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Project Renova #4
Legacy
'Out of all the death and destruction has come the freedom to be who we really are.'
A hundred years after the world was devastated by the bat fever virus, the UK is a country of agricultural communities where motherhood is seen as the ideal state for a woman, new beliefs have taken over from old religions, and the city of Blackthorn casts a threatening shadow over the north of England. Legacy travels backwards in time to link up with the characters from Tipping Point, Lindisfarne and UK2.
Seventeen-year-old Bree feels stifled by the restrictions of her village community, but finds a kindred spirit in Silas, a lone traveller searching for his roots. She, too, is looking for answers: the truth behind the mysterious death, forty years earlier, of her grandmother.
In 2050, Phoenix Northam's one wish is to follow in the footsteps of his father, a great leader respected by all who knew him...or so his mother tells him.
In 2029, on a Danish island, Lottie is homesick for Lindisfarne; two years earlier, Alex Verlander and the kingpins of the Renova group believe they have escaped the second outbreak of bat fever just in time...
Book 4 of the Project Renova series rebuilds a broken country with no central government or law, where life is dangerous and people can simply disappear...but the post-Fall world is also one of possibility, of freedom and hope for the future.
A hundred years after the world was devastated by the bat fever virus, the UK is a country of agricultural communities where motherhood is seen as the ideal state for a woman, new beliefs have taken over from old religions, and the city of Blackthorn casts a threatening shadow over the north of England. Legacy travels backwards in time to link up with the characters from Tipping Point, Lindisfarne and UK2.
Seventeen-year-old Bree feels stifled by the restrictions of her village community, but finds a kindred spirit in Silas, a lone traveller searching for his roots. She, too, is looking for answers: the truth behind the mysterious death, forty years earlier, of her grandmother.
In 2050, Phoenix Northam's one wish is to follow in the footsteps of his father, a great leader respected by all who knew him...or so his mother tells him.
In 2029, on a Danish island, Lottie is homesick for Lindisfarne; two years earlier, Alex Verlander and the kingpins of the Renova group believe they have escaped the second outbreak of bat fever just in time...
Book 4 of the Project Renova series rebuilds a broken country with no central government or law, where life is dangerous and people can simply disappear...but the post-Fall world is also one of possibility, of freedom and hope for the future.
537 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2018
31 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Terry Tyler
34 books584 followersI am self-published with thirty books on Amazon. Most recently I've published the first two books in my Revenge series, Served Cold and So Shall Ye Reap. More to come!
Other recent releases include Safe Zone, a dystopian/post-apocalyptic thriller. It follows on from the SFV-1 series (Infected, Darkness and Reset), but is completely stand-alone, so can be read as a story within itself.
I love watching and reading anything to do with history, post apocalypse, dystopian scenarios, anthropology, mountaineering and polar exploration. Big Walking Dead fan.
Favourite writers: Gemma Lawrence, Kate Mary, Blake Crouch, Deborah Swift, Carol Hedges, Douglas Kennedy, John Boyne, Deborah Moggach, Judith Arnopp, Jon Krakauer, Phillipa Gregory, John Privilege, Zeb Haradon, Dylan Morgan, Kate Atkinson, Norah Lofts, Dorothy Parker, Bill Bryson, PJ O'Rourke, Ann Swinfen, Keith Blackmore, Frank Tayell.
Other recent releases include Safe Zone, a dystopian/post-apocalyptic thriller. It follows on from the SFV-1 series (Infected, Darkness and Reset), but is completely stand-alone, so can be read as a story within itself.
I love watching and reading anything to do with history, post apocalypse, dystopian scenarios, anthropology, mountaineering and polar exploration. Big Walking Dead fan.
Favourite writers: Gemma Lawrence, Kate Mary, Blake Crouch, Deborah Swift, Carol Hedges, Douglas Kennedy, John Boyne, Deborah Moggach, Judith Arnopp, Jon Krakauer, Phillipa Gregory, John Privilege, Zeb Haradon, Dylan Morgan, Kate Atkinson, Norah Lofts, Dorothy Parker, Bill Bryson, PJ O'Rourke, Ann Swinfen, Keith Blackmore, Frank Tayell.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 23, 2018
Book Reviewed by Julie on www.whisperingstories.com
‘Legacy’ is the fourth and final book in the ‘Project Renova’ series by British best-selling author, Terry Tyler. The story is told from the prospective of several characters and is written in the first person and the present tense. The cover design is simple yet highly symbolic.
Although a hundred years have passed, life in small communities is still predominantly agrarian and altruistic. In contrast, larger settlements have moved to a mixed economy but instead of developing a fair and just system of law and order, have become brutalised and bloodthirsty. Much of the countryside is still uninhabited and from some bleak descriptions, it is clear humankind won’t return to its pre-apocalyptical consumer-led society model any time soon.
The author has taken quite a risk with this book. The structure is unusual in that she takes the device of inclusion and after some drip-feeding of events over the intervening years, we then travel back in time. We stop off at various pivotal points along the way, ending up more or less where the last book finished. It is all then wrapped up by moving forward again to 2127. From a writing point-of-view, it is an amazingly difficult task to make the timelines work but as far as I could tell, they did and there were no loose ends.
I found it very helpful to have a brief synopsis of the previous books in the series at the end. There are a lot of characters but if you get your head round them, you will definitely be rewarded as the plot develops.
As usual, Tyler’s writing techniques are displayed in abundance. We have foreshadowing, humour, imagery, jealousy, sarcasm, pathos, poignancy, fear, love and hate all mixed together in the melting pot of her mind to build some amazingly strong characters; some were familiar and some were completely new. Either way, without doubt, the reader cannot help but care deeply about them.
There were parallels with events at the Colosseum in ancient Rome, Edmund and Henry Tudor and indeed a bit of ‘Mein Kampf’ along the way, all weaved seamlessly into the plot.
I worried that it might be a bit of a let-down after the others in the series. However, it was nothing of the sort. It would stand alone as a novel in its own right but for those of us who have been with Terry Tyler since ‘Project Renova’ began, it was the perfect vehicle for closure. Some people got their comeuppance but some didn’t, just as it is in life. Some people thrived and some lives ended ignominiously, keeping it grounded with an earthy realism. And that’s the nagging doubt we are left with; this scenario could actually happen … Definitely worth a much-deserved five stars.
‘Legacy’ is the fourth and final book in the ‘Project Renova’ series by British best-selling author, Terry Tyler. The story is told from the prospective of several characters and is written in the first person and the present tense. The cover design is simple yet highly symbolic.
Although a hundred years have passed, life in small communities is still predominantly agrarian and altruistic. In contrast, larger settlements have moved to a mixed economy but instead of developing a fair and just system of law and order, have become brutalised and bloodthirsty. Much of the countryside is still uninhabited and from some bleak descriptions, it is clear humankind won’t return to its pre-apocalyptical consumer-led society model any time soon.
The author has taken quite a risk with this book. The structure is unusual in that she takes the device of inclusion and after some drip-feeding of events over the intervening years, we then travel back in time. We stop off at various pivotal points along the way, ending up more or less where the last book finished. It is all then wrapped up by moving forward again to 2127. From a writing point-of-view, it is an amazingly difficult task to make the timelines work but as far as I could tell, they did and there were no loose ends.
I found it very helpful to have a brief synopsis of the previous books in the series at the end. There are a lot of characters but if you get your head round them, you will definitely be rewarded as the plot develops.
As usual, Tyler’s writing techniques are displayed in abundance. We have foreshadowing, humour, imagery, jealousy, sarcasm, pathos, poignancy, fear, love and hate all mixed together in the melting pot of her mind to build some amazingly strong characters; some were familiar and some were completely new. Either way, without doubt, the reader cannot help but care deeply about them.
There were parallels with events at the Colosseum in ancient Rome, Edmund and Henry Tudor and indeed a bit of ‘Mein Kampf’ along the way, all weaved seamlessly into the plot.
I worried that it might be a bit of a let-down after the others in the series. However, it was nothing of the sort. It would stand alone as a novel in its own right but for those of us who have been with Terry Tyler since ‘Project Renova’ began, it was the perfect vehicle for closure. Some people got their comeuppance but some didn’t, just as it is in life. Some people thrived and some lives ended ignominiously, keeping it grounded with an earthy realism. And that’s the nagging doubt we are left with; this scenario could actually happen … Definitely worth a much-deserved five stars.
November 13, 2018
I’ve really been looking forward to finding out what happened to my favourite, and not so favourite, characters from the previous three books. Legacy is divided into several parts, each covering a particular period of time and begins in 2127, a hundred years after the decimation of the planet, where there are pockets of farming communities scattered across the country, generally living a quiet life. One such is in Norfolk where seventeen year old Bree lives with her family. Each spring, unwelcomed by some, groups of travellers arrive looking for work. There are still people who remember, and fear, the spread of a disease that wiped out most of the population.
Bree looks forward to seeing new faces when the travellers arrive as well as friends she’s made from previous visits, especially Silas. She also enjoys the stories of the world beyond her small village which fire her imagination. Wanting more than settling for marriage and children just because that’s what’s expected of her, Bree feels stifled. She wants to learn about the previous generations of her family, particularly her mother and grandmother who both died young, and experience life in the big wide world. She and Silas have a lot in common.
'The thought of being able to just up and leave, to wander off on a whim, sounded so wonderful that Bree felt her whole body crying out in envy.
“That sounds like heaven. To be able to think, I don’t like this, so I’m going. To just move on, whenever the fancy takes you.”’
Jumping back to 2089 we learn of Sky’s life in the city of Blackthorn, run by the tyrant Thorn, and her marriage to Byron Lewis III. Sky is anything but happy with her lot and wonders if life outside Blackthorn is as bad as it’s made out to be. She remembers her early happy life on Lindisfarne and, after seeing how her brother treats his wife, Misty, decides it’s time to leave Blackthorn and persuade Misty to go with her before she’s severely injured…or worse. Sky was sure there must be better places and a more satisfying life than this.
Phoenix Northam, son of the late and unlamented Dexter, founded Blackthorn which he named for his son. He’s been indoctrinated by his mother and has an unrealistic and biased view of Dex, but nevertheless wants to follow in his father’s footsteps as a great leader. Or so he believes…
'I am twenty-five years old, and have fulfilled my destiny: to become a leader of men, like my father.’
I loved meeting Lottie again, seeing the woman she became and finding out how much she had taken to the new way of life. I’m glad she ended up where she did….she’s my hero!
This is a fabulous final and enthralling instalment, even though I’m sorry the series has ended. Bree and Silas’ journey brings threads together and tie up loose ends, which are woven together expertly. The world building conjures strong images and is totally convincing, the characters are all extremely well crafted, believable and drive the story whether they’re likeable or not, and I’m very glad one in particular got what they deserved. Can’t wait to see what Terry Tyler comes up with next!
Bree looks forward to seeing new faces when the travellers arrive as well as friends she’s made from previous visits, especially Silas. She also enjoys the stories of the world beyond her small village which fire her imagination. Wanting more than settling for marriage and children just because that’s what’s expected of her, Bree feels stifled. She wants to learn about the previous generations of her family, particularly her mother and grandmother who both died young, and experience life in the big wide world. She and Silas have a lot in common.
'The thought of being able to just up and leave, to wander off on a whim, sounded so wonderful that Bree felt her whole body crying out in envy.
“That sounds like heaven. To be able to think, I don’t like this, so I’m going. To just move on, whenever the fancy takes you.”’
Jumping back to 2089 we learn of Sky’s life in the city of Blackthorn, run by the tyrant Thorn, and her marriage to Byron Lewis III. Sky is anything but happy with her lot and wonders if life outside Blackthorn is as bad as it’s made out to be. She remembers her early happy life on Lindisfarne and, after seeing how her brother treats his wife, Misty, decides it’s time to leave Blackthorn and persuade Misty to go with her before she’s severely injured…or worse. Sky was sure there must be better places and a more satisfying life than this.
Phoenix Northam, son of the late and unlamented Dexter, founded Blackthorn which he named for his son. He’s been indoctrinated by his mother and has an unrealistic and biased view of Dex, but nevertheless wants to follow in his father’s footsteps as a great leader. Or so he believes…
'I am twenty-five years old, and have fulfilled my destiny: to become a leader of men, like my father.’
I loved meeting Lottie again, seeing the woman she became and finding out how much she had taken to the new way of life. I’m glad she ended up where she did….she’s my hero!
This is a fabulous final and enthralling instalment, even though I’m sorry the series has ended. Bree and Silas’ journey brings threads together and tie up loose ends, which are woven together expertly. The world building conjures strong images and is totally convincing, the characters are all extremely well crafted, believable and drive the story whether they’re likeable or not, and I’m very glad one in particular got what they deserved. Can’t wait to see what Terry Tyler comes up with next!
November 6, 2018
“I need to say right from the start that a dystopian novel is one genre I have never read. And never intended to….”
That’s how I started my review of the first of the Project Renova Series: Tipping Point
And, being quite a wimp, if the author had been anyone else but one of my favourite writers I doubt I would ever would have.
However, for many years now I’ve enjoyed Terry Tyler’s books and so, with some trepidation, I read Tipping Point and was hooked. I waited with impatience for the second: Lindifarne… and then the third:UK21.
Brilliant stories!
So when I realised there was a fourth book: Legacy I had no hesitation in buying it. And I have to say this is one of the best books I have read for a long time; an exceptional read.
As in all Terry Tyler’s novels the stories are character-led with convincing story-lines and evocative settings. And they are all written from various characters’ points of view, a method I love.
There is a skill in making a believable world from the appalling destruction of the world we live in now; that skill shines out in the whole of this series. But it is this final book, set in various time frames, that truly reveals how it could be possible to totally reinvent a new world. And it shows, both in the settings and in the characters, the good and the bad in human behaviour.
The book is populated with a great number of characters, all diverse, all rounded. There is not one character that I was ambivalent about; I either loved them ( it was wonderful to see Lottie again; even more feisty) or I hated them (I really did understand the fear that the character, Falcon North and some of his underlings could instil in others).
As always in this author’s books, the dialogue, both internal and spoken is distinctive to each character.
Strong themes are threaded throughout, of power, love – both familial and romantic (with a bit of lust thrown in for good measure), hatred, alternative beliefs, nature and, obviously, survival.
And just to say, I love all the covers of this series; They all tell a story in themselves
I am a slow reader and it’s been quite a while since I read the first three books, so it was a great help that the author has put a synopsis of each story before Legacy begins. And these are a good reminder, both of the plot and the characters. But, to me, these give only a flavour and, even though Legacy is my favourite and, for me, the strongest of the four, each book has its own unique strengths and so I would recommend readers to start with Tipping Point.
That’s how I started my review of the first of the Project Renova Series: Tipping Point
And, being quite a wimp, if the author had been anyone else but one of my favourite writers I doubt I would ever would have.
However, for many years now I’ve enjoyed Terry Tyler’s books and so, with some trepidation, I read Tipping Point and was hooked. I waited with impatience for the second: Lindifarne… and then the third:UK21.
Brilliant stories!
So when I realised there was a fourth book: Legacy I had no hesitation in buying it. And I have to say this is one of the best books I have read for a long time; an exceptional read.
As in all Terry Tyler’s novels the stories are character-led with convincing story-lines and evocative settings. And they are all written from various characters’ points of view, a method I love.
There is a skill in making a believable world from the appalling destruction of the world we live in now; that skill shines out in the whole of this series. But it is this final book, set in various time frames, that truly reveals how it could be possible to totally reinvent a new world. And it shows, both in the settings and in the characters, the good and the bad in human behaviour.
The book is populated with a great number of characters, all diverse, all rounded. There is not one character that I was ambivalent about; I either loved them ( it was wonderful to see Lottie again; even more feisty) or I hated them (I really did understand the fear that the character, Falcon North and some of his underlings could instil in others).
As always in this author’s books, the dialogue, both internal and spoken is distinctive to each character.
Strong themes are threaded throughout, of power, love – both familial and romantic (with a bit of lust thrown in for good measure), hatred, alternative beliefs, nature and, obviously, survival.
And just to say, I love all the covers of this series; They all tell a story in themselves
I am a slow reader and it’s been quite a while since I read the first three books, so it was a great help that the author has put a synopsis of each story before Legacy begins. And these are a good reminder, both of the plot and the characters. But, to me, these give only a flavour and, even though Legacy is my favourite and, for me, the strongest of the four, each book has its own unique strengths and so I would recommend readers to start with Tipping Point.
November 23, 2018
A fitting end to a fantastic series
It is difficult not to give away spoilers when you are excited about a book you have just read. Particularly when it is the final book in a series, and all the loose ends have been gathered up into one satisfying bundle.
If you have already read the other books in the series, then you will be as eager as I was to catch up with the previous characters as they dispersed to Denmark or escaped the new outbreak in UK Central. You won't be disappointed, as their continuing stories are action packed, heartwarming and sometimes downright scary.
The author takes us forward, beyond these characters, to 100 years after the Bat Fever. We discover that many of the residents of the new UK have reverted back to the days of small settlements. They are self-sustaining and make an effort to bring children into a better world, although interestingly the gains made by women for independence have taken more than a few steps backwards.
However, there are still women taking control of their lives and in some cases being responsible for settlements such as Lindisfarne. However, being human there are still those that have a craving for power at any cost. In the main population hubs and in the North, 100 years after the epidemic the veneer of civilization is very thin with violence a part of everyday life.
What is clear, having read the entire series, is that following an apocalyptic event, the majority of the population are completely unprepared without the infrastructure that provides shelter, food and medicines. They have little or no knowledge of how to sustain themselves and only those with resolve and bravery will survive. Those that do bring a glimmer of hope that mankind will survive and thrive in the aftermath of a devastating event and that is a thread that runs through this final story.
A brilliant end to the series, and I do suggest that you begin with the previous three books Tipping Point, Lindisfarne and UK2 so that you are fully primed before reading Legacy.
It is difficult not to give away spoilers when you are excited about a book you have just read. Particularly when it is the final book in a series, and all the loose ends have been gathered up into one satisfying bundle.
If you have already read the other books in the series, then you will be as eager as I was to catch up with the previous characters as they dispersed to Denmark or escaped the new outbreak in UK Central. You won't be disappointed, as their continuing stories are action packed, heartwarming and sometimes downright scary.
The author takes us forward, beyond these characters, to 100 years after the Bat Fever. We discover that many of the residents of the new UK have reverted back to the days of small settlements. They are self-sustaining and make an effort to bring children into a better world, although interestingly the gains made by women for independence have taken more than a few steps backwards.
However, there are still women taking control of their lives and in some cases being responsible for settlements such as Lindisfarne. However, being human there are still those that have a craving for power at any cost. In the main population hubs and in the North, 100 years after the epidemic the veneer of civilization is very thin with violence a part of everyday life.
What is clear, having read the entire series, is that following an apocalyptic event, the majority of the population are completely unprepared without the infrastructure that provides shelter, food and medicines. They have little or no knowledge of how to sustain themselves and only those with resolve and bravery will survive. Those that do bring a glimmer of hope that mankind will survive and thrive in the aftermath of a devastating event and that is a thread that runs through this final story.
A brilliant end to the series, and I do suggest that you begin with the previous three books Tipping Point, Lindisfarne and UK2 so that you are fully primed before reading Legacy.
October 28, 2018
I opened this book with great excitement to discover what had happened to the people I had read about in the earlier books of the Project Renova series but as the title Legacy suggests this novel has moved 100 years into the future to a time when society is made up chiefly of small farming communities, cooperating with local leaders in a simple life with which most people are satisfied. But Bree, a 17-year-old girl, is not content with her life in the Five villages, where she is soon to be wed, in order to become a mother. She is curious about her mother, Willow and her grandmother, Sky, who had both died when they were very young. Only, Silas, one of the grocks, a travelling community, promises her freedom.
In part 2, we learn about Sky, who had lived in the busy northern city of Blackthorn. Here she is living a life of leisure, as the wife of Byron, an important lieutenant to the governor, but her husband is impatient to become a father. Remembering her early childhood on the island of Lindisfarne, she feels a misfit in this society of “haves” and “have-nots” and finally decides to make a break for freedom to help her sister-in-law Misty, who is frequently beaten by Sky’s brother, Red. Aided by Luke, one of the guards, they set out, travelling as far and as fast as possible to escape Byron and Red.
Part 3 introduces us to Phoenix, son of Dexter Northam, whom we know so well from the earlier books and we see the effects of his mother’s upbringing. It was thrilling to meet Lottie once more, and finally returning to the story of Bree and Silas the threads of the legacy are drawn together.
The roles of motherhood and primitive religion in this future world are understandable, but the brave stand of individual women to establish an equal and free society is encouraging. Best of all, these are distinctive characters, likeable or awkward, seeking happiness, making mistakes and instigating dangerous adventures. An excellent conclusion to this unique series.
In part 2, we learn about Sky, who had lived in the busy northern city of Blackthorn. Here she is living a life of leisure, as the wife of Byron, an important lieutenant to the governor, but her husband is impatient to become a father. Remembering her early childhood on the island of Lindisfarne, she feels a misfit in this society of “haves” and “have-nots” and finally decides to make a break for freedom to help her sister-in-law Misty, who is frequently beaten by Sky’s brother, Red. Aided by Luke, one of the guards, they set out, travelling as far and as fast as possible to escape Byron and Red.
Part 3 introduces us to Phoenix, son of Dexter Northam, whom we know so well from the earlier books and we see the effects of his mother’s upbringing. It was thrilling to meet Lottie once more, and finally returning to the story of Bree and Silas the threads of the legacy are drawn together.
The roles of motherhood and primitive religion in this future world are understandable, but the brave stand of individual women to establish an equal and free society is encouraging. Best of all, these are distinctive characters, likeable or awkward, seeking happiness, making mistakes and instigating dangerous adventures. An excellent conclusion to this unique series.
November 7, 2018
Great Ending to a Knock-Out Series.
If you haven't read any of these yet, then don't start here, because although this is a brilliant book, you'll be missing the rest of this dystopian series which is equally gripping.
It's an exciting read, with lives at stake, but what I loved about this book was that there are never any easy answers. In a society that has broken down, hard decisions have to made - to kill someone else to survive, to leave behind the safety those you love in search of freedom, though it may be a journey fraught with danger. It asks questions about what holds society together, and about how to govern, and about the fair and unfair division of labour.
But its the characters that carry it. I loved Bree and Silas, who both grow and develop and mature in the book. There is plenty of action and danger from the population of Blackthorn, a settlement gone bad. These are the descendants of characters from the earlier books, and they have secrets to discover about their ancestors and to reveal to the reader.
Go buy it. (But start at book 1 - The Tipping Point and you'll be hooked.)
If you haven't read any of these yet, then don't start here, because although this is a brilliant book, you'll be missing the rest of this dystopian series which is equally gripping.
It's an exciting read, with lives at stake, but what I loved about this book was that there are never any easy answers. In a society that has broken down, hard decisions have to made - to kill someone else to survive, to leave behind the safety those you love in search of freedom, though it may be a journey fraught with danger. It asks questions about what holds society together, and about how to govern, and about the fair and unfair division of labour.
But its the characters that carry it. I loved Bree and Silas, who both grow and develop and mature in the book. There is plenty of action and danger from the population of Blackthorn, a settlement gone bad. These are the descendants of characters from the earlier books, and they have secrets to discover about their ancestors and to reveal to the reader.
Go buy it. (But start at book 1 - The Tipping Point and you'll be hooked.)
December 20, 2018
Legacy is book four of the Project Renova Series and is a fabulous way to wrap up this fast paced post-apocalyptic series. Book one (Tipping Point) blew me away, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book and then the next. I got quite emotional when I reached The End!
In Legacy, the author takes us on a journey through time as we revisit old characters as well as wind the clock forward one hundred years to see how their ancestors fared. It’s excellently written, clever, and intricately plotted. There were quite a few ‘OMG’ moments for me as I became invested in the new characters and their discoveries. I loved Bree and Silas and would love to read more about Wolf (I imagine him to be a crazy Ivor the Boneless type character from Vikings!)
Lottie was my favourite character from the previous books, so it was lovely to see her represented in Legacy both in her own chapter and that of her ancestors (no spoilers!). Dex was the bad guy we loved to hate, and so I especially loved reading about his son’s part in the new world.
Thoroughly enjoyable read and a series I would highly recommend to any post-apocalyptic fan.
In Legacy, the author takes us on a journey through time as we revisit old characters as well as wind the clock forward one hundred years to see how their ancestors fared. It’s excellently written, clever, and intricately plotted. There were quite a few ‘OMG’ moments for me as I became invested in the new characters and their discoveries. I loved Bree and Silas and would love to read more about Wolf (I imagine him to be a crazy Ivor the Boneless type character from Vikings!)
Lottie was my favourite character from the previous books, so it was lovely to see her represented in Legacy both in her own chapter and that of her ancestors (no spoilers!). Dex was the bad guy we loved to hate, and so I especially loved reading about his son’s part in the new world.
Thoroughly enjoyable read and a series I would highly recommend to any post-apocalyptic fan.
November 17, 2018
This is book 4 of the Project Renova series and a worthy successor. It is set in three different times and links some new characters (notably Bree and Silas) from 100 years after 'The Fall' with their ancestors, who survived The Fall and were forced to adapt to a new and basic way of living without the comforts we enjoy today.
As always, Terry Tyler's characters are well-rounded and distinctive. There are 'goodies' to cheer on and 'baddies' to hiss at, and lots in between, just struggling to survive. I particularly enjoyed the reflections on how easy people are to control and manipulate, especially when times are hard. Food and shelter are strong motivators when there is no protection from a government or legal system, allowing bullies and their henchmen to rule the roost, at least in some of the settlements in this book. Having said that, it was good to see a couple of nasty characters from the previous books finally get their comeuppance.
Definitely recommended, although you'd be missing a treat if you didn't read books 1-3 first.
As always, Terry Tyler's characters are well-rounded and distinctive. There are 'goodies' to cheer on and 'baddies' to hiss at, and lots in between, just struggling to survive. I particularly enjoyed the reflections on how easy people are to control and manipulate, especially when times are hard. Food and shelter are strong motivators when there is no protection from a government or legal system, allowing bullies and their henchmen to rule the roost, at least in some of the settlements in this book. Having said that, it was good to see a couple of nasty characters from the previous books finally get their comeuppance.
Definitely recommended, although you'd be missing a treat if you didn't read books 1-3 first.
November 6, 2018
A rich tapestry of a book; stories woven upon stories, showing how the descendants of the first three books live now, how they came to be, the futures they made, and what they may do with the new world offered up to them.
I don't like to divulge book details, in case it ruins it for others, but if you are reading this series, you will not be disappointed. Each book I read in it becomes my new favourite, but this one will remain so. This is indeed a brave new world, and the characters Tyler has created to follow the beloved ones of the first three books are wonderful. I don't often cry in books, but I did near to the end of this one. I loved the style as it skipped from time frame to time frame, weaving the stories of the past upon those of the present and the distant past. It gave a picture of the world with a deep and textured reality. Really a striking, complex idea and one that many authors would fail to pull off, but not Tyler. She masters it.
This book was gorgeous. Told with Tyler's usual style, her ability to keep a reader in suspense and with some beautiful imagery, particularly towards the end, this book is a delight. There is darkness and danger in the new world forged from the ruins of the past, just as there is heroism and bravery. The Legacy of the title is, I believe, the choice the protagonists have to make; to continue to promote evil, selfishness and violence as a means to survive, or choose to live another way, using courage, resourcefulness and kindness. The sins of the forefathers and mothers follow them, indeed they are all around them, as the world has been destroyed by the evil we are all capable of, but these descendants still have the choice, and some choose to be strong and choose goodness, just as some choose to be weak, and take the path of violence, subjugation and abuse.
But there is hope for the future, in those strong enough to follow what is right.
I don't like to divulge book details, in case it ruins it for others, but if you are reading this series, you will not be disappointed. Each book I read in it becomes my new favourite, but this one will remain so. This is indeed a brave new world, and the characters Tyler has created to follow the beloved ones of the first three books are wonderful. I don't often cry in books, but I did near to the end of this one. I loved the style as it skipped from time frame to time frame, weaving the stories of the past upon those of the present and the distant past. It gave a picture of the world with a deep and textured reality. Really a striking, complex idea and one that many authors would fail to pull off, but not Tyler. She masters it.
This book was gorgeous. Told with Tyler's usual style, her ability to keep a reader in suspense and with some beautiful imagery, particularly towards the end, this book is a delight. There is darkness and danger in the new world forged from the ruins of the past, just as there is heroism and bravery. The Legacy of the title is, I believe, the choice the protagonists have to make; to continue to promote evil, selfishness and violence as a means to survive, or choose to live another way, using courage, resourcefulness and kindness. The sins of the forefathers and mothers follow them, indeed they are all around them, as the world has been destroyed by the evil we are all capable of, but these descendants still have the choice, and some choose to be strong and choose goodness, just as some choose to be weak, and take the path of violence, subjugation and abuse.
But there is hope for the future, in those strong enough to follow what is right.
December 3, 2018
Tour de force. Google defines it as “An impressive performance or achievement that has been accomplished or managed with great skill.” In other words, a perfect description of Terry Tyler’s Project Renova series, including her latest novel, Legacy.
This is going to be a quick review, because actually I don’t have to say much about Legacy. If you haven’t read the earlier books in the series, you should not read this one until you do. If you have read them, you already know any review I wrote would just be icing on what’s already a masterpiece.
One of the hard parts of coming to the end of a series where you’ve gotten to know so many characters is that you want to know what happens to them. In Legacy, we find out, peering back through the filter of a hundred years. Since I’m urging you to read the entire series, I’ll try to avoid spoilers. But one of the things that never ceases to amaze me about Terry Tyler’s writing is how impossible it is to characterize it. Even within this series, she varies her style constantly, while exploring the wider vocabulary of post-apocalyptic world building.
For example the first book in the series, Tipping Point, presents the events in a thinly-veiled allegory of the zombie apocalypse. In Book 2, Lindisfarne, surviving characters shed the trappings of their lost “civilized” world like the lost boys of Golding’s Lord of the Flies, with some embracing the new reality and others clinging to the belief that their vanished world will somehow be restored. The third book, UK2, goes to an even darker place with parallels to Huxley’s Brave New World and the horrors of Nazi rule.
In Legacy, author Terry Tyler switches again, this time to the Orwellian dark humor of Animal Farm. I particularly enjoyed the way some characters channeled the same tropes. For example, Phoenix is the son of Dex, who (like Major, the boar in Animal Farm) espouses Marxist ideals while setting himself up in a leadership role. When he leaves Lindisfarne, Phoenix rallies an army to capture and build his new city, Blackthorn. Phoenix believes he’s Dex’s rightful successor, or at least the version of his father that his mother told him about. But after growing up with his mother’s filtered reality, Phoenix is more like Major’s successor, Snowball, the Trotsky-like pig who thinks he’s in control of his murderous lieutenants. But actually, Snowball has no control as his ideals for the equalities of animalism are subverted into, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” In the same way, Phoenix realizes that his brave new city, Blackthorn, with its comfortable quarters for the leaders, only survives because of the labor of its slaves, whose hard work and devotion are rewarded by death in the arena, just as Animal Farm’s loyal Boxer the draft horse is sent to the slaughterhouse when he’s injured and can no longer work.
Other characters have their matches as well. Flora, for example, is like Animal Farm’s Mollie, the spoiled mare who misses her treats and ribbons, and so runs away from the farm. Interestingly, Flora’s story takes a big change, as she returns to Lindisfarne to become more like Clover, the motherly mare.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. The more things change, the more they remain the same. History itself is a character, especially in this century-on wrap up. Seventeen-year-old Bree, descended from the first Lindisfarne residents, finds herself trapped by a world where women are valued only as servants and baby producers, and where travelers like her lover Silas are looked on with suspicion. And Phoenix tries to emulate Henry VIII, only to find himself imprisoned in an increasingly obese and physically failing body.
But there’s another theme as well, for the few who embrace the hard-learned lessons of the past. Lottie and Mac left Lindisfarne in search of Utopia, or at least the safe harbor represented by the island refuge of Baldur. But almost immediately they realize their mistake, and what Lindisfarne really means to them. Freedom.
[QUOTE] ‘I hope I love long enough to see what the generation after me makes of this strange world where there is no one to tell us how we should or shouldn’t live—’cause that freedom is the very, very best thing about it. I realised this, the other day. Out of all that death and loss has come the opportunity to be who we really are.’—Lottie, Legacy [END QUOTE]
That story is told through the eyes of Bree and Silas, descendants of the first Lindisfarne settlers, as they travel the roads of what was once northern England. Through their journey, we see what those future generations Lottie pictured have built, and how much they’ve given up. On that journey, as Bree and Silas’ relationship is built and tested, we see the results of that hundred years of struggle. Both Bree and Silas face injury and death, but also encounter heroes, generous strangers, and the self-awareness that comes from knowing both your own strengths and your history.
I am in awe of the achievement of the Project Renova series. As I’ve said before, the economics and the science are occasionally shaky. But that doesn’t matter because this is a character-driven story and ultimately, it’s the very real people whose actions and decisions are so compelling. Terry Tyler builds a whole world on the ruins of the one we know. But even more, she gives us fully-rounded, flawed, brilliant characters who don’t just drive the story, but demand their story be told. Give yourself or a reader you really like the gift of this whole series, and wait for the thanks.
This is going to be a quick review, because actually I don’t have to say much about Legacy. If you haven’t read the earlier books in the series, you should not read this one until you do. If you have read them, you already know any review I wrote would just be icing on what’s already a masterpiece.
One of the hard parts of coming to the end of a series where you’ve gotten to know so many characters is that you want to know what happens to them. In Legacy, we find out, peering back through the filter of a hundred years. Since I’m urging you to read the entire series, I’ll try to avoid spoilers. But one of the things that never ceases to amaze me about Terry Tyler’s writing is how impossible it is to characterize it. Even within this series, she varies her style constantly, while exploring the wider vocabulary of post-apocalyptic world building.
For example the first book in the series, Tipping Point, presents the events in a thinly-veiled allegory of the zombie apocalypse. In Book 2, Lindisfarne, surviving characters shed the trappings of their lost “civilized” world like the lost boys of Golding’s Lord of the Flies, with some embracing the new reality and others clinging to the belief that their vanished world will somehow be restored. The third book, UK2, goes to an even darker place with parallels to Huxley’s Brave New World and the horrors of Nazi rule.
In Legacy, author Terry Tyler switches again, this time to the Orwellian dark humor of Animal Farm. I particularly enjoyed the way some characters channeled the same tropes. For example, Phoenix is the son of Dex, who (like Major, the boar in Animal Farm) espouses Marxist ideals while setting himself up in a leadership role. When he leaves Lindisfarne, Phoenix rallies an army to capture and build his new city, Blackthorn. Phoenix believes he’s Dex’s rightful successor, or at least the version of his father that his mother told him about. But after growing up with his mother’s filtered reality, Phoenix is more like Major’s successor, Snowball, the Trotsky-like pig who thinks he’s in control of his murderous lieutenants. But actually, Snowball has no control as his ideals for the equalities of animalism are subverted into, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” In the same way, Phoenix realizes that his brave new city, Blackthorn, with its comfortable quarters for the leaders, only survives because of the labor of its slaves, whose hard work and devotion are rewarded by death in the arena, just as Animal Farm’s loyal Boxer the draft horse is sent to the slaughterhouse when he’s injured and can no longer work.
Other characters have their matches as well. Flora, for example, is like Animal Farm’s Mollie, the spoiled mare who misses her treats and ribbons, and so runs away from the farm. Interestingly, Flora’s story takes a big change, as she returns to Lindisfarne to become more like Clover, the motherly mare.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. The more things change, the more they remain the same. History itself is a character, especially in this century-on wrap up. Seventeen-year-old Bree, descended from the first Lindisfarne residents, finds herself trapped by a world where women are valued only as servants and baby producers, and where travelers like her lover Silas are looked on with suspicion. And Phoenix tries to emulate Henry VIII, only to find himself imprisoned in an increasingly obese and physically failing body.
But there’s another theme as well, for the few who embrace the hard-learned lessons of the past. Lottie and Mac left Lindisfarne in search of Utopia, or at least the safe harbor represented by the island refuge of Baldur. But almost immediately they realize their mistake, and what Lindisfarne really means to them. Freedom.
[QUOTE] ‘I hope I love long enough to see what the generation after me makes of this strange world where there is no one to tell us how we should or shouldn’t live—’cause that freedom is the very, very best thing about it. I realised this, the other day. Out of all that death and loss has come the opportunity to be who we really are.’—Lottie, Legacy [END QUOTE]
That story is told through the eyes of Bree and Silas, descendants of the first Lindisfarne settlers, as they travel the roads of what was once northern England. Through their journey, we see what those future generations Lottie pictured have built, and how much they’ve given up. On that journey, as Bree and Silas’ relationship is built and tested, we see the results of that hundred years of struggle. Both Bree and Silas face injury and death, but also encounter heroes, generous strangers, and the self-awareness that comes from knowing both your own strengths and your history.
I am in awe of the achievement of the Project Renova series. As I’ve said before, the economics and the science are occasionally shaky. But that doesn’t matter because this is a character-driven story and ultimately, it’s the very real people whose actions and decisions are so compelling. Terry Tyler builds a whole world on the ruins of the one we know. But even more, she gives us fully-rounded, flawed, brilliant characters who don’t just drive the story, but demand their story be told. Give yourself or a reader you really like the gift of this whole series, and wait for the thanks.
March 22, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this novel but that has in no way influenced my review.
I have been following Terry Tyler’s Project Renova from the beginning and loved all of the novels, getting more and more personally involved in the adventures and with the characters, that became part of the family, as it progressed. When a trilogy comes to an end and you see readers wondering what happened next and pestering the author for more, you know this is not just another dystopian adventure.
Before I get into the detail of this novel, which is fabulous in case you’re wondering, I must say that my recommendation is to read the four novels in the intended order. The series is written to be read as a whole, and the books are not independent. Although this novel introduces many new characters, to fully appreciate the project (yes, I know) and the overall effect, you need to be familiar with the complete story so far. But don’t worry, though, if it’s been a while since you’ve read the other novels, because the author includes a link to “the story so far” before the new novel starts, so you’ll be able to quickly refresh your memory.
This is the most structurally complex novel of the series. Although all the books are narrated by several characters, and that is the case here too, and in UK2 we had different settings as well, this novel takes us back and forth in time. After a brief interlude that follows directly on from the last novel (and there are a few of those interspersed throughout the text, but very brief), Part One is set in 2127, a hundred years later, and we go back to Norfolk, where we meet Bree, a young girl who lives there, and Silas, a traveller. This gives us an opportunity to learn what has happened in that period all over the UK, at least in large strokes, and also to meet two young people that, at least to begin with, we don’t know how they relate to the rest of the plot. Part Two goes back to 2089 and we learn about Sky, who lives in a Northern settlement called Blackthorn. Although she lives a life of luxury, we soon learn that she is in a minority, and the place sounds like a dystopian nightmare (if you’re familiar with Huxley’s Brave New World that part of the story will give you pause, and women will be particularly horrified by that possible future), so it’s not surprising that she ends up taking a fairly extreme decision. Part Three is set in 2050, and in this case we follow the next generation of some of the characters we had left in the last novel, particularly Phoenix. Part Four, set only two years after the last novel, in 2019, reunites us with Lottie, my favourite character of the series (and I’m not the only one). Part Five is set again in 2127, and we see what happened next to Bree and Silas and we get a sense of how the whole story fits and see the bigger picture. And the last bit of the story, back in 2027, answers a question that most people will be wondering about.
Does this mean the story is confusing? Not really, but if you’re trying to find connections and work out who everybody is from the start, you might feel a bit lost. My advice would be similar to what I used to tell people who were reading William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury: even if you can’t see where things are heading, keep reading, because it will all fall into place. And it is fabulous. In fact, the way of telling the story works wonderfully well to emphasise the theme of legacy, the fact that family lines, and especially people’s behaviour, mark those who come into contact with them and is carried through the generations. The structure made me think of novels such as Cloud Nine, and movies like Pulp Fiction, and if you enjoy a bit of a challenge when it comes to the way a story is told, this will add to your enjoyment.
The epic story (a saga) is narrated in the first person in the present tense by the different characters, and that gives it immediacy, making it easier to connect with them, even when sometimes we might know that things are not what they seem to be, and at times we might know much more than the characters do, and that give us a fascinating perspective. The story works well, and as I said, everything fits in, but the author has a particular skill for creating vastly varied characters that are totally believable, and like them or not, we can’t help getting involved in their lives. Lottie continues to be my favourite character, but Bree and Silas are great as well, and their relationship is heart-warming without being overly sweet. Both of them have doubts and reservations, and they prove their feelings with actions, rather than meaningless words. Even the less likeable characters have a heart (well, at least the ones we meet personally) and I was surprised when I felt sorry for some of them, whom at first I had thought of as unredeemable.
I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, because the story has to be read. The writing is fabulous, descriptive enough without ever getting boring, and the characters and the events narrated will make you think about known historical figures, religious beliefs, and about what moves society, and what is truly important.
I am pleased to read in the author’s note that she is thinking about writing some novellas and possibly a novel set in one of the places we visit here. Although I loved the story and the ending as well, I know I’ll keep thinking about the series, and I won’t be able to resist further incursions into this world. And yes, I’ll be one of the readers pestering the author for more.
I have been following Terry Tyler’s Project Renova from the beginning and loved all of the novels, getting more and more personally involved in the adventures and with the characters, that became part of the family, as it progressed. When a trilogy comes to an end and you see readers wondering what happened next and pestering the author for more, you know this is not just another dystopian adventure.
Before I get into the detail of this novel, which is fabulous in case you’re wondering, I must say that my recommendation is to read the four novels in the intended order. The series is written to be read as a whole, and the books are not independent. Although this novel introduces many new characters, to fully appreciate the project (yes, I know) and the overall effect, you need to be familiar with the complete story so far. But don’t worry, though, if it’s been a while since you’ve read the other novels, because the author includes a link to “the story so far” before the new novel starts, so you’ll be able to quickly refresh your memory.
This is the most structurally complex novel of the series. Although all the books are narrated by several characters, and that is the case here too, and in UK2 we had different settings as well, this novel takes us back and forth in time. After a brief interlude that follows directly on from the last novel (and there are a few of those interspersed throughout the text, but very brief), Part One is set in 2127, a hundred years later, and we go back to Norfolk, where we meet Bree, a young girl who lives there, and Silas, a traveller. This gives us an opportunity to learn what has happened in that period all over the UK, at least in large strokes, and also to meet two young people that, at least to begin with, we don’t know how they relate to the rest of the plot. Part Two goes back to 2089 and we learn about Sky, who lives in a Northern settlement called Blackthorn. Although she lives a life of luxury, we soon learn that she is in a minority, and the place sounds like a dystopian nightmare (if you’re familiar with Huxley’s Brave New World that part of the story will give you pause, and women will be particularly horrified by that possible future), so it’s not surprising that she ends up taking a fairly extreme decision. Part Three is set in 2050, and in this case we follow the next generation of some of the characters we had left in the last novel, particularly Phoenix. Part Four, set only two years after the last novel, in 2019, reunites us with Lottie, my favourite character of the series (and I’m not the only one). Part Five is set again in 2127, and we see what happened next to Bree and Silas and we get a sense of how the whole story fits and see the bigger picture. And the last bit of the story, back in 2027, answers a question that most people will be wondering about.
Does this mean the story is confusing? Not really, but if you’re trying to find connections and work out who everybody is from the start, you might feel a bit lost. My advice would be similar to what I used to tell people who were reading William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury: even if you can’t see where things are heading, keep reading, because it will all fall into place. And it is fabulous. In fact, the way of telling the story works wonderfully well to emphasise the theme of legacy, the fact that family lines, and especially people’s behaviour, mark those who come into contact with them and is carried through the generations. The structure made me think of novels such as Cloud Nine, and movies like Pulp Fiction, and if you enjoy a bit of a challenge when it comes to the way a story is told, this will add to your enjoyment.
The epic story (a saga) is narrated in the first person in the present tense by the different characters, and that gives it immediacy, making it easier to connect with them, even when sometimes we might know that things are not what they seem to be, and at times we might know much more than the characters do, and that give us a fascinating perspective. The story works well, and as I said, everything fits in, but the author has a particular skill for creating vastly varied characters that are totally believable, and like them or not, we can’t help getting involved in their lives. Lottie continues to be my favourite character, but Bree and Silas are great as well, and their relationship is heart-warming without being overly sweet. Both of them have doubts and reservations, and they prove their feelings with actions, rather than meaningless words. Even the less likeable characters have a heart (well, at least the ones we meet personally) and I was surprised when I felt sorry for some of them, whom at first I had thought of as unredeemable.
I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, because the story has to be read. The writing is fabulous, descriptive enough without ever getting boring, and the characters and the events narrated will make you think about known historical figures, religious beliefs, and about what moves society, and what is truly important.
I am pleased to read in the author’s note that she is thinking about writing some novellas and possibly a novel set in one of the places we visit here. Although I loved the story and the ending as well, I know I’ll keep thinking about the series, and I won’t be able to resist further incursions into this world. And yes, I’ll be one of the readers pestering the author for more.
March 22, 2019
The brightest jewel in the Project Renova series recommended to those who love complex storytelling. I received an ARC copy of this novel but that has in no way influenced my review.
I have been following Terry Tyler’s Project Renova from the beginning (you can check my reviews for Tipping Point, here, for Lindisfarne, here, and for UK2, here) and loved all of the novels, getting more and more personally involved in the adventures and with the characters, that became part of the family, as it progressed. When a trilogy comes to an end and you see readers wondering what happened next and pestering the author for more, you know this is not just another dystopian adventure.
Before I get into the detail of this novel, which is fabulous in case you’re wondering, I must say that my recommendation is to read the four novels in the intended order. The series is written to be read as a whole, and the books are not independent. Although this novel introduces many new characters, to fully appreciate the project (yes, I know) and the overall effect, you need to be familiar with the complete story so far. But don’t worry, though, if it’s been a while since you’ve read the other novels, because the author includes a link to “the story so far” before the new novel starts, so you’ll be able to quickly refresh your memory.
This is the most structurally complex novel of the series. Although all the books are narrated by several characters, and that is the case here too, and in UK2 we had different settings as well, this novel takes us back and forth in time. After a brief interlude that follows directly on from the last novel (and there are a few of those interspersed throughout the text, but very brief), Part One is set in 2127, a hundred years later, and we go back to Norfolk, where we meet Bree, a young girl who lives there, and Silas, a traveller. This gives us an opportunity to learn what has happened in that period all over the UK, at least in large strokes, and also to meet two young people that, at least to begin with, we don’t know how they relate to the rest of the plot. Part Two goes back to 2089 and we learn about Sky, who lives in a Northern settlement called Blackthorn. Although she lives a life of luxury, we soon learn that she is in a minority, and the place sounds like a dystopian nightmare (if you’re familiar with Huxley’s Brave New World that part of the story will give you pause, and women will be particularly horrified by that possible future), so it’s not surprising that she ends up taking a fairly extreme decision. Part Three is set in 2050, and in this case we follow the next generation of some of the characters we had left in the last novel, particularly Phoenix. Part Four, set only two years after the last novel, in 2019, reunites us with Lottie, my favourite character of the series (and I’m not the only one). Part Five is set again in 2127, and we see what happened next to Bree and Silas and we get a sense of how the whole story fits and see the bigger picture. And the last bit of the story, back in 2027, answers a question that most people will be wondering about.
Does this mean the story is confusing? Not really, but if you’re trying to find connections and work out who everybody is from the start, you might feel a bit lost. My advice would be similar to what I used to tell people who were reading William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury: even if you can’t see where things are heading, keep reading, because it will all fall into place. And it is fabulous. In fact, the way of telling the story works wonderfully well to emphasise the theme of legacy, the fact that family lines, and especially people’s behaviour, mark those who come into contact with them and is carried through the generations. The structure made me think of novels such as Cloud Nine, and movies like Pulp Fiction, and if you enjoy a bit of a challenge when it comes to the way a story is told, this will add to your enjoyment.
The epic story (a saga) is narrated in the first person in the present tense by the different characters, and that gives it immediacy, making it easier to connect with them, even when sometimes we might know that things are not what they seem to be, and at times we might know much more than the characters do, and that give us a fascinating perspective. The story works well, and as I said, everything fits in, but the author has a particular skill for creating vastly varied characters that are totally believable, and like them or not, we can’t help getting involved in their lives. Lottie continues to be my favourite character, but Bree and Silas are great as well, and their relationship is heart-warming without being overly sweet. Both of them have doubts and reservations, and they prove their feelings with actions, rather than meaningless words. Even the less likeable characters have a heart (well, at least the ones we meet personally) and I was surprised when I felt sorry for some of them, whom at first I had thought of as unredeemable.
I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, because the story has to be read. The writing is fabulous, descriptive enough without ever getting boring, and the characters and the events narrated will make you think about known historical figures, religious beliefs, and about what moves society, and what is truly important.
I am pleased to read in the author’s note that she is thinking about writing some novellas and possibly a novel set in one of the places we visit here. Although I loved the story and the ending as well, I know I’ll keep thinking about the series, and I won’t be able to resist further incursions into this world. And yes, I’ll be one of the readers pestering the author for more.
I have been following Terry Tyler’s Project Renova from the beginning (you can check my reviews for Tipping Point, here, for Lindisfarne, here, and for UK2, here) and loved all of the novels, getting more and more personally involved in the adventures and with the characters, that became part of the family, as it progressed. When a trilogy comes to an end and you see readers wondering what happened next and pestering the author for more, you know this is not just another dystopian adventure.
Before I get into the detail of this novel, which is fabulous in case you’re wondering, I must say that my recommendation is to read the four novels in the intended order. The series is written to be read as a whole, and the books are not independent. Although this novel introduces many new characters, to fully appreciate the project (yes, I know) and the overall effect, you need to be familiar with the complete story so far. But don’t worry, though, if it’s been a while since you’ve read the other novels, because the author includes a link to “the story so far” before the new novel starts, so you’ll be able to quickly refresh your memory.
This is the most structurally complex novel of the series. Although all the books are narrated by several characters, and that is the case here too, and in UK2 we had different settings as well, this novel takes us back and forth in time. After a brief interlude that follows directly on from the last novel (and there are a few of those interspersed throughout the text, but very brief), Part One is set in 2127, a hundred years later, and we go back to Norfolk, where we meet Bree, a young girl who lives there, and Silas, a traveller. This gives us an opportunity to learn what has happened in that period all over the UK, at least in large strokes, and also to meet two young people that, at least to begin with, we don’t know how they relate to the rest of the plot. Part Two goes back to 2089 and we learn about Sky, who lives in a Northern settlement called Blackthorn. Although she lives a life of luxury, we soon learn that she is in a minority, and the place sounds like a dystopian nightmare (if you’re familiar with Huxley’s Brave New World that part of the story will give you pause, and women will be particularly horrified by that possible future), so it’s not surprising that she ends up taking a fairly extreme decision. Part Three is set in 2050, and in this case we follow the next generation of some of the characters we had left in the last novel, particularly Phoenix. Part Four, set only two years after the last novel, in 2019, reunites us with Lottie, my favourite character of the series (and I’m not the only one). Part Five is set again in 2127, and we see what happened next to Bree and Silas and we get a sense of how the whole story fits and see the bigger picture. And the last bit of the story, back in 2027, answers a question that most people will be wondering about.
Does this mean the story is confusing? Not really, but if you’re trying to find connections and work out who everybody is from the start, you might feel a bit lost. My advice would be similar to what I used to tell people who were reading William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury: even if you can’t see where things are heading, keep reading, because it will all fall into place. And it is fabulous. In fact, the way of telling the story works wonderfully well to emphasise the theme of legacy, the fact that family lines, and especially people’s behaviour, mark those who come into contact with them and is carried through the generations. The structure made me think of novels such as Cloud Nine, and movies like Pulp Fiction, and if you enjoy a bit of a challenge when it comes to the way a story is told, this will add to your enjoyment.
The epic story (a saga) is narrated in the first person in the present tense by the different characters, and that gives it immediacy, making it easier to connect with them, even when sometimes we might know that things are not what they seem to be, and at times we might know much more than the characters do, and that give us a fascinating perspective. The story works well, and as I said, everything fits in, but the author has a particular skill for creating vastly varied characters that are totally believable, and like them or not, we can’t help getting involved in their lives. Lottie continues to be my favourite character, but Bree and Silas are great as well, and their relationship is heart-warming without being overly sweet. Both of them have doubts and reservations, and they prove their feelings with actions, rather than meaningless words. Even the less likeable characters have a heart (well, at least the ones we meet personally) and I was surprised when I felt sorry for some of them, whom at first I had thought of as unredeemable.
I don’t want to go into a lot of detail, because the story has to be read. The writing is fabulous, descriptive enough without ever getting boring, and the characters and the events narrated will make you think about known historical figures, religious beliefs, and about what moves society, and what is truly important.
I am pleased to read in the author’s note that she is thinking about writing some novellas and possibly a novel set in one of the places we visit here. Although I loved the story and the ending as well, I know I’ll keep thinking about the series, and I won’t be able to resist further incursions into this world. And yes, I’ll be one of the readers pestering the author for more.
April 26, 2020
I read the last one of this series, UK2, nearly a year ago so I was pleased to get back to it and even more pleased to find that Tyler had put in a helpful The Story So Far section to scan through just to refresh who was who before I got going.
After the trilogy this is the story of what happens next, although it is also a completely new tale as it is about Bree, a girl from a village in Norfolk who’s been nowhere, and Silas, a traveller, who rarely settles anywhere for long.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching them and their relationship grow as they developed around each other. It is through them that we get to revisit Lindisfarne and see how that community has matured. I liked the way certain moments of history had been erased, despite great care being taken to record it, as parts of this story are about the way it can manipulate and affect those that came after.
I thought the Phoenix chapters were very well handled. I loved the total obsession with his father and the way he tried, and failed, to be the man he thought his father was before being told the rather confronting truth of the man.
There are some short chapters that cover what happens to the group that escaped UK Central at the end of UK2 and we get to see the return of a popular character. We also see the horrible reality of Blackthorn when Bree and Silas end up there and I know there is another book out by Tyler with this title so that will be an interesting read I’m sure.
As well written as ever the reader is drawn comfortably through this book which feels like a goodbye to some well-loved characters and is an excellent and fitting end to this superb series.
After the trilogy this is the story of what happens next, although it is also a completely new tale as it is about Bree, a girl from a village in Norfolk who’s been nowhere, and Silas, a traveller, who rarely settles anywhere for long.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching them and their relationship grow as they developed around each other. It is through them that we get to revisit Lindisfarne and see how that community has matured. I liked the way certain moments of history had been erased, despite great care being taken to record it, as parts of this story are about the way it can manipulate and affect those that came after.
I thought the Phoenix chapters were very well handled. I loved the total obsession with his father and the way he tried, and failed, to be the man he thought his father was before being told the rather confronting truth of the man.
There are some short chapters that cover what happens to the group that escaped UK Central at the end of UK2 and we get to see the return of a popular character. We also see the horrible reality of Blackthorn when Bree and Silas end up there and I know there is another book out by Tyler with this title so that will be an interesting read I’m sure.
As well written as ever the reader is drawn comfortably through this book which feels like a goodbye to some well-loved characters and is an excellent and fitting end to this superb series.
December 8, 2018
The ending that makes sense of the whole series. I absolutely loved the first three books, and this one completes the series perfectly with its collection of stories spanning a century and more after the initial Fall (when bat fever wipes out the majority of the population). I had to read the whole book to appreciate how cleverly it is crafted and if I’m honest, I was wondering where it was all going for quite some time as I couldn’t see the point of the ‘century hopping’ initially. But it is brilliant. I won’t go into storyline details but the beauty of this final book is that readers not only find out what happens to all the characters they have grown to love (and hate) but also what happens to their offspring and the long term consequences of their actions. It is also both chilling and heartwarming in equal measure. From the terrifyingly brutal city of Blackthorn to the idealism of Lindisfarne and the warm imperfections of Five Villages, we see what can happen when human nature is left to itself with no governance or rule of law. Weakness or courage seem to be the main determiners as to which way it will all go, and there is plenty of both. Thankfully, the book ends with optimism in the future. Bree and Silas’. Like other readers, I was thrilled to find out how the members of the old Lindisfarne community fared, especially Lottie, but it was good to know that the future is not only in the hands of the past. And as always with Terry Tyler’s books, she ends her tale with something to leave us thinking on. Highly recommended, but I would recommend reading books 1 to 3 of the series first. It is such a complete and magnificent series!
December 24, 2018
Most of us have read books, and upon reaching the end, wondered what happened to the characters beyond the scope of that novel. What about the rest of their lives? Did they live happily ever after? Have children? If so, what happened to them? I was ecstatic to learn that Legacy provides those answers.
I'm not an overly emotional person, but this book gave me the feels in certain parts. After spending time with many of these characters through three books, they almost feel like family, and I was anxious to learn what happened to them. Some got their happily ever after, others didn't, and a few what they had coming to them, but when you're living in a post-apocalyptic society, not everything is sunshine and roses. With new characters, I enjoyed making those connections in the family tree, and learning which branch they came from.
The time jumps allowing the reader to see characters' fates, connections, and the progress in rebuilding society are done so well, and aren't at all confusing. I loved seeing how actions taken by some characters affected the lives of so many 100 years later.
This has been a compelling series with superb characterization, and I was thrilled to read in the author notes that she's considering spin-offs featuring some characters. If you're a fan of gritty, post-apocalyptic stories that don't pull punches, add this to your TBR.
I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I'm not an overly emotional person, but this book gave me the feels in certain parts. After spending time with many of these characters through three books, they almost feel like family, and I was anxious to learn what happened to them. Some got their happily ever after, others didn't, and a few what they had coming to them, but when you're living in a post-apocalyptic society, not everything is sunshine and roses. With new characters, I enjoyed making those connections in the family tree, and learning which branch they came from.
The time jumps allowing the reader to see characters' fates, connections, and the progress in rebuilding society are done so well, and aren't at all confusing. I loved seeing how actions taken by some characters affected the lives of so many 100 years later.
This has been a compelling series with superb characterization, and I was thrilled to read in the author notes that she's considering spin-offs featuring some characters. If you're a fan of gritty, post-apocalyptic stories that don't pull punches, add this to your TBR.
I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 28, 2018
One of the best things about coming to the end of a captivating novel is finding that there are a further three books already published that carry on with the story that has had you engrossed. Such was the case with Tipping Point. I have now finished reading all four books in the Renova Project series and I'm still reeling with the impact they have had on me. The concept of a deadly plague wiping out much of humanity is not a new one but Terry Tyler has taken the idea and by golly has she gone to town with this four book series. I cannot praise these books enough. The early pace never lets up and I loved how she took ordinary people and showed how a deadly disease could devastate not only families but communities, cities, countries and eventually plunge the whole planet back into the middle ages. I didn't think the last book 'Legacy' could be any better than the three earlier books but Ms Tyler has wound up the series leaving no loose ends to niggle the reader. One hundred years after the outbreak of Bat Fever we find how life for the survivors has now panned out. Imagine .. no manufacturing industries, no electricity, no cars, no internet, no shops. Nothing that we all take for granted. This last book explains what life could be like and the terrifying thing is - it could happen. An apocalypse like this is just around the corner. A deadly disease, a rogue asteroid, a nuclear world war. Any major disaster could end life as we know it. Terry Tyler has given us a scenario that doesn't bear thinking about. What a writer! If I could, I'd give it ten stars.
January 16, 2019
I’m a big fan of Terry Tyler’s character-driven drama and have enjoyed all the books in the Project Renova series. Legacy is a fitting finale, giving not only resolution to stories from previous instalments, but an intelligent and imaginative portrayal of life up to one hundred years after the deadly virus lays ravage to mankind. I was particularly happy to see that Lottie lived up to early potential, as she was one of my favourite characters, showing much more grit, realism and resourcefulness than many of the older people. It was also satisfying to see some of the villains get their just deserts. The timeline, spanning almost a century, might have been challenging for other authors but was on the whole deftly handled by Terry. However, in my view, the chief strength of Terry’s writing is always the vivid authenticity of her characters, with their distinctive voices. Because ultimately whatever the setting for a novel, people’s passions, weaknesses and hunger for power remain the same. Although the author helpfully gives the story to date, I don’t honestly feel this book could be read as a standalone. To appreciate the full richness of the series, you should really start at Book 1 Tipping Point, which is currently just 99p.
June 15, 2021
Wow! Another brilliant read from Terry Tyler. Legacy is the forth and final book from her wonderful Project Renova series.
In this book we move 100 year and find out how life has moved on since bat fever, how people have coped. How the descendants of those who died or battled on have moved forward. How has Lindisfarne progressed, what has happened to Blackthorn? Some of the previous characters appear in the book. We find out what happened to them, why they behaved as they did and the consequences created by them.
The main characters here are Bree and Silas, their story unfolds beautifully. They both set out to find themselves, to try and discover where they came from. On their journey they have highs and lows as well as some very scary moments.
Terry Tyler is a fascinating writer, her mind must be full of ideas all the time and when she puts pen to paper her brilliance shines, her characters come alive.
Thank you Terry for a wonderfully written series, I will read each and every one again. Loved them.
In this book we move 100 year and find out how life has moved on since bat fever, how people have coped. How the descendants of those who died or battled on have moved forward. How has Lindisfarne progressed, what has happened to Blackthorn? Some of the previous characters appear in the book. We find out what happened to them, why they behaved as they did and the consequences created by them.
The main characters here are Bree and Silas, their story unfolds beautifully. They both set out to find themselves, to try and discover where they came from. On their journey they have highs and lows as well as some very scary moments.
Terry Tyler is a fascinating writer, her mind must be full of ideas all the time and when she puts pen to paper her brilliance shines, her characters come alive.
Thank you Terry for a wonderfully written series, I will read each and every one again. Loved them.
November 15, 2018
‘Legacy’ needs to be read in order as the final in the series for it is written as a multi-timeframe jigsaw threading behind Bree’s coming-of-age journey to Lindisfarne. Bree might not get all the answers she wants, and some she doesn’t expect, but readers are certainly satisfied as strands of story from past characters are fulfilled.
The author’s skill in the observance of human character traits, of nature v nurture, of self belief v self delusion, shines through in her writing. She is a worthy bestselling author.
The author’s skill in the observance of human character traits, of nature v nurture, of self belief v self delusion, shines through in her writing. She is a worthy bestselling author.
November 18, 2018
Legacy is the final chapter in the Project Renova series & is arguably the best of the four books
which is saying something as the previous 3 were outstanding.
I cannot recommend this series highly enough, the author has an amazing talent & never
disappoints in whatever genre she decides upon.
which is saying something as the previous 3 were outstanding.
I cannot recommend this series highly enough, the author has an amazing talent & never
disappoints in whatever genre she decides upon.
April 2, 2019
What a ride.
At the beginning I was irritated that my beloved characters from the previous three tomes were not there. Who cares about some new ones far in the future? Turns out, I do, especially when the future and the past begin to meet, resolving riddles, producing new ones, making me want to rip Mrs. Tyler's throat off for taking one too many lessons from George R. R. Martin (you'll see what I mean), making me gasp aloud, then cry a bit... (I am SO tempted to give spoilers here. I'm going to sit on my hands for a minute. Brb.)
In a way, the thing that impressed me the most is that this book is a collection of intercollected novellas, each of which could have been a novel of its own. Ideas, stories, arcs are thrown around with certain nonchalance, reminding me of Mike Oldfield's album Amarok – considered not commercial enough, because he never sticks with one idea long enough before another one comes in. "Legacy" could have stretched way beyond its considerable length and I would probably still be complaining there's not enough of it.
I'm not going to spoil the epilogue, because – duh, but I hope for more instalments of the series to happen somehow. It's been a very long time since a book – nay, four books, all of the series – dragged me in so completely.
Still, not enough about Lottie. There, I said it. So knocking off one star from the 6/5 score.
At the beginning I was irritated that my beloved characters from the previous three tomes were not there. Who cares about some new ones far in the future? Turns out, I do, especially when the future and the past begin to meet, resolving riddles, producing new ones, making me want to rip Mrs. Tyler's throat off for taking one too many lessons from George R. R. Martin (you'll see what I mean), making me gasp aloud, then cry a bit... (I am SO tempted to give spoilers here. I'm going to sit on my hands for a minute. Brb.)
In a way, the thing that impressed me the most is that this book is a collection of intercollected novellas, each of which could have been a novel of its own. Ideas, stories, arcs are thrown around with certain nonchalance, reminding me of Mike Oldfield's album Amarok – considered not commercial enough, because he never sticks with one idea long enough before another one comes in. "Legacy" could have stretched way beyond its considerable length and I would probably still be complaining there's not enough of it.
I'm not going to spoil the epilogue, because – duh, but I hope for more instalments of the series to happen somehow. It's been a very long time since a book – nay, four books, all of the series – dragged me in so completely.
Still, not enough about Lottie. There, I said it. So knocking off one star from the 6/5 score.
December 21, 2018
I did enjoy the book but it was not a comfortable read. I did not like the hopping backwards and forwards in time, and as I read it on my kindle, it was difficult to map who, was where, and in which century. I thoroughly enjoyed the first books in the series, and check out the synopsis which was handy as it has been a while since I read the earlier titles. I became confused sorting out the connections in the family generations especially when they dropped down 3 or 4 generations. Ms Tyler does draw her characters well but we did not stay with any one of them long enough for me to connect with a particular hero or heroine. The ending was very satisfying.
June 15, 2020
Terry Tyler really knows how to make a fictional world come to life. The wild cast of characters in this series and the shocking plot twists kept the story moving and had me hanging on every word. The wonderful picture she paints of Lindisfarne makes it sound so magical I want to pack my bags and move right in! (That's if it was real of course) The series was well-written, with fascinating character development. While some changed for the better and some for the worse, the diversity and depth Tyler has created in this motley crew shows what a talented author she is.
April 15, 2021
At first, I was disappointed because the book started way in the future and I wanted to know how the characters I had followed for the last three books turned out. But then as the new characters travel the new world and trace back their ancestry, you not only learn the original characters stories, but those of the entire new world. In the end, I think it was probably better this way. Very good series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2019
A captivating series
I really enjoyed following this series and getting to know all the various characters. It was intriguing to read of this possible world in the future but also very believable. I could hardly wait to read the stories and tie everyone into the history of this new world. Great writing, characters and storyline.
I really enjoyed following this series and getting to know all the various characters. It was intriguing to read of this possible world in the future but also very believable. I could hardly wait to read the stories and tie everyone into the history of this new world. Great writing, characters and storyline.
February 2, 2020
Legacy 10+
I read the project renova series. It was amazing. Once you read the first book ,you are hooked. These were the first books I read by Terry Tyler. These books are very frightening,but they will really make you think about what is going on in the world and what could happen to us.
I read the project renova series. It was amazing. Once you read the first book ,you are hooked. These were the first books I read by Terry Tyler. These books are very frightening,but they will really make you think about what is going on in the world and what could happen to us.
April 18, 2023
Part 4 of the Renova Story. Another book I couldn’t put down. I loved Bree and Silas, and the way all the other stories link up until we come back full circle. This really is a compelling, well thought out series. I shall be sad when it’s over.
March 13, 2020
Great series
Very much enjoyed the entire 4 book series. Highly recommended. The different POV characters really allowed the story to be told from all sides.
Very much enjoyed the entire 4 book series. Highly recommended. The different POV characters really allowed the story to be told from all sides.
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