Fugitives

by Jes Drew

Emily Rogers hoped her most dangerous days were behind her when she escaped from the Island. But soon she realizes that trying to figure out her relationship with Christopher Willaims and dodging nosy reporters are the least of her worries. The evil they uncovered on the Island is hunting them down. Once again torn away from their parents and normal life, Emily and her cousins along with Christopher and Oto and a handful of allies must flee through Europe. To be caught would mean certain death, but how long can one keep ahead of the powers that be?

Genres: Adventure, Young Adult

260 pages

Published April 16, 2018

About the author

Jes Drew is the author of the Cursed Fae of Orphydice Manor Series, the Sunset at Dawn trilogy, The Samurai's Student saga, the Ninja and Hunter trilogy, the Howling Twenty trilogy, the Kristian Clark saga/The Man on the Run series, the Castaways trilogy, The Dystopian Takeover trilogy, Summers of Yesteryear series, The Clockwork Faerie Tale Novellas, the Legends of the Master Spy series, The New ESE Files series, Tales from Parallel Worlds, Genie and Serena, Accidentally on the Run, This Side of Heaven, and The Death of a Hero.


She has three degrees, including a Master of Arts in Behavioral Counseling. Also, she has about five million houseplants (and counting— the plants and not the degrees . . . unless she relapses). She is still debating if having a fae husband is worth the hassle.


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Reviews

[Jes Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love on the run books. Not only are you running from imminent danger, but also the tensions spike with those who are on the run together. Families draw closer together or crumble. Romances flourish or fade away. And misunderstandings always have to take second seat to the well-being of the entire group. Plus, there's exotic settings, so that's always nice. It's like a vacation through Europe, only the stakes just got higher.

[Allyson]

Fugitives is a great expansion from its predecessor. Highly recommend!

[Grace Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to the author who gave me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. The author did not pay me for a review and all the thoughts here are my own honest opinion.

This one is more like a thriller compared to the last book which is more like a survival book. The change was unexpected but also pleasant in the sudden turn in events.

There was always this urgency to get away from the Masters and they were always coming after them. Having the kids and the grandmother trying to save the parents was also fun and emotional. If my parents were in that kind of trouble, I would do everything in my power to save them. Which is why I really like how there was teamwork among them to save the people whom they love, even if the parents didn't believe them at first.

AND WE GOT TO KNOW WHAT EMILY'S PARENTS DID FOR WORK!!!! THEY WERE FREELANCE INVENTORS!!! And they do some really cool stuff!!!! LIKE YES!!!

The Characters:

The romance between Emily and Christopher was great. I didn't really like how Christopher kept thinking Oto was involved romantically. But I really shipped Emily and Christopher together.

The grandmother. I didn't really liked her in book one, but she was so much better in this book and took more of the responsibility. However, when she made Emily take charge, I wasn't, umm, I wasn't sure about that. But she is definitely growing on me.

I liked that we finally got to know more about Ata and her life on the island. She's not my most favorite character, but I definitely felt for her.

Oto, YES!!!

Mary-Ann and Chase, were wonderful kids! I loved the sister-like relationship Mary-Ann has with Emily. Mary-Ann is just this cute kid!

Holly.... How does she get places so fast and always know where they are even when the Masters where having a hard time??? How??? I actually liked her, and her relationship with Oto. ;)

Joseph!!! I LOVED HIM!!!! He just made this book for me! Every time someone is having a moment or something, he always intervenes with a comment to make me laugh. And his comment about an old person with a gun had me cracking up! He was strange, but great, and his programming/technology skills were much needed. AHHH!!! *heart eyes* He will be my most favorite character in the series now, I am sure!

What I Didn't Like:

Drink More Milk.... WHAT?!?!?!

So in the beginning of this novel, we start off with Emily talking about her doctor and dentist saying that she needed to drink more milk for calcium, because apparently she wasn't getting enough on the island she was stranded on.... Umm, okay. Let's take a look at this.

On the island, she was drinking coconut water (probably not coconut milk as you have to process it first). Coconut water does have less calcium than milk, but it does have some. She is also going to get a certain amount of calcium from the fish she is eating and any dark green vegetables. And from being outside in the sun she's going to get vitamin D which is going to help her adsorb the calcium and help her bones as well.

In other words, she probably wasn't getting a ton of calcium, but she was also only on the island for ten days, so I really don't think that calcium is really going to be a big deal for this amount of time. Plus, there are a lot of vegans who don't drink dairy milk and get their calcium elsewhere, so.... And not to mention, some of the articles I was reading seem to imply that we get too much calcium. Though it is possible that a doctor or dentist might recommend that you need more calcium, I just don't know if they would say anything for the amount of time that she didn't have dairy milk.

And not to mention, Europeans don't drink a lot of milk, so I'm assuming that their doctors are not going to be recommending it.

A Few Errors:

I hate putting this in my reviews, but I had a hard time with some of the typos and errors. It was just hard to muck through at times.

Content in Book:

1. A slavery/dystopian world setting.

2. Violence. (With guns. Hand-to-hand combat. Etc.)

3. Mentions of a character having post-traumatic stress disorder and why. Certain things get this character thinking about that accident, panic, and sleepwalk. (Once the character was going to jump off a balcony while sleepwalking).

4. A car chase.

5. A kidnapping.

6. Hacking in computer systems. Breaking into a building.

Will I Read the Next Book in the Series???

YES!!! In fact, I'm reading Targets right now!

Who I Would Recommend This Book Too:

Those who first read Castaways. Those who like thrillers.

What I Would Recommend Reading After This Book:

The next book in this series, Targets. The "Ninja and Hunter" series (The Time I Saved the Day). Because that series is connected with this one. The "Dystopian Takeover" series (Mind of Darkness).

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might sound odd, but this book is best read fast. Now I don’t mean that as a “read this as fast as possible because it’s horrible”, but as it just flows better if you don’t take a long time reading it.

…if any of that makes any sense, haha.

I enjoyed following Emily and Co. around Europe on their mad escape and rescue attempts—which were pretty good and well thought out for a bunch of teens who aren’t training to be spies or something along those lines, lol—and this book flowed and didn’t have any lagging points like Castaways did at times.

The biggest flaw is the weird “not love triangle” I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness, and, as a confirmed love triangle hater, why I say “pleasure” is because it isn’t one at all, it’s just trying waaayyy too hard to be one, so much so Emily’s thoughts about the other guy are so out of the blue it’s obviously forced and made me snort rather then want to sharpen some knives. So if you had heard rumors through the grape vine about this aspect and, like me, were worried, never fear, it’s a vague blink-and-you’ll-miss-it footnote with an extremely obvious result that I’m very happy about.

With the way things ended, I’m curious to see how Targets will wrap things up! While still not a favorite series (so far, anyways) by Jes, this is still a lot of fun.


‼️Content‼️

TRIGGER WARNING: a character has PTSD that causes them to sleepwalk (once nearly off a balcony) and have a panic attack; a character nearly sleepwalks over a balcony railing (is stopped)

Violence: characters are tracked down and chased in cars by men with guns; injuries and blood (not detailed); a man slaps a character’s face; a character nearly sleepwalks over a balcony railing (is stopped); a character dreams of people being shot or dead (not detailed); a character hits a guy with a mop, steals his gun, and points it at someone but doesn’t shoot them; hints at physical torture/violence having been inflicted on hostages (not shown or detailed)

Sexual: a kiss (not detailed)

Other: a couple characters escaped from slavery; an island with enslaved people on it; a character has a tracker on them; characters’ parents are kidnapped and held hostage; a character has PTSD that causes them to sleepwalk (once nearly off a balcony) and have a panic attack

[Angie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, how do you follow up a knock-out first book in a survival/adventure/humor/touch-of-romance trilogy? With a knock-out second book, of course!

The great thing (okay, one of the great things) about Fugitives was that it didn't take much characterization or explanation at all to bring us right back to where we left off at the end of Castaways. I really love follow-up books when they're done well because I don't have to invest time in getting to know a new set of characters; instead, I get to sit down with the people I already know and love and just see what they'll do next. This book was very much like that. Not that everyone was static, just that they were all the same perfectly-imperfect people that I enjoyed so much in the first book.

It also helped tremendously that what little catch-up and stage-setting had to be done was done in Emily's own inimitable style. Okay, yes, the whole book was in Emily's style--and I laughed just as hard! She's still our same sweet, quirky, super-prepared, self-deprecating, list-making Emily, even with everything she's been through. But even though she's very much the same, I really like the fact that we see her growing, too. Even in her more-than-previously brokenness and her overwhelming circumstances, she's slowly gaining in strength and faith and confidence, which is great to see.

Christopher was amazing--again. (And the sky is still blue. My point is?) He's a bit less unreadable--score!--and just a bit more clueless. Is that actually a flaw when it's so adorable? Chase and MaryAnn get less screen time--there's a much bigger cast to deal with--but are perfect when they do appear. Oto and Ata blend in to the group surprisingly well, and Oto and Christopher together are especially fun. (I'm entirely with Emily in her confusion--boys!) Joseph and Holly are excellent additions to the cast, even if they do cause certain problems...

The romance angle was a little heavier than in Castaways (but when I say heavier, I don't mean at all heavy--just romantic feelings and one or two not-at-all-descriptive kisses). And huge thanks for not including the obligatory YA love triangle. I was a bit afraid it was going there, but it did not, and I'm so thankful! The only other (mild) content warnings I'd give are for one seemingly compromising situation (which wasn't), a bit of violence (again, very non-descriptive), and some dangerous situations.

The plot and setting felt very much like a globe-trotting hero adventure story--exotic locations, stealth missions, and a ton of hairbreadth escapes. Slightly improbable, yes, but as a follow-up to a castaway adventure on a hidden island run by a sinister secret society? Probability isn't really on my radar right now; I'm just enjoying (and I mean really enjoying) the ride. And looking forward to the third book--coming soon, I hope! Another huge 4.5 stars!

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[MK ( MaKayla) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly wondered how Castaways could have a follow up to match it , but it did !
Fugitives was even better !
It was more suspenseful, the characters were even more hilarious ! I loved the new additions ❤
Joseph's sass and saltiness kept cracking me up his commentary was the best !!!

“Since when did you start carrying a revolver, Mom?” Uncle Gerald asks ...

“That's it,” Joseph says, turning around, hand in the air. “There's an old lady with a weapon on the loose. I'm getting in the car now.”
I cannot wait to read the next book ! :D
This is one of those stories where I just love the story and the characters to death .I totally ship Emily and Christopher , I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for them. :D

[S. Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a YA adventure story, the sequel to the YA survival story "Castaways". If you have not read Castaways, then this book is not for you, as it has too many references to the previous book to be able to stand alone without confusing the reader.

In this book, Emily, Christopher, Oto, Ata, Mary-Ann, and Chase attempt to adjust to life in civilization after having been rescued from the island they were stranded on in the previous book. Just as things seem to return to normal, Emily's parents, her aunt, her uncle, and Christopher's dad are kidnapped by the evil Masters brothers. The six of them must team up with Emily's grandmother Mrs. Rogers, and Christopher's computer whiz friend Joseph, to take down the Masters and save their families.

I like the informal, humorous writing style of the author. I also like the characters, and think that they are all very well developed and fleshed out. I like the Christian messages in the book. I also really liked the previous book, Castaways. However, I felt that this book was lacking in plot and depth. Certain things simply did not add up.

For instance (spoiler alert!), if Ata had a tracker on her, they would not have waited so long to track her down, and they would have found them much sooner. Also, Joseph would not have needed to break into the building just to hack their computer system unless he needed physical access, which he didn't because he used his laptop. Also, if the Masters caught them and made them hand over incriminating files on a thumb drive, they would not have been able to see just by looking at it on a laptop that there were no copies made... the thumb drive itself might have been a copy. Also, the Masters would not have let them go just to keep chasing them around, because they have a business to run and a whole island under their rule that they need to take care of. They wouldn't purposely be wasting their time with nonsense. Also, the ending did not make sense because the evidence given would not have been admissible in court, because it was obtained illegally. Three stars.

[Erin Dydek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of Spy Kids, a movie I loved watching while growing up. It must have been the fact that the whole family was involved, and the kids were the ones who had to use their espionage skills to save the day. I loved how this story involved a suspenseful chase while developing the love triangle established in the first book. The author also devised a clever ending that gave this book a satisfying conclusion.

Emily made me laugh so many times with her candid expressions and her ever-growing lists. She’s a fantastic character, and I appreciate her role as she worked hard to hold the group together and take responsibility, even as things seemed to get more and more out of her control. I appreciated that this book is clean and wholesome; the reader enjoys the suspense and romance, but nothing goes above PG-level content.

While some of the technology/hacking information seemed somewhat unrealistic, I didn’t feel like it was the novel’s focus, and I could suspend my disbelief. The only thing that bothered me about the book was lingering typos, especially the homophone errors. One of these errors led to the “boar” that Oto killed in book one becoming a “bear” in this book. Not a huge deal, but I did have to go back to check that I hadn’t missed something in book one. Still, a fun read, and I look forward to finishing the trilogy.

I’d recommend this book to teen readers who enjoy on-the-run stories that involve espionage and romance. Parents will appreciate that this book includes a few Christian values and an engaging story.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fugitives continues from the events of Castaways now that the main characters have escaped the island. Danger is still surrounding them even now that they are back home, and they will need all the allies they can to succeed in surviving beyond the island. The page-turning mystery will keep readers intrigued along with the touches of romance and action packed adventure! I am excited to see what is next for Emily, her cousins, Christopher and Oto in the next installment.

[Carrie McCauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book compliments book 1 very well. Character interactions are a bit deeper and a bit more direct between Christopher and Emily. We see some more interaction with other family members and add a few along the way. The world building is all over Europe! This book has action and adventure pretty much from the start. The banter is fun to listen to too.
I read this book through audiobook and the narrator is great with the voices, wording and let's not forget Christopher's accent of course.

[Literary Lioness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily is beyond grateful to be off The Island and back at home with her family. Although her PTSD is the worse it has ever been, she is ready to get back to a sense of normal. She just wishes her parents understood the dangers that may have followed her from The Island; instead of thinking it is all her imagination. Then, she quickly realizes you should be careful what you wish for…

Yet again, Jes Drew takes readers on an adventure in the second book of The Castaway Trilogy, Fugitives. Traveling through Europe, Drew brings Paris, Belgium, and Milan to life through the lens of a scared, yet determined, teenage protagonist. Tie in suspense, a smidgen of romance, along with unfailing faith and the pages keep on turning.

However, the amount of spelling and grammatical errors is somewhat distracting. Add in a bit of repetitiousness and a rating of 4 out of 5 stars is awarded.

All in all, Jes Drew’s Fugitives satisfies the appetite for an intense, fast-paced escapade with a wholesome and refined story.

Please note, as Emily and her family trudge through most of Europe, they run into endeavors that may cause one distress. These may include: PTSD, isolation, slavery, gun violence, break-ins, kidnapping, betrayal, abandonment, lynching, assault, missing persons, sleepwalking, night terrors, fugitives, bribes, Nazis, thievery, torture, hostages, incarceration.

Thank you to #Fugitives, #TheCastawayTrilogy, #JesDrew, and #BoosBooks for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest review.

Original Post found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/...

Review of the first book in this series, Castaways, can be found at: https://www.literarylioness.net/post/...