The Evolution Gene: The Complete Trilogy

The Evolution Gene #1-3

by Aaron Hodges, Genevieve Lerner (Editor)

In 2051, the Western Allies States have risen as the new power in North America. But a terrifying plague is sweeping through the nation. Its victims do not die—they change. People call them the Chead , and where they walk, destruction follows.

Runaway teenager Liz wants nothing more than an ordinary life. But when she’s abducted off the streets, Liz learns her government has other plans. In a future ruled by a ruthless dictator, there’s no place for the weak, and she’s spirited away to a facility deep in the Californian mountains. There, Liz wakes in an iron cage – and she’s not alone.

Beside her, eighteen-year-old Chris stands wrongfully accused of treason. The two are now volunteers in the Genome Project – an experimental program to enhance the human race and fight the Chead . Stripped of their rights, they will soon learn the true depths of human cruelty. The two must work together to survive, but even then, their chances are slim. Of course, only the lucky get to die.

1067 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2020

About the author

Aaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he now spends his time traveling the world in search of his next adventure.

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have left reviews for the individual books as I read them but this is an overview for the trilogy about a dystopic society, with a government which is out of control and grasping power no matter how! Many people are just disappearing with families being classified as traitors and killed. A group of young teenagers are abducted and brutally imprisoned in a laboratory and medical center in the middle of nowhere. They are tortured and abused physically and mentally to the extreme, then those who made it to the final phase of the project are injected with the DNA of various strains of animals to make them stronger and invincible. Among the youths we encounter Liz and Chris, Sam and Ashley on the one hand and Dr. Fallow and Dr. Halt on the other plus all the guards and equipment used to subdue and keep the youths terrorised and alienated from one another. Some of the youths grow wings which they have to learn how to cope with, whilst others are turned into the Chead, a monstrous race who know only hatred and rage. Our group of young heroes escape to the mountains but they are followed by fully trained armed soldiers, helicopters and the Chead too so the tension can be cut with a knife in this section of the story. They have lost one of their friends and are still mourning but fighting because now they know that it was their own government who had invented the Chead to hound and terrorise their own people! The young people want to expose and bring down the tyrannical government but what can they do on their own, even with their wings and added strength they are so few in number against the so very well trained, armed and ruthless army! They find backing from a group of elderly women protesters known as the mad women and these take them to a safe house but the young people need to act not just rest. In the final book our heroes are out for retribution and the need to take out those who have abused their power so much, the director and the President and to make them pay for all their crimes. The story is a very exciting read and demands that it be read in one sitting! and that on the edge of the seat, this series is excellent. 

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have left reviews for the individual books as I read them but this is an overview for the trilogy about a dystopic society, with a government which is out of control and grasping power no matter how! Many people are just disappearing with families being classified as traitors and killed. A group of young teenagers are abducted and brutally imprisoned in a laboratory and medical centre in the middle of nowhere. They are tortured and abused physically and mentally to the extreme, then those who made it to the final phase of the project are injected with the DNA of various strains of animals to make them stronger and invincible. Among the youths we encounter Liz and Chris, Sam and Ashley on the one hand and Dr. Fallow and Dr. Halt on the other plus all the guards and equipment used to subdue and keep the youths terrorised and alienated from one another. Some of the youths grow wings which they have to learn how to cope with, whilst others are turned into the Chead, a monstrous race who know only hatred and rage. Our group of young heroes escape to the mountains but they are followed by fully trained armed soldiers, helicopters and the Chead too so the tension can be cut with a knife in this section of the story. They have lost one of their friends and are still mourning but fighting because now they know that it was their own government who had invented the Chead to hound and terrorise their own people! The young people want to expose and bring down the tyrannical government but what can they do on their own, even with their wings and added strength they are so few in number against the so very well trained, armed and ruthless army! They find backing from a group of elderly women protesters known as the mad women and these take them to a safe house but the young people need to act not just rest. In the final book our heroes are out for retribution and the need to take out those who have abused their power so much, the director and the President and to make them pay for all their crimes. The story is a very exciting read and demands that it be read in one sitting! and that on the edge of the seat, this series is excellent.

[Lady The Owls · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first few pages to the last page your on one big rollercoaster of an adventure. I loved the story and characters (and hated some to wanting to strangle them). This is an edge of your seat story that keeps you there like I said to the last page. I like how Aaron Hodges wrote this story and all the elements he put in it. If your in for an exciting adventure this is the story for you!

[Laurie Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi I've just finished reading The Evolution Gene Trilogy, I must say this kind of story just didn't first appeal to me but I thought I like the Author so I started reading & to my surprise I really had trouble turning off my Kindle, the story line just kept getting more & more involved & hard to stop reading, I had changed my mine about the story line I was hoping the Trilogy would just keep on going, the characters all mixed in with each other as the story continued right to the end, I'm sad to say to FINISHED, Descendants of the Fall Book 1 Warbringer is my next read,

[Joanne H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look out, this will knock your socks off! A well written book. Watch yourself, the Chead are coming! A different kind of monster and hard to kill. A leader that wanted all humans dead or made to do as she pleases. Large scale fighting everywhere, with the Chead's winning most. The President's life is in danger and the Chead's coming. Exciting reading, good book.

[Naomi Lachance · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the heck kind of ending was that?

I really enjoyed this trilogy however the ending was horrible. The whole story was drawn out, then ends. Why would you leave it this way? I feel like I wasted my weekend reading this and has left so many unanswered questions in my head.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable trilogy set in a dystopian future US where the government has few morals and many secrets. I enjoyed the relationships between the various young people and how they developed. The author wasn't afraid to kill off his characters - perhaps a little too ready to do so, which made shocking punctuation to the story.
I had the first book from many years ago, so was happy the author produced this trilogy making the rest of the series more accessible.
I see that the author is continuing the story in the 'future' of this world, but it seems to be more fantasy and so I shall rest content with the story as contained in this box set.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Of course, only the lucky get to die.”

Massive overload here. This series is precisely the mix of Stranger Things and Hunger Games promised in the cover blurb of its first book. Now I happen to be a fan of both so the series, with its well crafted lead and supporting characters and insane thriller of an overarching story arc (plus great individual book plots), was “right up my alley”. If you find any of that remotely appealing too you’re also bound to enjoy it.

Highly recommended.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Of course, only the lucky get to die.”

Massive overload here. This series is precisely the mix of Stranger Things and Hunger Games promised in the cover blurb of its first book. Now I happen to be a fan of both so the series, with its well crafted lead and supporting characters and insane thriller of an overarching story arc (plus great individual book plots), was “right up my alley”. If you find any of that remotely appealing too you’re also bound to enjoy it.

Highly recommended.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly love this series. It is not your average run of the mill post apocalyptic story. This is one of the most unique series i have ever read. One part syfy one part apocalyptic one part love story one part teen ect this series has everything. Enough twist and turns to keep you guessing. A well thought out plot and all in all just a great read . If you have never read any of Mr Hodges work you wont be dissapointed to start here.

[Mimi Davis Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Different For Me

This is not the tour of books I usually read, however, I found it to be very interesting. The plot is very well done, the characters are defined very well and the story has a very good flow. The writing is very clear and this author has done a great job in the telling of this story, so much so that I am looking for more. Great Read