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Extinction Cycle Universe
Penance
There is no escaping the evil lurking in the shadows... After the harrowing trials of Emergence, Jed Welch finds himself alone in the ruins of New York City. But not all is lost. USMC Staff Sergeant Alexandra Gallegos and the two surviving members of her platoon find Jed, and together they will bring the full weight of their Marine Corps training, and mission-driven sense of vengeance, to bear upon the real human collaborators who aid the Variants at the expense of their fellow human beings. For SSGT Gallegos, theirs is a mission borne of duty and command. For Jed, it becomes an act of penance, in hopes he may atone for his sins.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 28, 2020
Book 17 in my Zombie-a-thon!
CW: Extreme gore
Look, this wasn't a bad book but I really struggled to stay interested. I mean there was a talking zombie collaborating with some dastardly humans. I don't know, it just felt a bit silly. Zombies are considerably less fearsome when they are talking like Tarzan. In addition to this, Jed started calling them "sucker faces", and I am pretty sure he said that about 10 times within about 2 minutes. Now I don't want to disrespect anyone and this is a genuine question - do Marines say 'rah' all the time? Some of the conversations felt like they were saying it so much it was just, "rah", "rah", "rah". I understood the conversation and the context, it just grew very very repetitive. Didn't quite work for me but in the interest of trying to meet my goal of 20 I will be reading book 3.
CW: Extreme gore
Look, this wasn't a bad book but I really struggled to stay interested. I mean there was a talking zombie collaborating with some dastardly humans. I don't know, it just felt a bit silly. Zombies are considerably less fearsome when they are talking like Tarzan. In addition to this, Jed started calling them "sucker faces", and I am pretty sure he said that about 10 times within about 2 minutes. Now I don't want to disrespect anyone and this is a genuine question - do Marines say 'rah' all the time? Some of the conversations felt like they were saying it so much it was just, "rah", "rah", "rah". I understood the conversation and the context, it just grew very very repetitive. Didn't quite work for me but in the interest of trying to meet my goal of 20 I will be reading book 3.
April 17, 2019
After the events of Emergence, Jed is alone and scared with countless Variants around him. But thankfully for him, he meets up with USMC Staff Sergeant Alexandra Gallegos and two other members of her platoon. They are wary of Jed at first, thinking him to be in league with the collaborators, but they soon realise that there are bigger threats and Jed can fight.
Admittedly, I really didn't like Jed in the first book, but I understood his feelings, but thankfully here, we see more to him and he grew on me. He is still struggling with doing the right thing, but I think he has finally found his place and he is becoming who he should be. I think what happened to Meg and his role in it made him grow up and realise it's not just him anymore, it's all of humanity and that they need to save everyone they can.
This takes place straight after Emergence and straight after Meg goes into the sewers. We get to see some familiar Variants in this.... the Bone Collector!!! The action never really lets up and it's the team against the Variants and the evil that is the collaborators. It's well written and developed and a welcome addition to the Extinction Universe that Nicholas Sansbury Smith created. Jed has finally grown on me and I'm looking forward to reading the end of this trilogy to see what happens.
Once again, Bronson Pinchot gives a brilliant performance. I don't think I could picture anyone else reading these books because I feel like this narrator understands the world and the characters he is portraying. He is an amazing narrator and I highly recommend him.
Admittedly, I really didn't like Jed in the first book, but I understood his feelings, but thankfully here, we see more to him and he grew on me. He is still struggling with doing the right thing, but I think he has finally found his place and he is becoming who he should be. I think what happened to Meg and his role in it made him grow up and realise it's not just him anymore, it's all of humanity and that they need to save everyone they can.
This takes place straight after Emergence and straight after Meg goes into the sewers. We get to see some familiar Variants in this.... the Bone Collector!!! The action never really lets up and it's the team against the Variants and the evil that is the collaborators. It's well written and developed and a welcome addition to the Extinction Universe that Nicholas Sansbury Smith created. Jed has finally grown on me and I'm looking forward to reading the end of this trilogy to see what happens.
Once again, Bronson Pinchot gives a brilliant performance. I don't think I could picture anyone else reading these books because I feel like this narrator understands the world and the characters he is portraying. He is an amazing narrator and I highly recommend him.
March 18, 2021
I don’t know why I keep reading this. I think it’s the audacity of the situation he created in this book also the truly well written fast pace. It keeps me wondering,“Where the hell is he going with this?“
May 11, 2021
Our hero is developing so much character, and that's what won this book ffive stars.
March 10, 2019
My prediction of what might happen in this book was blown away by what actually happened.
Things you should know: This is the second book in the Redemption Trilogy which is part of the Extinction Cycle 'universe'. If you prefer to read in chronological order, I recommend reading this after book 2 of Extinction Cycle series, "Extinction Edge" by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. In that way, you will have a fuller picture of what is going on. However, if you are sensitive to violence as well as adult language and situations then perhaps these series are not for you.
Staff Sergeant Alexandra Gallegos is one of the surviving members of a military operation that went dreadfully wrong. Her new mission is to discover the truth behind survivors being taken from the streets of New York City. Private Jed Welch comes along in time for orientation and action. Will they be successful or will the 'monsters' win?
I was intrigued by the author's use of alternating points of view between the two main characters. Not only how they saw things but how they thought and felt at any given time.
Things you should know: This is the second book in the Redemption Trilogy which is part of the Extinction Cycle 'universe'. If you prefer to read in chronological order, I recommend reading this after book 2 of Extinction Cycle series, "Extinction Edge" by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. In that way, you will have a fuller picture of what is going on. However, if you are sensitive to violence as well as adult language and situations then perhaps these series are not for you.
Staff Sergeant Alexandra Gallegos is one of the surviving members of a military operation that went dreadfully wrong. Her new mission is to discover the truth behind survivors being taken from the streets of New York City. Private Jed Welch comes along in time for orientation and action. Will they be successful or will the 'monsters' win?
I was intrigued by the author's use of alternating points of view between the two main characters. Not only how they saw things but how they thought and felt at any given time.
February 28, 2019
Loving this trilogy
Jed was a character I never really got to know in Extinction Cycle. He seemed like a great guy, then not so much, then I just wasn’t really sure. This book gave me a great look into this flawed man. One thing I’ve loved about the Extinction Cycle world is the characters aren’t perfect, they are flawed. They are men and women trying their best in a world where the rules we live with no longer apply and the situations you face often give you the worst possible choices. I now feel I know and get Jed way more and am thrilled for it. I firmly put him in a flawed hero category now cause I know where he belongs. Like the first in this trilogy there is lots of action and great story telling. A.J. Sikes does a great job playing in Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s playground! I can’t wait for the final book in this trilogy to come out to see where this story ends.
Jed was a character I never really got to know in Extinction Cycle. He seemed like a great guy, then not so much, then I just wasn’t really sure. This book gave me a great look into this flawed man. One thing I’ve loved about the Extinction Cycle world is the characters aren’t perfect, they are flawed. They are men and women trying their best in a world where the rules we live with no longer apply and the situations you face often give you the worst possible choices. I now feel I know and get Jed way more and am thrilled for it. I firmly put him in a flawed hero category now cause I know where he belongs. Like the first in this trilogy there is lots of action and great story telling. A.J. Sikes does a great job playing in Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s playground! I can’t wait for the final book in this trilogy to come out to see where this story ends.
March 4, 2019
Jed becomes all that he can be - a true Marine, for life.
Still messed up over the loss of Meg, Jed meets up with a diminished Marine squad and relearns the basics of his craft. Sgt. Gallegos and her two surviving marines, now boistered by Jed's inclusion, fight the collaborators led by Tucker. In. Their little piece of a demolished New York City, fighting collaborators and the sucker-faces, trying to watch each other's back, scrounging for supplies, mostly they strive to survive.
This book was an excellent follow-up to Emergence. There are new characters to love and admire or hate and despise and you quickly learn which. This is an excellent addition to the Extinction Cycle and I know you're going to love it!
Still messed up over the loss of Meg, Jed meets up with a diminished Marine squad and relearns the basics of his craft. Sgt. Gallegos and her two surviving marines, now boistered by Jed's inclusion, fight the collaborators led by Tucker. In. Their little piece of a demolished New York City, fighting collaborators and the sucker-faces, trying to watch each other's back, scrounging for supplies, mostly they strive to survive.
This book was an excellent follow-up to Emergence. There are new characters to love and admire or hate and despise and you quickly learn which. This is an excellent addition to the Extinction Cycle and I know you're going to love it!
October 16, 2023
I just finished listen to Emergency and have thus invested in both Jake and Meg's different stories and character perspectives. So I started book 2, Penance, only to find the author has dropped Meg into a sewer system to be devoured by Afflicted! What...…?
For the rest of the story I gather she only serves as some guilty trip to motivate Jake to be more heroic?
I'm not particularly up on all this Woke PC stuff but I believed the term is 'Fridging' a superficial female character so as to have them the motivation of a revenge story.
So pretty disappointed by that trope, as Meg was 50% of the first book.
For the rest of the story I gather she only serves as some guilty trip to motivate Jake to be more heroic?
I'm not particularly up on all this Woke PC stuff but I believed the term is 'Fridging' a superficial female character so as to have them the motivation of a revenge story.
So pretty disappointed by that trope, as Meg was 50% of the first book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
A good follow up to emergence and the grind begins. It dovetails well with events from the main Extinction Cycle series. The advent of the collabs is well handled and the actions sequences were well handled.
Meg disappears early at the start of this book - which is fine, as she has other work to do in the main Extinction Cycle series at the around the timing of this book.
Our wash-out marine main character steadily builds purpose and bonds with his fellow marines. The books ends well and perfectly in synch with the main series.
Meg disappears early at the start of this book - which is fine, as she has other work to do in the main Extinction Cycle series at the around the timing of this book.
Our wash-out marine main character steadily builds purpose and bonds with his fellow marines. The books ends well and perfectly in synch with the main series.
March 9, 2019
The story continues
The story of Jed continues in this book. From one extreme circumstance to another. Jed is just trying to stay alive and with the help of Sgt. G he just may. It does seem though he keeps jumping from the frying pan into the fire..and if he’s not lucky he will get burned, or eaten ..either way it doesn’t sound like a great experience ... so read the book to see if he makes the cut..
The story of Jed continues in this book. From one extreme circumstance to another. Jed is just trying to stay alive and with the help of Sgt. G he just may. It does seem though he keeps jumping from the frying pan into the fire..and if he’s not lucky he will get burned, or eaten ..either way it doesn’t sound like a great experience ... so read the book to see if he makes the cut..
March 16, 2019
Awesome. Back in the dark and scary
Meh is lost in the sewers and Jed hooks up with another beleaguered bunch of Marines. It's great to watch as he steps up to become the man he needs to be. Maybe his "penance" for failing with Meg. But another great read from Sikes. Puts me right back in the dark and scary beginning. Excellent read! I highly recommend this series and this book.
Meh is lost in the sewers and Jed hooks up with another beleaguered bunch of Marines. It's great to watch as he steps up to become the man he needs to be. Maybe his "penance" for failing with Meg. But another great read from Sikes. Puts me right back in the dark and scary beginning. Excellent read! I highly recommend this series and this book.
November 6, 2017
Really good .Lot's of action .Thrilling moments, keep me at the edge of my seat. As a former grunt i can identify with Jeds emotional.
up's and downs . And yes I recommend this story to does who like action suspence and more and more action.
up's and downs . And yes I recommend this story to does who like action suspence and more and more action.
March 30, 2019
Another excellent story
This is book 2 of the Redemption trilogy. I was a disappointed not to see Meg in this one, but Jed's continued story is fascinating. I'm looking forward to starting book 3.
This is book 2 of the Redemption trilogy. I was a disappointed not to see Meg in this one, but Jed's continued story is fascinating. I'm looking forward to starting book 3.
March 31, 2019
I won’t go into details about the story because that’s been covered in other reviews, just say I agree with the other 5 star reviews. This is truly an awesome and well written installment. I know this is a trilogy but really hope to read more of our Jed and company.
April 4, 2019
Holy Hell!!!
This series gets better and better and better!!!! I have no words at how awesome this is!!! Such great writing, story telling and just over all awesomeness!!! AJ does it again!!!
This series gets better and better and better!!!! I have no words at how awesome this is!!! Such great writing, story telling and just over all awesomeness!!! AJ does it again!!!
April 12, 2019
Good can triumph
This is the sequel in a trilogy. We follow some characters from the first part. Make new acquaintances. Definitely make new enemies. Lots of violence and death. But life also. It's war.
Some of the lingo/language is repetitive and absolutely maddening.
This is the sequel in a trilogy. We follow some characters from the first part. Make new acquaintances. Definitely make new enemies. Lots of violence and death. But life also. It's war.
Some of the lingo/language is repetitive and absolutely maddening.
September 14, 2023
I like the way the character Jed is developing and growing. This is becoming a sort of coming of age story and I find that interesting. Similarly, the Zombie/monster evolution is subtle but interesting.
October 28, 2019
This guy really doesn't like women leads but the one in this book was much better.
September 21, 2021
Great book Enjoyed it
April 23, 2022
Very good story!
Absolutely love these stories that originated from the Extinction Cycle stories. Looking forward to reading book 3 in this trilogy.
Absolutely love these stories that originated from the Extinction Cycle stories. Looking forward to reading book 3 in this trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews