Abduction

Recompense #4

by Michelle Isenhoff

You've read Jack's story. You know the important role her grandmother Ruby played, turning evidence against the Bruelim and initiating the Axis investigation at the end of the Provocation. Now read Ruby's full story.

Ruby Parnell has given little thought to the disappearances happening all across the North American Republic. She's focused entirely on her upcoming high school graduation and subsequent escape. More than anything, she longs to board a ship and leave Tidbury Bay forever. Though she appreciates the wild beauty of the harbor and the protection its isolation has offered, she needs to get out and touch the world around her. There are a million places she yet to see.

Ruby has another reason for wanting to leave. Namely her sister. How can two people related by blood be such polar opposites? Ruby can never live up to the standard Opal has set; she doesn't even want to try. Opal is the good student, the uncomplaining worker. She's such a model of perfection that Ruby never sees her betrayal coming. In a moment of emotional recklessness, Ruby flees to the woods alone. She awakens a captive of a cruel race in a land she's never heard of before.

Ruby's about to find out what happens to the missing.

Abduction is a full-length prequel to the Recompense series, intended to be read at the completion of the main trilogy.

400 pages, ebook

Published May 15, 2018

About the author

MICHELLE ISENHOFF writes for women, teens, and tweens. Her work has been reader-nominated for a Cybils Award, the Great Michigan Read, and the Maine Student Book Award. She's also placed as a semi-finalist in the Kindle Book Review Book Awards, a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, and earned multiple Readers' Favorite 5 Star seals of approval. A former teacher and longtime homeschooler, Michelle has written extensively in the children's genre and been lauded by the education community for the literary quality of her work. More recently, she has enjoyed writing historical romance for older teens and women. Currently, she is relishing the creative freedom of branching out into adult speculative fiction.


**Visit her blog at www.michelleisenhoff.com.

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Reviews

[Patricia Tilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle Isenhoff's world-building is imaginative and intelligent, with a strong elements of realism. She makes her readers think, ask questions and look at the world around them. Her execution of cliffhangers at the end of each chapter propels the reader into the next one, making Abduction and her other books addictive reads. And her characters stay with you.

It is Ruby’s risk-taking and thrill-seeking nature and her stubborn determination that allows her to fight for what she believes and return. She plans a massive escape for all of the women in her compound, but fails. She endures unbelievable punishment and brutality by the heartless Bruelims, and experiences heart-wrenching loss. Yet she still manages to be the first of over 100,000 captives to escape Brunay and shed some light on the reason for the abductions (NO SPOILERS). It is a harrowing story of resilience.

After reading Ruby’s story, I understand the similar personality traits between Jack and her grandmother. They both are on the same unrelenting mission with stubborn abandon for their own safety so that others may be freed. Excellent series!

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intense, emotionally exhausting novel, and I could hardly put it down. Of course, since it's a prequel, I went into it knowing something of the outcome and expecting an unpleasant story. That didn't make it any easier to read.

Despite the horrific events this story contains, it is also full of beautiful characters who display resiliency and goodness. Mara, Cloe, Juel, Opie, Willoughby, and others offer friendship and love that spark hope in even dark places. Even some of the "bad guys" showed a glimpse of their humanity. And I loved watching Ruby grow throughout the story even as I hated how painful the metamorphosis was.

Even though Abduction is a prequel, note that it is book 4 in the series and should definitely be read in order.

*I received a free ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephen Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series continues with the backstory of Ruby Parnell. How did Ruby get kidnapped originally? What happened to her? How did she escape? How did she disappear the second time? These are the pieces spoken of very briefly in the main series as Jack's, Jaclyn Holloway, heritage comes to be known over time. These and many other questions are answered in this book. This book also opens up the possibility of other side books. Another great story by Michelle Isenhoff, again hard to put down as the story is so well written and pulls you into the characters. Definitely going to read the 5th book.

[J.M. Stengl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a prequel to the series, but should be read after the first three. Beautifully written, gripping, horrifying--it is not a happy read, but it brings even greater depth to the dystopian world.
Definitely for older teens and up--the main character is horribly abused. But she is one tough cookie and never quits.