now an aide to the Captain Regent...at least on paper. But really she's mapping Piloria and telling him all she knows about the dinosaurs, while mourning the loss of Milo who's disappeared. Meanwhile Lincoln is working in the lab on the T-Rex virus, but the scientist in charge has them start investigating human DNA, in hopes of finding out more about the blistering plague...and a cure, when his daughter is struck with it.
But that's just the start of everything. We have a new and rather unpleasant character in the form of Silas, who's after Reban's job and thanks to the DNA research he knows exactly how to get it. He's most certainly shady AF, and he's out to get Storm...or at least her father. I really don't like him, nor do I trust him. He decides it's time to crack out the dinosaur viruses and basically grabs and kidnaps all the previous finalists because they're getting a nice little return trip to Plioria to plant the virus and they don't have a lot of say in the matter.
That does mean we get to see Leif again, and it was interesting to see the relationship between the three of them after the events of the previous book. They had to work at their friendship, but it was heart warming to see them working as a team again! Plus Leif and new character Jesa where totally cute together! Jesa is Blaine's daughter, oh yeah, his family is coming in to play in this book! I wasn't sure I liked her at first but I ended up loving her, she was scared but she persevered and she was actually kinda like Storm! Which is just as well because they buddy up! I'm hoping we get to see more of her in the next book!
Reban was an interesting addition to the cast, I know he was in the last book but we didn't get to see much of him, and in this book we really get to know him and see what he's like. We also get to see him interacting with Storm, which was an interesting development and we learned a few revelations about Storm's family. I was rooting for him and Storm to establish some kind of relationship bt it was a tough road, I can't say I was surprised by Storm's decision at the end, but it's certainly opened up an interesting avenue for the next book!
I have to say, I do kind of ship Storm and Lincoln after this book. There's no more lies between them, and no-one's hiding anything and they gradually get back to a good place. They hit me in the feels more than once, but don't get me wrong...there's no glaring, in your face romance. The feelings and relationship are very subtle, it's only really with this book that I started to ship them in earnest!
Exile has a steady pace, the first half has us getting to grips with how things are in the aftermath of the previous book, meeting some shady characters and getting clued in that something is going on...something possibly not quite right, as well as some clues about a potential cure.
The second half of the book sees us back on Piloria, and the author really comes through for us, hitting us with some new dinosaurs, including my favourite from Jurassic Park, although I doubt I'll cackle quite so much at that scene after reading about them in this book. You know the one....the dude that totally deserves it at the beginning of the movie....
Exile gives us some new characters, some interesting and hopefully coming in to play in the next book and some shady, we're also provided with some new plot openings, and plot threads to carry on in the next book, as well as having some from the last book carried on and expanded upon. There's action, danger and adventure and we're left, once again, wanting more. Things are starting to head in a certain direction, one that might not be so good for the dinosaurs and I'm excited to see how it plays out...not to be mean to the dinosaurs or anything!
This is one of my favourite new series, I have to say, I mostly love this series because it's like a YA Jurassic Park mixed with the Hunger Games, although this book has none of the Hunger Games vibe of the previous one. This one lets us explore the science and Piloria more, as well as the dinosaurs. Like I said...there aren't enough YA books about dinosaurs, and this has such a brilliant mix of elements to it, it keeps drawing you in, and Piloria is a very vivid place. The mystery, and the foreboding, and the danger and tension...and the whole "what happens next?!" of it all keeps you hooked in to the story!
January 10, 2020
4 stars
I really enjoyed this! The dinosaurs, the characters, the drama. It was very different to the first book but I still loved it and raced through it in a day.
This series is unlike anything else I've ever read. Brilliant!
I really enjoyed this! The dinosaurs, the characters, the drama. It was very different to the first book but I still loved it and raced through it in a day.
This series is unlike anything else I've ever read. Brilliant!
May 9, 2023
Gotta say, I loved this more than the first book! This was just a fun read, I loved learning more about Storm and her ancestry and being back on Piloria felt great! And to start the final book immediately!
January 29, 2019
*2.5 stars*
Review to come.
Review to come.
February 7, 2019
It is a month after the end of the Trial and Storm is not a popular person. Her relationship with Dell has yet to recover from the strain of her helping others and not helping him and they disagree about the killing of the dinosaurs with the virus that is still being constructed. She is finding living with a huge group of people, her 'claimed family', impossible after the solitude she had before, and isn't coping with the responsibility. She is well aware that Reban Don knows she is lying about her 'family' to get them the food and healthcare they need and she fears at any moment it will all be taken away from them. Now her lies about her skills have led to a change of job, working in with the very people she needs to avoid.
Lincoln decides to use the remains of the salve on his sister Arta in the hospital as she is deteriorating and thinks he may have an ally when a top scientist's daughter comes down with the same deadly illness. Could they get back to Piloria to get more of the medicine if it works? Can he trust that this man will help him save Arta and not just his own child? He is also brooding that he has lost his friends because of his actions at the Trial, but manages to make contact with Blaine's family to share news of his survival, knowing the risk that he is taking.
Then everything blows up around them with the announcement that the drug is ready to be tested and a new expedition back to Piloria will begin-sending back everyone who survived the first trip. Lincoln sees the opportunity to find Blaine and get the recipe to the salve which could halt the plague but he'll need to get his friends on side again to help him. Storm is still torn at the prospect of having to kill the dinosaurs but returning to Piloria feels better than the environment that she is leaving. Reban Don also finds that his circumstances are now about to change drastically as his enemies plot his downfall when they discover his secret.
I was so excited to get back into this book world! I loved the first book and couldn't wait to get reading this one. It has a slower startthan the first book but I never found it dull in any way. I was interested to see the struggles that Storm and Lincoln were going through on their return home, and how they deal with the consequences of their lies told at the Trial. I liked seeing the change of attitude of the scientist when his daughter got sick which nicely set up a secondary mission for the group that were being sent back. The thing I liked most in these early chapters was was the move that was made against Reban Don by his enemies, led by Silas, and what that meant for Storm.
Most of all, I was excited to see everyone head back to Piloria. I can fully understand why Storm is happy to be back in a place with freedom, beauty, food and medicine rather than the grim life that they all have at home, in spite of the dinosaur danger. It was interesting to have the addition of Jesa, who has been seeking news of her father for years and now has the chance to join the expedition to go and see for herself, unaware of her father's fragile mental state. I liked the nervousness of the boat trip as every survivor knows exactly what they are going to face this time as they are instructed to deliver the virus to the nests of the dangerous predators and note whether it works or not. I loved the dinosaur interactions and the sheer danger of this mission.
The thing I loved most about this book was Reban Don. Having hated him for his attitude to Storm in the first book, it was great to now see all the other sides to him as he joins the expedition. I really did warm to him throughout the book as he proves himself in many different ways. I don't want to go into any more detail and spoil things but I really enjoyed this side of the plot. It was interesting to see the fractured group of friends at odds with the missions and struggling to trust each other as they are forced to work together again. I liked having Leif back with Lincoln and Storm as I liked him in the first book.
The other great thing about the book were the unexpected twists which of course I can't talk about! One in particular really shocked me and I do enjoy when an author can pull off an unexpected surprise without the reader seeing it coming. I did sort of expect the ending but it in no way detracted from the impact of it on the characters. There was also a loose thread left there that could go either way-I'm talking here about Leif's situation so I hope those who have read it understand what I mean. Is he or isn't he? I really hope not! What will the author do with it I wonder!
I've seen some mixed reviews of the book so I want to give a few thoughts on this. Some think it was too slow to get into Piloria. OK maybe for some people but I felt that it was important to set the stage for Lincoln's quest by showing the situation in the hospital and with the scientists, and for the new plot of Storm being thrown together with Reban Don. If you want to be hyper critical perhaps the scenes with Octavius and her working for him could have been reduced but perhaps that could be important in book three. Others complained that the ending was too random and I don't agree with that.What Storm did has been brewing in her mind since she first went to Piloria and the hints were there through both books even before Reban Don comes into consideration. I expected this to happen and felt it was correct for her character.
SM Wilson is obviously a great storyteller as it isn't hard to get into these books and be swept along in the plot. I cared about her characters when I first met them and I've enjoyed seeing them evolve. I liked seeing the group dynamics in both books and the complicated friendships just as much as the dinosaur dangers they faced. I liked that there is no gooey romance clouding the story and that Storm and Lincoln's connection is emotional but complex. I have really enjoyed the first two books and can't wait for the third book in February!
Lincoln decides to use the remains of the salve on his sister Arta in the hospital as she is deteriorating and thinks he may have an ally when a top scientist's daughter comes down with the same deadly illness. Could they get back to Piloria to get more of the medicine if it works? Can he trust that this man will help him save Arta and not just his own child? He is also brooding that he has lost his friends because of his actions at the Trial, but manages to make contact with Blaine's family to share news of his survival, knowing the risk that he is taking.
Then everything blows up around them with the announcement that the drug is ready to be tested and a new expedition back to Piloria will begin-sending back everyone who survived the first trip. Lincoln sees the opportunity to find Blaine and get the recipe to the salve which could halt the plague but he'll need to get his friends on side again to help him. Storm is still torn at the prospect of having to kill the dinosaurs but returning to Piloria feels better than the environment that she is leaving. Reban Don also finds that his circumstances are now about to change drastically as his enemies plot his downfall when they discover his secret.
I was so excited to get back into this book world! I loved the first book and couldn't wait to get reading this one. It has a slower startthan the first book but I never found it dull in any way. I was interested to see the struggles that Storm and Lincoln were going through on their return home, and how they deal with the consequences of their lies told at the Trial. I liked seeing the change of attitude of the scientist when his daughter got sick which nicely set up a secondary mission for the group that were being sent back. The thing I liked most in these early chapters was was the move that was made against Reban Don by his enemies, led by Silas, and what that meant for Storm.
Most of all, I was excited to see everyone head back to Piloria. I can fully understand why Storm is happy to be back in a place with freedom, beauty, food and medicine rather than the grim life that they all have at home, in spite of the dinosaur danger. It was interesting to have the addition of Jesa, who has been seeking news of her father for years and now has the chance to join the expedition to go and see for herself, unaware of her father's fragile mental state. I liked the nervousness of the boat trip as every survivor knows exactly what they are going to face this time as they are instructed to deliver the virus to the nests of the dangerous predators and note whether it works or not. I loved the dinosaur interactions and the sheer danger of this mission.
The thing I loved most about this book was Reban Don. Having hated him for his attitude to Storm in the first book, it was great to now see all the other sides to him as he joins the expedition. I really did warm to him throughout the book as he proves himself in many different ways. I don't want to go into any more detail and spoil things but I really enjoyed this side of the plot. It was interesting to see the fractured group of friends at odds with the missions and struggling to trust each other as they are forced to work together again. I liked having Leif back with Lincoln and Storm as I liked him in the first book.
The other great thing about the book were the unexpected twists which of course I can't talk about! One in particular really shocked me and I do enjoy when an author can pull off an unexpected surprise without the reader seeing it coming. I did sort of expect the ending but it in no way detracted from the impact of it on the characters. There was also a loose thread left there that could go either way-I'm talking here about Leif's situation so I hope those who have read it understand what I mean. Is he or isn't he? I really hope not! What will the author do with it I wonder!
I've seen some mixed reviews of the book so I want to give a few thoughts on this. Some think it was too slow to get into Piloria. OK maybe for some people but I felt that it was important to set the stage for Lincoln's quest by showing the situation in the hospital and with the scientists, and for the new plot of Storm being thrown together with Reban Don. If you want to be hyper critical perhaps the scenes with Octavius and her working for him could have been reduced but perhaps that could be important in book three. Others complained that the ending was too random and I don't agree with that.What Storm did has been brewing in her mind since she first went to Piloria and the hints were there through both books even before Reban Don comes into consideration. I expected this to happen and felt it was correct for her character.
SM Wilson is obviously a great storyteller as it isn't hard to get into these books and be swept along in the plot. I cared about her characters when I first met them and I've enjoyed seeing them evolve. I liked seeing the group dynamics in both books and the complicated friendships just as much as the dinosaur dangers they faced. I liked that there is no gooey romance clouding the story and that Storm and Lincoln's connection is emotional but complex. I have really enjoyed the first two books and can't wait for the third book in February!
June 24, 2021
I’ve read worse sequels. A ringing endorsement, right?
There were elements in this book that were better than the first. I was waaaay more upset for the character that dies in this book than I ever was for Rue in the hunger games. The action was still awesome. Oooh! And we got another female character.
But then the other stuff? Well… for starters a third of the last book was about the fact they only found two eggs. And then at the start of this one they had all three?! I’ve just never read a plot whole so massive.
And while I was excited about the new girl character, Storm was completely ruined!! In danger she just froze. Every time! I wanted to scream at her.
Overall, this wasn’t a well written book. But I can overlook A LOT for good action. And I still want to read the finale so that’s good, right?
There were elements in this book that were better than the first. I was waaaay more upset for the character that dies in this book than I ever was for Rue in the hunger games. The action was still awesome. Oooh! And we got another female character.
But then the other stuff? Well… for starters a third of the last book was about the fact they only found two eggs. And then at the start of this one they had all three?! I’ve just never read a plot whole so massive.
And while I was excited about the new girl character, Storm was completely ruined!! In danger she just froze. Every time! I wanted to scream at her.
Overall, this wasn’t a well written book. But I can overlook A LOT for good action. And I still want to read the finale so that’s good, right?
June 20, 2018
This book compared to the previous one is more like 3 stars than 4 but since I should rate the book for itself it is a FOUR rating, definitely.
It just took so much to get back to Piloria and I wanted the dinosaurs. Ok?
I mean I care about the main characters but I am not a fan of dinos to watch them roaring and stop. I want blood and rage, and cleverness. (This sounded really problematic but still.. Dinosaurs are supposed to be dinosaurs)
That is why I LOVED SO MUCH the dilophosaur CHAPTER. It was DIVINE! 💕 And it reminded me the same chapter in the Jurassic Park book which, for the record, is way better than what we saw about it in the movie!
I really can't wait to see how this trilogy will end.
It just took so much to get back to Piloria and I wanted the dinosaurs. Ok?
I mean I care about the main characters but I am not a fan of dinos to watch them roaring and stop. I want blood and rage, and cleverness. (This sounded really problematic but still.. Dinosaurs are supposed to be dinosaurs)
That is why I LOVED SO MUCH the dilophosaur CHAPTER. It was DIVINE! 💕 And it reminded me the same chapter in the Jurassic Park book which, for the record, is way better than what we saw about it in the movie!
I really can't wait to see how this trilogy will end.
June 15, 2018
This book took 200 pages before it really started to pick up the pace and become interesting. I probably found it slow because I just wanted to be submerged in the dangerous world of Piloria.
Also I’ve found that I can delve deeper into the book when I looked up each dinosaur. I loved being able to picture what our characters were being chased by.
I appreciated the characters development and relationships, although I found a lot of the plots to be predictable.
I wasn’t blown away by this book but it has made an intriguing set up for book three.
Also I’ve found that I can delve deeper into the book when I looked up each dinosaur. I loved being able to picture what our characters were being chased by.
I appreciated the characters development and relationships, although I found a lot of the plots to be predictable.
I wasn’t blown away by this book but it has made an intriguing set up for book three.
June 9, 2018
So I just had to finish this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat every minute! now the waiting for book three begins!!!
March 16, 2021
2,5*
Finally finished reading this book. The end was the only thing that made me curious for the last book in this series and the reason I gave this book 2,5* in stead of the 2* I wanted to give.
Finally finished reading this book. The end was the only thing that made me curious for the last book in this series and the reason I gave this book 2,5* in stead of the 2* I wanted to give.
June 22, 2023
"stormchaser was ready to start a new life... with her dad" wtf name is stormchaser
December 3, 2018
This is a bit of a guilty pleasure read for me! It’s not great... but I sort of want more! RTC
February 20, 2023
The beginning was quite tedious to read but the moment they finally reached Piloria I was glued to the book. The attack from Galen was a shocker and Blaine's death was so fast. When Storm decided to stay on Piloria I was in immense shock from the twist.
In conclusion, the book was very fast paced and filled with high stakes moments. It was written well and was a nice continuation of the first book of the trilogy.
In conclusion, the book was very fast paced and filled with high stakes moments. It was written well and was a nice continuation of the first book of the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2021
DINOSAURS, OH MY!
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Wow am I so happy I found this series! It’s pure entertainment for me (as a dinosaur fanatic) to get to read these. I love the dystopian-type setting and the exploration of Piloria.
Once again we have our two main characters, Lincoln and Stormchaser. I still liked them this time around. Though it looks like there might be some feelings there and I want more exploration of that. More exploration of all the characters interactions and musings. It’s a continual high stakes read with being chased by dinosaurs and surviving in the wild, that I’m realizing I’m not getting a lot of character connection.
I did see it come out towards the end and am so happy that it went the direction I was hoping. I think Strom and Lincoln both have some big decisions to make and it has amped up the finale. This series is overall an intriguing premise and I will practically read anything that involves dinosaurs.
Overall audience notes:
- Young adult dystopia
- Language: none
- Romance: none
- Violence: dinosaur attacks, endemic of a skin disease, physical/weapon attacks
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
Wow am I so happy I found this series! It’s pure entertainment for me (as a dinosaur fanatic) to get to read these. I love the dystopian-type setting and the exploration of Piloria.
Once again we have our two main characters, Lincoln and Stormchaser. I still liked them this time around. Though it looks like there might be some feelings there and I want more exploration of that. More exploration of all the characters interactions and musings. It’s a continual high stakes read with being chased by dinosaurs and surviving in the wild, that I’m realizing I’m not getting a lot of character connection.
I did see it come out towards the end and am so happy that it went the direction I was hoping. I think Strom and Lincoln both have some big decisions to make and it has amped up the finale. This series is overall an intriguing premise and I will practically read anything that involves dinosaurs.
Overall audience notes:
- Young adult dystopia
- Language: none
- Romance: none
- Violence: dinosaur attacks, endemic of a skin disease, physical/weapon attacks
June 13, 2018
If you read my review of The Extinction Trials back in January you’ll know that I fell head over heels in love with this series. So you could say that my expectations were stacked pretty high before picking up book 2, Exile. You’ll be pleased to know that Exile packs just the same level of punch as the first book does, possibly even more!
Picking up not long after the ending of The Extinction Trials, we find ourselves back on Earthasia with Stormchaser, Lincoln and a few others. Storm and Lincoln are both struggling in their own way to come to terms with what they went through on Piloria and we get to see a bit of a different side to them both. I really enjoyed getting to see a bit more of the politics behind the Stipulators. I was keen to see how things were going to pan out for Storm and Reban Don, how little Arta was faring and then we got to meet the curious character that is Octavius Arange too. It was great to be reunited with old friends but I did take a shining to some of the new characters fairly quickly too.
The whole time we were on Earthasia I was itching to get back to Piloria and be surrounded by gorgeous greenery and terrifying dinosaurs (sorry to ruin any illusion of paradise you may have just built…). And, of course, my dream came true and it wasn’t too long before Storm and team were heading back out to Piloria on a slightly different mission this time. Let me tell you now, friends, the action does not wait around for you. Within minutes of them being in Piloria the action is there and, in my opinion, ramped up a step from the previous book. I loved how quickly we were reminded that although Piloria is gorgeous, it is a deadly land where the humans are definitely on the back foot.
The “do dinosaurs deserve to die?” question was well thought of in this book too. It is a question that was raised by Storm in The Extinction Trials as she struggled to decide whether the humans had any right to take Piloria for their own. This goes a step further in this second instalment as we see Storm and a few others face the idea of killing the dinosaurs. I just really love that there is a moral aspect behind the book too. It tugs on my little old heart strings.
Some readers have decided pretty quickly whether they are team Stormchaser or team Lincoln (our two narrators) but I honestly can’t pick. Both of them have qualities that I really admire and, more importantly, they both have their flaws. I love that Stormchaser is so ballsy. She takes the adventure face on, shows great courage and determination whilst also showing her caring and empathetic side. Lincoln melts my heart, especially when it comes to his little, poorly sister Arta. I love reading from both of their POVs and love how this adds a slightly different element as you get to see both of the growing.
I was THRILLED that we got to see much more of Blaine in book two. I adored this crazy guy back in book one but we didn’t see too much of him. There were some really touching moments involving Blaine and his storyline in this book and they made me really emotional. Speaking of which, there was a LOT of tugging on my heart strings during this book and I think that was partially because I just adore the characters and reading this book felt like sitting down for a coffee and natter with a best friend. I didn’t reread The Extinction Trials before picking up Exile but within pages I was right back there in that world.
The world building is, yet again, absolutely exquisite. The scenery is so vivid and lush; I was so easily able to imagine myself clambering through the gorgeous forests of Piloria with the ground crunching beneath my feet and the dense heat around me. The dinosaurs were just as terrifying yet awe-inspiring as previously. I am still 100% certain I could not survive on Piloria but if I was offered the chance to go I certainly wouldn’t turn it down.
This series is a true wonder. The ending had me gasping aloud to myself and I am SO flipping excited to see what is going to happen next. One thing is for certain, I’ll be on the edge of my seat the next time I visit Piloria too! Absolutely brilliant!
An ENORMOUS thanks to the lovely Stevie at Usborne for sending me a review copy and an even bigger thanks to Susan for writing such wonderful books and even giving little old me a shout out in the acknowledgements – what a huge privilege!
Picking up not long after the ending of The Extinction Trials, we find ourselves back on Earthasia with Stormchaser, Lincoln and a few others. Storm and Lincoln are both struggling in their own way to come to terms with what they went through on Piloria and we get to see a bit of a different side to them both. I really enjoyed getting to see a bit more of the politics behind the Stipulators. I was keen to see how things were going to pan out for Storm and Reban Don, how little Arta was faring and then we got to meet the curious character that is Octavius Arange too. It was great to be reunited with old friends but I did take a shining to some of the new characters fairly quickly too.
The whole time we were on Earthasia I was itching to get back to Piloria and be surrounded by gorgeous greenery and terrifying dinosaurs (sorry to ruin any illusion of paradise you may have just built…). And, of course, my dream came true and it wasn’t too long before Storm and team were heading back out to Piloria on a slightly different mission this time. Let me tell you now, friends, the action does not wait around for you. Within minutes of them being in Piloria the action is there and, in my opinion, ramped up a step from the previous book. I loved how quickly we were reminded that although Piloria is gorgeous, it is a deadly land where the humans are definitely on the back foot.
The “do dinosaurs deserve to die?” question was well thought of in this book too. It is a question that was raised by Storm in The Extinction Trials as she struggled to decide whether the humans had any right to take Piloria for their own. This goes a step further in this second instalment as we see Storm and a few others face the idea of killing the dinosaurs. I just really love that there is a moral aspect behind the book too. It tugs on my little old heart strings.
Some readers have decided pretty quickly whether they are team Stormchaser or team Lincoln (our two narrators) but I honestly can’t pick. Both of them have qualities that I really admire and, more importantly, they both have their flaws. I love that Stormchaser is so ballsy. She takes the adventure face on, shows great courage and determination whilst also showing her caring and empathetic side. Lincoln melts my heart, especially when it comes to his little, poorly sister Arta. I love reading from both of their POVs and love how this adds a slightly different element as you get to see both of the growing.
I was THRILLED that we got to see much more of Blaine in book two. I adored this crazy guy back in book one but we didn’t see too much of him. There were some really touching moments involving Blaine and his storyline in this book and they made me really emotional. Speaking of which, there was a LOT of tugging on my heart strings during this book and I think that was partially because I just adore the characters and reading this book felt like sitting down for a coffee and natter with a best friend. I didn’t reread The Extinction Trials before picking up Exile but within pages I was right back there in that world.
The world building is, yet again, absolutely exquisite. The scenery is so vivid and lush; I was so easily able to imagine myself clambering through the gorgeous forests of Piloria with the ground crunching beneath my feet and the dense heat around me. The dinosaurs were just as terrifying yet awe-inspiring as previously. I am still 100% certain I could not survive on Piloria but if I was offered the chance to go I certainly wouldn’t turn it down.
This series is a true wonder. The ending had me gasping aloud to myself and I am SO flipping excited to see what is going to happen next. One thing is for certain, I’ll be on the edge of my seat the next time I visit Piloria too! Absolutely brilliant!
An ENORMOUS thanks to the lovely Stevie at Usborne for sending me a review copy and an even bigger thanks to Susan for writing such wonderful books and even giving little old me a shout out in the acknowledgements – what a huge privilege!
June 17, 2018
Please note: As Exile is book 2 in The Extinction Trials series, there may be some spoilers in this review for Book 1.
Exile picks up pretty much right where The Extinction Trials left off, not long after the team had returned from Piloria. The help Storm demanded for Lincoln’s sister, and the siblings of the two teammates they lost on Piloria last time, has been granted, but Storm is now living in a house full of people. Something she’s not at all used to.
Lincoln’s sister is becoming increasingly ill from the blistering plague and in a desperate attempt to try anything, he gives her some of the ointment Blaine made for them to heal their wounds on Piloria. The results seem promising, and when the daughter of one of the Stipulator’s he works with in the lab falls ill, the chance to make the cure a reality surfaces. The problem is, the ingredients for the cure reside on Piloria, the dinosaur continent.
Storm, Lincoln and Leif find themselves back on Piloria with a different task this time – plant untested viruses that might rid the island of the giant predators. But their team is more interested in trying to gather what they need to fight the blistering plague.
Although Exile didn’t feature quite as much dinosaur action as the first book, I still loved it. There was more focus on the relationships between the characters and the complicated feelings they had towards each other. The lines really started to blur when it came to characters we had seen as unfeeling villains in the first book. There were still plenty of tense dinosaur moments and the introduction of new dinosaurs we didn’t get to see in the first book. I love the descriptions of Piloria in these books, I almost feel as though I am there.
I am really enjoying this series and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a tense Jurassic Park meets The Hunger Games style book! I can’t wait for book three!
MY BLOG ~ INSTAGRAM
Exile picks up pretty much right where The Extinction Trials left off, not long after the team had returned from Piloria. The help Storm demanded for Lincoln’s sister, and the siblings of the two teammates they lost on Piloria last time, has been granted, but Storm is now living in a house full of people. Something she’s not at all used to.
Lincoln’s sister is becoming increasingly ill from the blistering plague and in a desperate attempt to try anything, he gives her some of the ointment Blaine made for them to heal their wounds on Piloria. The results seem promising, and when the daughter of one of the Stipulator’s he works with in the lab falls ill, the chance to make the cure a reality surfaces. The problem is, the ingredients for the cure reside on Piloria, the dinosaur continent.
Storm, Lincoln and Leif find themselves back on Piloria with a different task this time – plant untested viruses that might rid the island of the giant predators. But their team is more interested in trying to gather what they need to fight the blistering plague.
Although Exile didn’t feature quite as much dinosaur action as the first book, I still loved it. There was more focus on the relationships between the characters and the complicated feelings they had towards each other. The lines really started to blur when it came to characters we had seen as unfeeling villains in the first book. There were still plenty of tense dinosaur moments and the introduction of new dinosaurs we didn’t get to see in the first book. I love the descriptions of Piloria in these books, I almost feel as though I am there.
I am really enjoying this series and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a tense Jurassic Park meets The Hunger Games style book! I can’t wait for book three!
MY BLOG ~ INSTAGRAM
October 16, 2018
Just like Jurassic Park before it, ‘The Extinction Trials’ amps up the drama and sends us back to the doomed island with the hopes that this time will be different only to find that it is just as bloody as before.
“The Extinction Trails: Exile” sees the aftermath of the finals where Storm and Lincoln are at odds while suffering from flashbacks to their time on the dinosaur continent and the less than viable conditions at home. When there’s a break in a cure for the plague and Storm’s paternity comes to light they find themselves thrown together and back in the land of monsters hoping to survive one more trial.
I think with the title of this series it’s meant obviously for the dinosaurs but also for the state of humanity and that couldn’t be more apparent than in this book. Despite what they learned about the island those are in charge are more concerned about their agenda and will stop at nothing to achieve and hold on to power even if it means letting innocent people suffer, where have we seen that before?
There’s also a through line of the relationship between fathers and their children and mostly in this case their daughters and how their decisions impact those closest to them for better or for worse. It was interesting to see that play out and how it differed depending on the duo in question and I look forward to seeing more of it in the next installment.
I think the greatest strength of this series isn’t the fact that it has dinosaurs, which lets be honest is pretty cool and original for the ya genre these days, but rather the human dynamics that stand center stage both at home where everything is falling apart and it’s better to serve your own interests versus the island where you’re stronger together and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
“The Extinction Trails: Exile” sees the aftermath of the finals where Storm and Lincoln are at odds while suffering from flashbacks to their time on the dinosaur continent and the less than viable conditions at home. When there’s a break in a cure for the plague and Storm’s paternity comes to light they find themselves thrown together and back in the land of monsters hoping to survive one more trial.
I think with the title of this series it’s meant obviously for the dinosaurs but also for the state of humanity and that couldn’t be more apparent than in this book. Despite what they learned about the island those are in charge are more concerned about their agenda and will stop at nothing to achieve and hold on to power even if it means letting innocent people suffer, where have we seen that before?
There’s also a through line of the relationship between fathers and their children and mostly in this case their daughters and how their decisions impact those closest to them for better or for worse. It was interesting to see that play out and how it differed depending on the duo in question and I look forward to seeing more of it in the next installment.
I think the greatest strength of this series isn’t the fact that it has dinosaurs, which lets be honest is pretty cool and original for the ya genre these days, but rather the human dynamics that stand center stage both at home where everything is falling apart and it’s better to serve your own interests versus the island where you’re stronger together and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
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