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Talionis #1
Recruit of Talionis
"Forget where you came from. Forget the life you knew. You are now recruits of Talionis!"
A teen with a dark past. A secret military force that kidnaps new soldiers. Can she survive as a Recruit of Talionis?
America has fallen.
Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed.
The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined.
Escape is impossible, and Bria fears drowning in the evil of the city… and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?
A teen with a dark past. A secret military force that kidnaps new soldiers. Can she survive as a Recruit of Talionis?
America has fallen.
Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed.
The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined.
Escape is impossible, and Bria fears drowning in the evil of the city… and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?
450 pages, Paperback
Published November 3, 2022
47 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Milacci
6 books135 followersC.J. Milacci is the award-winning author of the Talionis Series, and she seeks to take her readers on a grand adventure that begins with a single word. As a referee, she is always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She is passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance. Always willing to get real about hard issues, C.J. also enjoys the cheesiest of puns. She chats about writing, her faith, bubble tea, and other fun adventures online (@cjmilacci) and at cjmilacci.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 24, 2025
3 stars ⭐️ Christian Fiction - YA Dystopian
About this book:
“Her abduction was just the beginning. Her survival will change everything.
Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed.
The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined.
Escape is impossible, and Bria is drowning in the evil of the city…and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Talionis” series.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Going to a church (plus a mention of the stained glass and a Scripture being partially available to read); Being witnessed to; Talks about God, Jesus, believing in Him, honoring Him, & His plans; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God and Jesus; Bria’s parents never cared for “religious things”, but after her brother’s death, they changed and clung to God while she ignored and tuned out whenever they talk about Him; Bria believes that God does not want anything to do with her because of a past event, so despite wanting to a few times to ask God why all of this is happening to her, she does not; Bria prays a couple times in a “if you’re there, God…” sort of way; Bria notices the peace that others have and yearns for it; *Major Spoilers* ; A side character has a tattoo that says “Honor God” with a cross underneath; Mentions of God, Jesus, believing in Him, trusting Him, peace, & forgiveness; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of a church; A mention of sin;
*Note: Bria thinks that maybe the “evil of Talionis is the Hell” she deserves for a past event she blames herself for; Bria thinks of some others as evil; Bria thinks she deserves to be locked away from experiencing anything good because of demons of her past (because of her brother’s death); A woman comments on Bria’s cleaned-up appearance being “miraculous almost”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah’, a ‘ticked’, two forms of ‘crap’, three ‘shut up’s, and eight forms of ‘stupid’; Eye rolling & Sarcasm (including both teasingly and disrespectfully; Bria gets called out by her mom for one of her disrespectful attitudes); Bria lies (mostly due to trying to not be caught by the enemy); Lots of attacking/fighting, being shot/being shot at, being hit/beaten/slapped, being drugged and kidnapped, setting and hearing explosions, pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, passing out, & throwing up (semi-detailed); Seeing others be killed and nearly killed, drowned and nearly drowned, shot, shocked/tased, hit/beaten, attacked, fighting, in pain, injured, bleeding, & unconscious (and recalling most of it all, up to semi-detailed); Bria feels guilt and responsible for her brother’s death; *Spoilers* ; Bria and the others go through training exercises that seem very realistic and includes shooting and killing those in their way, seeing others shot and killed, kidnapping someone, and setting explosions (including of a building with people in it; Bria struggles with how realistic it all is and has nightmares of it; all up to semi-detailed); Bria and many others around her age are abducted and drugged to become soldiers (also a younger child who witnessed the kidnappings); Bria wishes she could strangle someone; A side character tells Bria that he doesn’t enjoy taking lives or harming people, but will do it to stop evil people from hurting the innocent; Many mentions of deaths, murders, bodies, guilt, & grief (Bria for her brother and her seeing her parents’ grief over the death as well); Many mentions of explosives and explosions, weapons/guns, being shot, being shot at, being held at gunpoint, & shooting others; Many mentions of beatings, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a war (including a video of a young girl disappearing in an explosion, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of child soldiers; Mentions of possible deaths & a leader not caring if others die while doing his plans; Mentions of kidnappings & being drugged; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of being betrayed & traitors; A few mentions of executions; A few mentions of a drug; A few mentions of bullies; A few mentions of a tattoo (that has a Christian meaning); A few mentions of rumors;
*Note: Groups cheer for others to be executed or drowned (which Bria and her friends are not apart of); Bria’s new friend, Nika, has hints implying she is from an unhappy and possibly abusive family; Bria stuffs down her emotions when thinking about her family or her brother’s death; Mentions of propaganda and brainwashing; A couple mentions of a father not loving his son.
Sexual Content- Touches, Flutters, Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hand kisses (greeting/thanks, not romantic leaning); Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of handsome/cute guys; A couple mentions of an illegitimate son & him being ignored by his biological father like he didn’t exist; A couple mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of crushes; Light possible falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of butts (butting into a conversation and someone ordering another to get their butt down).
-Bria Averton, age 17
1st person P.O.V. of Bria
450 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This series has intimidated me for a while because of the length of the books. It’s a commitment and one I’ve been hesitant about, despite usually enjoying this genre.
As an avid dystopian fan, I did find quite a few parts predictable and other scenes/events a little too easy. That said, Bria needed some easy wins because there’s a lot of brutal training and fighting she has to go through. On that note, though, towards the end, Bria and the group have to trust a lot of different people and I kept waiting for it to completely blow up and the plans not to work out because it seemed so sudden (and slightly out of character) for her to trust so many others.
I have to appreciate and comment on the fact that this book wasn’t super gruesome or violent. Sure, there’s life or death situations—many of them, actually—but we aren’t given a lot of the details of all the fighting or killing. There’s enough to know what’s going on and some reactions from Bria, but the author didn’t add in unnecessary details or go over-the-top explaining all the blood or injuries. It actually felt cleaner than some other Christian YA Dystopian books I’ve read in the past and this review isn’t super long with content details because of that.
Bria does act like the teenager girl she is at times in the way of a near death situation is happening—but she’s noticing a cute guy and trying to convince herself she doesn’t like him like that. I honestly figured out my thoughts and predictions on him early on, but I can’t say I really like him as a love interest at this point. Perhaps he’ll get better as the series continues. She let her emotions control her at times and started frustrating me around the middle all the way to the end. There were poor decisions made that, thankfully, didn’t come back to bite her. I’ll admit that obviously I don’t know how I would handle the things she faces, but her lack of control bothered me.
This book did what every dystopian book makes me feel: the need to work out and exercise more just in case I need to fight against a corrupt government. Hey, you never know!
It did feel kind of slow to me at times despite all the events and action. I think this was because I wanted certain people and their evil agenda to be taken down already and we were nowhere near that—and aren’t going to be for a couple more books it sounds like. There’s a lot of explaining and setting the stage in this first book (which makes sense because it’s the first book in a series), but it dragged at times because I wanted justice to prevail and am instead having to go through the beginning motions of an uprising.
There stronger faith content than I was expecting and just as a random note, I appreciated that the names for God and Jesus in the discussions in this book we’re just that—God and Jesus. No made-up fantasy code names. This really shone because a couple different people witness to Bria and talk to her seriously about God and Jesus dying for her in a slightly heavy-handed way. I don’t think these moments would have been as impactful if the actual names weren’t used so I’m glad the author decided to do that.
Overall, I suppose I liked this book well enough. It’s definitely not a new favorite of mine for the genre, but I will definitely be continuing with the rest of the series and looking for good to win and evil to be destroyed.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Her abduction was just the beginning. Her survival will change everything.
Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine. It’s all she’s ever known — until she’s kidnapped along with hundreds of other teens and brought to the city of Talionis. A city no one knew existed.
The soldiers tell them the intense trainings are for the good of the survivors, and Bria resists being forced into a new life as a recruited soldier. But she soon finds the dangers in the city are greater than she imagined.
Escape is impossible, and Bria is drowning in the evil of the city…and the guilt from her own past. But can she find hope, even here?”
Series: Book #1 in the “Talionis” series.
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Going to a church (plus a mention of the stained glass and a Scripture being partially available to read); Being witnessed to; Talks about God, Jesus, believing in Him, honoring Him, & His plans; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God and Jesus; Bria’s parents never cared for “religious things”, but after her brother’s death, they changed and clung to God while she ignored and tuned out whenever they talk about Him; Bria believes that God does not want anything to do with her because of a past event, so despite wanting to a few times to ask God why all of this is happening to her, she does not; Bria prays a couple times in a “if you’re there, God…” sort of way; Bria notices the peace that others have and yearns for it; *Major Spoilers* ; A side character has a tattoo that says “Honor God” with a cross underneath; Mentions of God, Jesus, believing in Him, trusting Him, peace, & forgiveness; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of a church; A mention of sin;
*Note: Bria thinks that maybe the “evil of Talionis is the Hell” she deserves for a past event she blames herself for; Bria thinks of some others as evil; Bria thinks she deserves to be locked away from experiencing anything good because of demons of her past (because of her brother’s death); A woman comments on Bria’s cleaned-up appearance being “miraculous almost”.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, a ‘dumb’, a ‘gah’, a ‘ticked’, two forms of ‘crap’, three ‘shut up’s, and eight forms of ‘stupid’; Eye rolling & Sarcasm (including both teasingly and disrespectfully; Bria gets called out by her mom for one of her disrespectful attitudes); Bria lies (mostly due to trying to not be caught by the enemy); Lots of attacking/fighting, being shot/being shot at, being hit/beaten/slapped, being drugged and kidnapped, setting and hearing explosions, pain, injuries, blood/bleeding, passing out, & throwing up (semi-detailed); Seeing others be killed and nearly killed, drowned and nearly drowned, shot, shocked/tased, hit/beaten, attacked, fighting, in pain, injured, bleeding, & unconscious (and recalling most of it all, up to semi-detailed); Bria feels guilt and responsible for her brother’s death; *Spoilers* ; Bria and the others go through training exercises that seem very realistic and includes shooting and killing those in their way, seeing others shot and killed, kidnapping someone, and setting explosions (including of a building with people in it; Bria struggles with how realistic it all is and has nightmares of it; all up to semi-detailed); Bria and many others around her age are abducted and drugged to become soldiers (also a younger child who witnessed the kidnappings); Bria wishes she could strangle someone; A side character tells Bria that he doesn’t enjoy taking lives or harming people, but will do it to stop evil people from hurting the innocent; Many mentions of deaths, murders, bodies, guilt, & grief (Bria for her brother and her seeing her parents’ grief over the death as well); Many mentions of explosives and explosions, weapons/guns, being shot, being shot at, being held at gunpoint, & shooting others; Many mentions of beatings, injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a war (including a video of a young girl disappearing in an explosion, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of child soldiers; Mentions of possible deaths & a leader not caring if others die while doing his plans; Mentions of kidnappings & being drugged; Mentions of nightmares; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of being betrayed & traitors; A few mentions of executions; A few mentions of a drug; A few mentions of bullies; A few mentions of a tattoo (that has a Christian meaning); A few mentions of rumors;
*Note: Groups cheer for others to be executed or drowned (which Bria and her friends are not apart of); Bria’s new friend, Nika, has hints implying she is from an unhappy and possibly abusive family; Bria stuffs down her emotions when thinking about her family or her brother’s death; Mentions of propaganda and brainwashing; A couple mentions of a father not loving his son.
Sexual Content- Touches, Flutters, Nearness (up to semi-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hand kisses (greeting/thanks, not romantic leaning); Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of handsome/cute guys; A couple mentions of an illegitimate son & him being ignored by his biological father like he didn’t exist; A couple mentions of flirting; A couple mentions of crushes; Light possible falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of butts (butting into a conversation and someone ordering another to get their butt down).
-Bria Averton, age 17
1st person P.O.V. of Bria
450 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This series has intimidated me for a while because of the length of the books. It’s a commitment and one I’ve been hesitant about, despite usually enjoying this genre.
As an avid dystopian fan, I did find quite a few parts predictable and other scenes/events a little too easy. That said, Bria needed some easy wins because there’s a lot of brutal training and fighting she has to go through. On that note, though, towards the end, Bria and the group have to trust a lot of different people and I kept waiting for it to completely blow up and the plans not to work out because it seemed so sudden (and slightly out of character) for her to trust so many others.
I have to appreciate and comment on the fact that this book wasn’t super gruesome or violent. Sure, there’s life or death situations—many of them, actually—but we aren’t given a lot of the details of all the fighting or killing. There’s enough to know what’s going on and some reactions from Bria, but the author didn’t add in unnecessary details or go over-the-top explaining all the blood or injuries. It actually felt cleaner than some other Christian YA Dystopian books I’ve read in the past and this review isn’t super long with content details because of that.
Bria does act like the teenager girl she is at times in the way of a near death situation is happening—but she’s noticing a cute guy and trying to convince herself she doesn’t like him like that. I honestly figured out my thoughts and predictions on him early on, but I can’t say I really like him as a love interest at this point. Perhaps he’ll get better as the series continues. She let her emotions control her at times and started frustrating me around the middle all the way to the end. There were poor decisions made that, thankfully, didn’t come back to bite her. I’ll admit that obviously I don’t know how I would handle the things she faces, but her lack of control bothered me.
This book did what every dystopian book makes me feel: the need to work out and exercise more just in case I need to fight against a corrupt government. Hey, you never know!
It did feel kind of slow to me at times despite all the events and action. I think this was because I wanted certain people and their evil agenda to be taken down already and we were nowhere near that—and aren’t going to be for a couple more books it sounds like. There’s a lot of explaining and setting the stage in this first book (which makes sense because it’s the first book in a series), but it dragged at times because I wanted justice to prevail and am instead having to go through the beginning motions of an uprising.
There stronger faith content than I was expecting and just as a random note, I appreciated that the names for God and Jesus in the discussions in this book we’re just that—God and Jesus. No made-up fantasy code names. This really shone because a couple different people witness to Bria and talk to her seriously about God and Jesus dying for her in a slightly heavy-handed way. I don’t think these moments would have been as impactful if the actual names weren’t used so I’m glad the author decided to do that.
Overall, I suppose I liked this book well enough. It’s definitely not a new favorite of mine for the genre, but I will definitely be continuing with the rest of the series and looking for good to win and evil to be destroyed.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
April 10, 2024
Entertaining read that kept me on the edge of my seat with some genuine surprises. Milacci does an admirable job of depicting the horrors of child soldiers in a way that remained age-appropriate for a YA audience. Looking forward to reading more of this series!
Read
November 6, 2022Perfect for fans of Shatter Me, The Hunger Games, and even Delirium by Lauren Oliver, RECRUIT OF TALIONIS is a fast-paced, action packed dystopian tale where America has fallen and the survivors are left to pick up the pieces. A militia group in the city known as Talionis promises to keep the peace and restore order to the order-less world, but new recruit Bria soon learns that not all is what it seems.
I really enjoyed this first installment in the series. Milacci has given readers a world that feels so bleak and hopeless, but she manages to shine a little bit of light and hope through the characters and their amazing friendships-slash-found family. The military aspects were super interesting and I liked seeing the characters work through and overcome the often extreme challenges they were faced with.
Bottom line — THE RECRUIT OF TALIONIS is a good first installment in a new dystopian series. This is also a clean read free of sex, swear words, and anything overly graphic, so it’s perfect for both teens or younger readers who may be looking for something a little deeper and more challenging than their normal reads. 3.5 stars.
*Digital arc provided by Book of Matches Media and the author.
I really enjoyed this first installment in the series. Milacci has given readers a world that feels so bleak and hopeless, but she manages to shine a little bit of light and hope through the characters and their amazing friendships-slash-found family. The military aspects were super interesting and I liked seeing the characters work through and overcome the often extreme challenges they were faced with.
Bottom line — THE RECRUIT OF TALIONIS is a good first installment in a new dystopian series. This is also a clean read free of sex, swear words, and anything overly graphic, so it’s perfect for both teens or younger readers who may be looking for something a little deeper and more challenging than their normal reads. 3.5 stars.
*Digital arc provided by Book of Matches Media and the author.
October 20, 2022
Great story, suspense, awesome characters. Loved what the author did here.
October 17, 2022
Though YA dystopian isn't my typical genre, I loved this gripping, action-packed story from C.J. Milacci. She balances the danger and horrors of a hopeless situation with the true hope found beyond the characters' present surroundings. A great story that leaves you wanting more!
September 17, 2025
I absolutely LOVED it. It reminded me a little bit of Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Would definitely recommend. I loved the progression in Bria’s faith in God throughout the book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2023
THIS BOOK.
Was I immediately draw in by the characters and plot? Yes.
Was this premise written in the best way possible? Yes.
Have I already put this book on my favorites shelf on my bookshelf? Also yes.
Was I immediately draw in by the characters and plot? Yes.
Was this premise written in the best way possible? Yes.
Have I already put this book on my favorites shelf on my bookshelf? Also yes.
October 30, 2022
The Recruit of Talionis contains brilliantly created characters possessing depth and displaying courage amidst great hardships and obstacles. This book captivates the mind through its interwoven, high-intensity plot, and it captivates the heart through the purity of selfless sacrifice and a hope that doesn't disappoint in a world full of disappointments.
November 8, 2022
Not my genre of choice, but I'm so glad I read this book. I loved it! I recommend this book to all teens struggling to find hope in the world. It's so good!
April 8, 2025
I didn’t like putting down this engaging—and I dare I say, refreshing—dystopian novel. C.J. Milacci brought together a cast of characters I liked—and some, I loved to hate!
I found the varied reactions to the recruits’ extreme circumstances true to life. I also enjoyed the friendships and rivalries that grew in the furnace of boot camp.
Although the book goes to some dark places throughout, hope shines through in several places, giving it a positive feel.
The book is clearly aimed at teens, but adults will like it, too. The relational angst is mild, the book is clean of sex and profanity, and the violence is not graphic, so middle-school readers may also enjoy it.
I look forward to the next in the series.
I found the varied reactions to the recruits’ extreme circumstances true to life. I also enjoyed the friendships and rivalries that grew in the furnace of boot camp.
Although the book goes to some dark places throughout, hope shines through in several places, giving it a positive feel.
The book is clearly aimed at teens, but adults will like it, too. The relational angst is mild, the book is clean of sex and profanity, and the violence is not graphic, so middle-school readers may also enjoy it.
I look forward to the next in the series.
April 4, 2023
*4.5 stars*
Wow! It’s been a while since I picked up a YA dystopian read, and I couldn’t put this one down! I’m already anxious for the next release in the series. The setting of the story is in what we know as the North Eastern region of the United States, but it takes in the distant future following another world war among other events, and the world is a very different place. I liked that there was a map of the world with the new country names included, although it was also described well in the narrative. It was evident that a lot thought and planning went into the world building and development leading up to the city of Talionis.
At first I thought this just fell under a “clean read” category, however it definitely falls under the Christian fiction genre. It can be really hard to find good books in this category, and so that made me really happy. Although I have to admit that the spiritual content often felt forced and I wasn’t sure how it tied into the main plot, I still appreciated that it was present in a YA read like this.
I liked that Bria was not molded into a character that could do anything and everything like an all-star. While she did have her talents, she also had her weaknesses and fears. She was a protector at heart and that was her driving force. She helped others, and there were times she needed help from them. No one can do it all on their own, and I cherished reading a journey that showed that in such a positive light.
With danger lurking at every corner, and friends working together against the forces of evil, this was an easy book to pick up, and not so easy to set down. I was captivated from cover to cover and can’t wait to read the next in the series because I need to know what happens next! I highly recommend to fans of dystopian reads and to friends looking for cleaner reads for their avid reading teens.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
Wow! It’s been a while since I picked up a YA dystopian read, and I couldn’t put this one down! I’m already anxious for the next release in the series. The setting of the story is in what we know as the North Eastern region of the United States, but it takes in the distant future following another world war among other events, and the world is a very different place. I liked that there was a map of the world with the new country names included, although it was also described well in the narrative. It was evident that a lot thought and planning went into the world building and development leading up to the city of Talionis.
At first I thought this just fell under a “clean read” category, however it definitely falls under the Christian fiction genre. It can be really hard to find good books in this category, and so that made me really happy. Although I have to admit that the spiritual content often felt forced and I wasn’t sure how it tied into the main plot, I still appreciated that it was present in a YA read like this.
I liked that Bria was not molded into a character that could do anything and everything like an all-star. While she did have her talents, she also had her weaknesses and fears. She was a protector at heart and that was her driving force. She helped others, and there were times she needed help from them. No one can do it all on their own, and I cherished reading a journey that showed that in such a positive light.
With danger lurking at every corner, and friends working together against the forces of evil, this was an easy book to pick up, and not so easy to set down. I was captivated from cover to cover and can’t wait to read the next in the series because I need to know what happens next! I highly recommend to fans of dystopian reads and to friends looking for cleaner reads for their avid reading teens.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
March 18, 2024
THIS BOOK. IT WAS AMAZING. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
The whole book had me captivated and entertained, every chapter had me on the edge of my seat. It had everything in there: action, peril, betrayal, loyalty, death, hope, pain, everything. I felt it all, even cried at one point.
This story was so good, and it was so touching. The Christian themes implemented in the story were fit in such a perfect way, and I liked seeing it in there. I’m a sucker for YA Christian fiction, and this one hit home for me. It had the dystopian action I love in ANY book, and of course the Christian themes made me love the story even more.
One other thing that made this story absolutely amazing are the characters. Bria, the main character, was so relatable. I connected deeply with her character. She showed traits that I see in myself, and she reacted to certain situations in the same way I would. And all the side characters were so good, Nika being one of my favorites. She was spunky, brave, strong, and was a place to lean on when things went off the deep end. All the characters were so unique and special to the story, but these two were definitely my favorite.
The military aspect to this book was incredible. I felt like I was there right along with Bria and everyone else. The military training and drills felt so real and alive; I could see everything happening, the events jumping off the page in non-stop action. The plot was amazing, nothing unbelievable or impossible. You can really tell the author spent a lot of time thinking through it.
Lastly, I just wanted to say C. J. Milacci, you did an amazing job writing this book. As a writer, I appreciate your strong writing style and the way you describe things and the way you create scenes and characters and places. It’s so admirable, and I’m so glad I found this story. Please write more books!! 😂😂
I will DEFINITELY read the next book soon, because I have been left on a cliffhanger that I desperately need resolved. So, please read this book, I’m sure you won’t regret it. I fully believe it will touch your life in some way, whether that be small or large. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!
The whole book had me captivated and entertained, every chapter had me on the edge of my seat. It had everything in there: action, peril, betrayal, loyalty, death, hope, pain, everything. I felt it all, even cried at one point.
This story was so good, and it was so touching. The Christian themes implemented in the story were fit in such a perfect way, and I liked seeing it in there. I’m a sucker for YA Christian fiction, and this one hit home for me. It had the dystopian action I love in ANY book, and of course the Christian themes made me love the story even more.
One other thing that made this story absolutely amazing are the characters. Bria, the main character, was so relatable. I connected deeply with her character. She showed traits that I see in myself, and she reacted to certain situations in the same way I would. And all the side characters were so good, Nika being one of my favorites. She was spunky, brave, strong, and was a place to lean on when things went off the deep end. All the characters were so unique and special to the story, but these two were definitely my favorite.
The military aspect to this book was incredible. I felt like I was there right along with Bria and everyone else. The military training and drills felt so real and alive; I could see everything happening, the events jumping off the page in non-stop action. The plot was amazing, nothing unbelievable or impossible. You can really tell the author spent a lot of time thinking through it.
Lastly, I just wanted to say C. J. Milacci, you did an amazing job writing this book. As a writer, I appreciate your strong writing style and the way you describe things and the way you create scenes and characters and places. It’s so admirable, and I’m so glad I found this story. Please write more books!! 😂😂
I will DEFINITELY read the next book soon, because I have been left on a cliffhanger that I desperately need resolved. So, please read this book, I’m sure you won’t regret it. I fully believe it will touch your life in some way, whether that be small or large. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!
October 27, 2022
I really liked this one! I'll admit, I did have a singular problem with it, but that was a me thing, not the book's fault.
I'll be the first to say that I don't normally read military books. In fact, I can't remember the last time I read one. But this one was a great one to start with. The military aspects were addicting, something about them called to me. I loved that our main character actually struggled with them, she wasn't just good at everything.
I also loved the found family aspects. Ari and Nika were so much fun! I loved how they all brought their own strengths to the company, and how they actually did things. I wasn't a huge fan of Storm, but I'm also not a kid person, so that checks out.
Now, my one issue with this, the religious aspects. For some reason, they bugged me. Partly because they felt preachy, and partly because I prefer my books without religious mentions. Again, this is a me thing. Not a problem with a book, just something that hindered my enjoyment of it.
Despite that, I really liked this one! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the second (although maybe I shouldn't, because I stayed up wayyyy too late reading this)
Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I'll be the first to say that I don't normally read military books. In fact, I can't remember the last time I read one. But this one was a great one to start with. The military aspects were addicting, something about them called to me. I loved that our main character actually struggled with them, she wasn't just good at everything.
I also loved the found family aspects. Ari and Nika were so much fun! I loved how they all brought their own strengths to the company, and how they actually did things. I wasn't a huge fan of Storm, but I'm also not a kid person, so that checks out.
Now, my one issue with this, the religious aspects. For some reason, they bugged me. Partly because they felt preachy, and partly because I prefer my books without religious mentions. Again, this is a me thing. Not a problem with a book, just something that hindered my enjoyment of it.
Despite that, I really liked this one! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the second (although maybe I shouldn't, because I stayed up wayyyy too late reading this)
Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
April 5, 2025
I’ve heard about this YA Dystopian debut and series for a bit around my corner of the internet and won the audiobook of the first book as part of a giveaway. So I finally decided to listen and it surprised me with the intensity and emotional depth, as well as a gripping plot that had me from start to finish.
Bria Averton enjoyed her life in a small town, until one day, she and her friends are recruited by Talionis to serve in their military. And when I say recruited, I mean forcefully taken from their homes and forced to endure rigorous training. Throughout, Bria has to navigate the dangerous city and brutal leaders and figure out what it means to find hope in some of the worst places imaginable.
Bria was a great protagonist with a lot of emotional depth. She’s dealing with the death of her brother years earlier, and goes through a lot more emotional trauma throughout the story. I do like that she does have some feistiness, yet knows when to use it. And yes, she has to work for all the skills she gains throughout, not being an instant expert. She also has a soft side when caring for her friends. The rest of the cast was built well, and while they do have their roles, they have depth beyond them as well, making me care for them, especially after one scene late in the story.
The world building was intriguing, and I was excited to learn more about how this world. The story takes place in the former northeastern United States, years after the world fell apart due to war and unrest. And the details given throughout make it feel more alive, and more frightening at the same time. Which makes the hope shine much brighter.
This book does into religion, specifically Christianity, but it doesn’t feel super preachy like some other books that approach it, but more of an exploration of her relationship, and doesn’t tie religion into political manners.
This story is rather twisty and you’re never a few chapters away from yet another revelation or new bit of information that changes the story dramatically. That last twist makes me so excited for book 2 and the rest of the series.
C.J. Milacci reads the audiobook and does a great job with her range and vocal inflections when needed. It was a great listening experience.
*I received a gifted copy from the author. All opinions are my own.*
Bria Averton enjoyed her life in a small town, until one day, she and her friends are recruited by Talionis to serve in their military. And when I say recruited, I mean forcefully taken from their homes and forced to endure rigorous training. Throughout, Bria has to navigate the dangerous city and brutal leaders and figure out what it means to find hope in some of the worst places imaginable.
Bria was a great protagonist with a lot of emotional depth. She’s dealing with the death of her brother years earlier, and goes through a lot more emotional trauma throughout the story. I do like that she does have some feistiness, yet knows when to use it. And yes, she has to work for all the skills she gains throughout, not being an instant expert. She also has a soft side when caring for her friends. The rest of the cast was built well, and while they do have their roles, they have depth beyond them as well, making me care for them, especially after one scene late in the story.
The world building was intriguing, and I was excited to learn more about how this world. The story takes place in the former northeastern United States, years after the world fell apart due to war and unrest. And the details given throughout make it feel more alive, and more frightening at the same time. Which makes the hope shine much brighter.
This book does into religion, specifically Christianity, but it doesn’t feel super preachy like some other books that approach it, but more of an exploration of her relationship, and doesn’t tie religion into political manners.
This story is rather twisty and you’re never a few chapters away from yet another revelation or new bit of information that changes the story dramatically. That last twist makes me so excited for book 2 and the rest of the series.
C.J. Milacci reads the audiobook and does a great job with her range and vocal inflections when needed. It was a great listening experience.
*I received a gifted copy from the author. All opinions are my own.*
October 20, 2022
Too often dystopian books project only darkness and defeat but Recruit of Talionis plunges the reader into a dark world where the characters move through difficult times with courage, determination, and faith. They find hope in spite of the circumstances.
This is a great book to offer to teens and young adults—or anyone who enjoys reading this genre. Well written and full of unexpected turns.
This is a great book to offer to teens and young adults—or anyone who enjoys reading this genre. Well written and full of unexpected turns.
November 2, 2022
A girl trapped in a cruel, futuristic world. A thrilling escape plan. Persevering hope. Milacci’s Recruit of Talionis delivers a page-turning story filled with multifaceted characters, determination, and adventure. Highly recommended!
January 15, 2025
sorry to my friends who loved this book, but it did not hit for me
October 27, 2022
Amazing book! An exciting story that you get lost in, that keeps you thinking about it even when you’re not reading; and a message woven in that is rich with meaning. Highly recommend this book for youth and adults alike! Can’t wait for book two!
March 6, 2023
To be perfectly honest, I was excited about this book long before I even picked it up, simply because of how C.J. Milacci made it. Not many people would do a kickstarter campaign for a book, and I really respect that she went for it all in anyway!
Things I loved about the Story: The atmosphere! Normally I'm not a huge worldbuilding person, but this entire book has an overarching 'feeling' to it that I can't really explain. I could practically smell the salt wafting off the sea in the first few chapters, and when the setting changed to be more stark it was jarring in the perfect way!
The pacing was great as well, C.J. didn't waste any time throwing us into what was happening. I really hate it when stories feel like they drag so I really appreciated that.
The Characters! Though sometimes I wanted to shake Bria for her choices (I mean really, how rebellious will you choose to be when you know your in a place where they shoot you if you disobey?) I overall related to her character. There were a lot of side characters who I enjoyed reading, though I sometimes lost track of who was who.
There is one theme that seems to run across the entire book...struggle. Internal, external, there is always some kind of struggle happening behind the scenes. As conflict is the driving force of a story, I'd say it's good that Bria never went long without some kind of conflict brewing underneath the surface...
She also incorporated her faith into the story enough to breath hope into all the cracks. I personally struggle with reading stories where authors try to incorporate their faith because it feels a little...cheesy or unreal...I appreciate what they are trying to do, but I also recognize that it's hard to pull off conversions without things feeling 'fake' simply because no matter how hard you try, real people will always be more complex then characters. But aside from my personal struggles with this topic, she did really well conveying how Christ can be the light that helps you stand tall in situations where others would fall. Though their were multiple dark points in the story, you always had hope that things 'might' get better.
Also the villains. My word. I hated them. Which is the point. Someone give me Demetrius Ark so I can punch him.
All in all I can't wait to read the second book in the series, and would definitely recommend reading it!
Content Warnings (that I remember)
Violence: Getting shot, hand to hand fighting, bombs going off, terrorism, and electrocution. None of this was to graphic for me, and depicted in a way that I understood without...being overwhelmed.
Death.(it's a war book so...what can you really expect? XD) Again, not super graphic.
Romantic Touch? I think? *though that might be my personal opinion leaking through on who is DEFINATELy more then a friend* Really hoping C.J does something with them in t he next book...
Things I loved about the Story: The atmosphere! Normally I'm not a huge worldbuilding person, but this entire book has an overarching 'feeling' to it that I can't really explain. I could practically smell the salt wafting off the sea in the first few chapters, and when the setting changed to be more stark it was jarring in the perfect way!
The pacing was great as well, C.J. didn't waste any time throwing us into what was happening. I really hate it when stories feel like they drag so I really appreciated that.
The Characters! Though sometimes I wanted to shake Bria for her choices (I mean really, how rebellious will you choose to be when you know your in a place where they shoot you if you disobey?) I overall related to her character. There were a lot of side characters who I enjoyed reading, though I sometimes lost track of who was who.
There is one theme that seems to run across the entire book...struggle. Internal, external, there is always some kind of struggle happening behind the scenes. As conflict is the driving force of a story, I'd say it's good that Bria never went long without some kind of conflict brewing underneath the surface...
She also incorporated her faith into the story enough to breath hope into all the cracks. I personally struggle with reading stories where authors try to incorporate their faith because it feels a little...cheesy or unreal...I appreciate what they are trying to do, but I also recognize that it's hard to pull off conversions without things feeling 'fake' simply because no matter how hard you try, real people will always be more complex then characters. But aside from my personal struggles with this topic, she did really well conveying how Christ can be the light that helps you stand tall in situations where others would fall. Though their were multiple dark points in the story, you always had hope that things 'might' get better.
Also the villains. My word. I hated them. Which is the point. Someone give me Demetrius Ark so I can punch him.
All in all I can't wait to read the second book in the series, and would definitely recommend reading it!
Content Warnings (that I remember)
Violence: Getting shot, hand to hand fighting, bombs going off, terrorism, and electrocution. None of this was to graphic for me, and depicted in a way that I understood without...being overwhelmed.
Death.(it's a war book so...what can you really expect? XD) Again, not super graphic.
Romantic Touch? I think? *though that might be my personal opinion leaking through on who is DEFINATELy more then a friend* Really hoping C.J does something with them in t he next book...
January 30, 2023
Recruit of Talionis checks all the boxes for lovers of dystopian fiction and adds a Christian spin.
When Bria is kidnapped from her family and forced to become a recruit of Talionis, a cadet plunged into rigorous military training, she is determined not to submit. Her captors might be able to keep her from returning home, but they can't force her to comply. Or can they? What is the cost of resistance when your opponent holds all the cards?
The action in this story is off-and-running right from the start, but it took me a little longer to get pasted the nuts-and-bolts of the genre and start to care about the characters. Even at the end of the book, I wish I'd had a chance to connect more with some of the minor characters that strongly influenced the story. That said, I did connect well with plenty of the characters. Bria, Nika, Matthias, Storm, Cai and more were each compelling and interacted with each other and the plot really well. The longer I read, the more I wanted to keep reading.
Plotting, in my opinion, is the strength of this book. The acknowledgements at the back of the book indicate that the author consulted with someone who gave her advice on getting the military elements right, and it shows.
This book is for you if you like:
- classic dystopian elements
- action heavy plot
- military elements
- belief that one is unforgivable to Salvation story arc
- longer form (edging on epic length, imo) story telling
- teasers for book two
I'll definitely be reading book two when it releases.
Similar Books
The Hunger Games
Counted Worthy
Captives
Camp Valor (for the YA military elements)
Ender’s Game
When Bria is kidnapped from her family and forced to become a recruit of Talionis, a cadet plunged into rigorous military training, she is determined not to submit. Her captors might be able to keep her from returning home, but they can't force her to comply. Or can they? What is the cost of resistance when your opponent holds all the cards?
The action in this story is off-and-running right from the start, but it took me a little longer to get pasted the nuts-and-bolts of the genre and start to care about the characters. Even at the end of the book, I wish I'd had a chance to connect more with some of the minor characters that strongly influenced the story. That said, I did connect well with plenty of the characters. Bria, Nika, Matthias, Storm, Cai and more were each compelling and interacted with each other and the plot really well. The longer I read, the more I wanted to keep reading.
Plotting, in my opinion, is the strength of this book. The acknowledgements at the back of the book indicate that the author consulted with someone who gave her advice on getting the military elements right, and it shows.
This book is for you if you like:
- classic dystopian elements
- action heavy plot
- military elements
- belief that one is unforgivable to Salvation story arc
- longer form (edging on epic length, imo) story telling
- teasers for book two
I'll definitely be reading book two when it releases.
Similar Books
The Hunger Games
Counted Worthy
Captives
Camp Valor (for the YA military elements)
Ender’s Game
December 21, 2022
Oh my goodness this was such an exciting book to read! It was so different than anything I've read this year and that was a lovely change. There was drama, action, fun, excitement, and so much to keep me on my toes and keep those pages turning. Milacci has penned a novel that older teens will enjoy as well as adults.
Think Hunger Games but clean and with a powerful gospel message. The faith thread is perfect - at least for this reader. We need more of these books in our YA sections today! I cannot wait for book two. For any reader looking for a high speed, thrilling novel, this one is for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Think Hunger Games but clean and with a powerful gospel message. The faith thread is perfect - at least for this reader. We need more of these books in our YA sections today! I cannot wait for book two. For any reader looking for a high speed, thrilling novel, this one is for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 8, 2024
Wow.
That’s really all I could say after reading this book. C.J. Milacci has truly made something special here, and it’s hard to put into words the tangle of emotions that this book evoked in me.
The premise of this dystopian book instantly caught my attention when I first saw it, and when I learned that it was written by a Christian author I knew it was a must read as a Christian dystopian writer myself. When I started the book I quickly fell in love with the world, and with the main character Bria. I enjoyed and appreciated her imperfection and flaws, and I also loved the strength in her character. Her relentless fight against the evil she encounters throughout the book. Even though she doesn’t always see herself this way, Bria has a noble heart and gets herself into truble multiple times for defending those around her. There were multiple other noble characters in this story that I deeply admired, namely Cade and Cai, two men who had significant roles in Bria’s life and character arc throughout the book.
I was surprised when a main character mentioned Jesus. I hadn’t expected the author’s faith to make it’s way into the book so clearly, but I was intrigued by the minor—then not so minor—plot point the main character’s faith began to play as the story unfolded. I was so appreciative of the authentic way God was discussed. The inclusion of faith didn’t feel forced or corny; there is so much truth and beauty in the peace, forgiveness, and love of God that the characters talked about that it was genuinely impactful and had me in tears at several points. Bria’s battle with her faith, with her belief that God could actually love her and heal her broken, guilt-ridden heart, and then her final acceptance of Him over her, was beautiful and powerful.
If you want an action packed, negative spice, page-turning dystopian adventure underlined with the beauty of faith, then you’ll love Recruit of Talionis. 💙
Favorite quote: “He shifts, and I notice a rectangular, leather pouch on his hip. “What weapon is that?” “My Bible.””
That’s really all I could say after reading this book. C.J. Milacci has truly made something special here, and it’s hard to put into words the tangle of emotions that this book evoked in me.
The premise of this dystopian book instantly caught my attention when I first saw it, and when I learned that it was written by a Christian author I knew it was a must read as a Christian dystopian writer myself. When I started the book I quickly fell in love with the world, and with the main character Bria. I enjoyed and appreciated her imperfection and flaws, and I also loved the strength in her character. Her relentless fight against the evil she encounters throughout the book. Even though she doesn’t always see herself this way, Bria has a noble heart and gets herself into truble multiple times for defending those around her. There were multiple other noble characters in this story that I deeply admired, namely Cade and Cai, two men who had significant roles in Bria’s life and character arc throughout the book.
I was surprised when a main character mentioned Jesus. I hadn’t expected the author’s faith to make it’s way into the book so clearly, but I was intrigued by the minor—then not so minor—plot point the main character’s faith began to play as the story unfolded. I was so appreciative of the authentic way God was discussed. The inclusion of faith didn’t feel forced or corny; there is so much truth and beauty in the peace, forgiveness, and love of God that the characters talked about that it was genuinely impactful and had me in tears at several points. Bria’s battle with her faith, with her belief that God could actually love her and heal her broken, guilt-ridden heart, and then her final acceptance of Him over her, was beautiful and powerful.
If you want an action packed, negative spice, page-turning dystopian adventure underlined with the beauty of faith, then you’ll love Recruit of Talionis. 💙
Favorite quote: “He shifts, and I notice a rectangular, leather pouch on his hip. “What weapon is that?” “My Bible.””
October 19, 2023
WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS!
I love it when I finish a book and still think about it all day.
I was excited to read this book ever since I found out it was a Christian Dystopian, which is one of my favorite genres! The covers look amazing, too!
Plot:
I was intrigued at the beginning with Bria's tragic past and was drawn even more in when she is taken to Talionis. From there, I had a hard time getting into the story, but once I hit the midpoint! Woah! It was amazing. I cried. Well. I always cry when I read, but still. I loved this story.
Also, I appreciated how the escape wasn't drawn out but was over pretty fast.
The ending was so good but so sad, with Mason, Ava, and Cade.
Characters:
Bria definitely gave off some Katniss vibes throughout the book. It took me a while to connect with her, but once we started getting more into her internal conflict, I really related to her. And her salvation! 😭 So beautiful. I loved how it was done. How Cade's sacrifice mirrored Christ's.
Nika and Ari are such good friends. I loved how their characters developed in their own strengths and how they weren't just copies of each other.
I was super skeptical of Matthias at first, but he proved himself. One of my favorite characters. I need more backstory on him, though!
And Cade. He was such a great character. He started to become my favorite from the beginning. And his sacrifice! Oh. I cried. It was portrayed so well, too. Of course, my favorite character dies. 😭
Storm was so cute and showed Bria's care for others so well.
Also, Bria's conflict with Shay was so relatable. Having someone who she knows and should be looking out for her, but instead, they are working against her.
Cai reminded me of a Christian version of Red from Calculated by Nova Mcbee. I loved his relationship with Matthias.
Favorite quote:
"I'm ready-I'm not afraid to die. And I will die to protect the innocent and those who aren't ready for death and what comes after."
I love it when I finish a book and still think about it all day.
I was excited to read this book ever since I found out it was a Christian Dystopian, which is one of my favorite genres! The covers look amazing, too!
Plot:
I was intrigued at the beginning with Bria's tragic past and was drawn even more in when she is taken to Talionis. From there, I had a hard time getting into the story, but once I hit the midpoint! Woah! It was amazing. I cried. Well. I always cry when I read, but still. I loved this story.
Also, I appreciated how the escape wasn't drawn out but was over pretty fast.
The ending was so good but so sad, with Mason, Ava, and Cade.
Characters:
Bria definitely gave off some Katniss vibes throughout the book. It took me a while to connect with her, but once we started getting more into her internal conflict, I really related to her. And her salvation! 😭 So beautiful. I loved how it was done. How Cade's sacrifice mirrored Christ's.
Nika and Ari are such good friends. I loved how their characters developed in their own strengths and how they weren't just copies of each other.
I was super skeptical of Matthias at first, but he proved himself. One of my favorite characters. I need more backstory on him, though!
And Cade. He was such a great character. He started to become my favorite from the beginning. And his sacrifice! Oh. I cried. It was portrayed so well, too. Of course, my favorite character dies. 😭
Storm was so cute and showed Bria's care for others so well.
Also, Bria's conflict with Shay was so relatable. Having someone who she knows and should be looking out for her, but instead, they are working against her.
Cai reminded me of a Christian version of Red from Calculated by Nova Mcbee. I loved his relationship with Matthias.
Favorite quote:
"I'm ready-I'm not afraid to die. And I will die to protect the innocent and those who aren't ready for death and what comes after."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
Liked the story, but...
I was enjoying the story, characters and writing, until about halfway through, religion started rearing its head. Ok. If it's a trait of one, or two characters, that's alright. Right? Nope. Not only does it Rev up, but then it starts to spread to the other characters, who, of course, have always questioned, or been mad at God. Low and behold, the main characters find religion and me, the reader, is subjected to an influx of Bible thumping, God is good crap. I really dislike authors who do this. Please advise in your description of the book that it's Christian.
I was enjoying the story, characters and writing, until about halfway through, religion started rearing its head. Ok. If it's a trait of one, or two characters, that's alright. Right? Nope. Not only does it Rev up, but then it starts to spread to the other characters, who, of course, have always questioned, or been mad at God. Low and behold, the main characters find religion and me, the reader, is subjected to an influx of Bible thumping, God is good crap. I really dislike authors who do this. Please advise in your description of the book that it's Christian.
February 26, 2023
Caught me right from the start and didn't let me go until the end. Well, it didn't entirely let me go, because I'm dying to read the next one.
On the brink of choosing her life career, Bria is kidnapped and forced to become a soldier. In this dystopian, near-future novel I got to accompany Bria on her journey to cope with abrupt and horrifying changes. She finds new friends and new enemies. Lots of action and suspense, along with courage, despair and hope.
Recommended for anyone, especially teens and young adults.
On the brink of choosing her life career, Bria is kidnapped and forced to become a soldier. In this dystopian, near-future novel I got to accompany Bria on her journey to cope with abrupt and horrifying changes. She finds new friends and new enemies. Lots of action and suspense, along with courage, despair and hope.
Recommended for anyone, especially teens and young adults.
March 29, 2023
Dystopian YA novel. I actually really enjoyed this and may have been 4 or 5 stars for me but about half way through we start getting peppered with how God and Jesus can save us and similar ideas. Not really my thing and I did not expect it to be there and is not exactly marketed as such. I don't find it adds any value to the story. Luckily (for me) the mentions were not overly done. That being said if you like a little Jesus in your books then this would be great for you. I still felt the characters developed nicely, and the plot was well thought out so still a nice read.
January 2, 2026
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
I got this book from my bestie and I absolutely devoured it.
Had some cliche tropes (tech whiz, independent girl characters, etc) but I honestly loved it despite. I love Matthias and Bria and hope there’s a romance between them later on 🤭
I love how it brought in the gospel and explained how to find true peace (through Jesus) even when everything seems bad.
It reminded me of the Hunger Games and I recommend it to Hunger Games lovers or people seeking an excellent dystopian novel.
It is well written and unique and I cannot wait for the rest of the series!!!
I got this book from my bestie and I absolutely devoured it.
Had some cliche tropes (tech whiz, independent girl characters, etc) but I honestly loved it despite. I love Matthias and Bria and hope there’s a romance between them later on 🤭
I love how it brought in the gospel and explained how to find true peace (through Jesus) even when everything seems bad.
It reminded me of the Hunger Games and I recommend it to Hunger Games lovers or people seeking an excellent dystopian novel.
It is well written and unique and I cannot wait for the rest of the series!!!
April 23, 2024
Bria enjoys her life in her small town of survivors of the huge world war that rearranged the world and destroyed most of what used to the USA. She is excited to join her mother in her next mapping journey, and hopes maybe she can do the same one day. But after a town festival, Bria awakes to find herself in a strange clearing being pushed around by soldiers and told she's a recruit for Talionis. She tries to escape, but the soldiers make it very clear very quickly that rebellion will not be tolerated, so she decides to be smart and play the long game in planning her escape. The kidnappers lose no time in dropping the "recruits" into training as well as starting the brainwashing. Soon many of the other teens, including Bria's own cousin are convinced Talionis is on the side of right and they are being trained to be part of something wonderful. But Bria isn't buying it. Especially when she learns the soldiers kidnapped a little girl who witnessed her neighbor being taken. She decides to put in the bare minimum effort required to survive, but that backfires when they condemn her to 24 hours in the Ruins, an area outside the city of Talionis that makes hardened soldiers turn white in fright. What Bria finds in the Ruins though gives her a reason to come back into Talionis and become the best she can be, not because she has bought into the programming, but because she wants to bring it down and to do so she needs the highest access possible. Though she isn't the strongest or best fighter, Bria has shown she can excel in tactics so she dives into training with 100%. Along with her roommates, Ari (tech wiz) and Nika (physically gifted), Bria starts finding some other like-minded teens to join the underground resistance and stop Talionis from kidnapping more soldiers and whatever else they are planning to do with their young army.
This combines a far future apocalyptic America with the very real present day issue of child soldiers. It is a creative way to get readers thinking compassionately about teens in the world who really are going through things like Bria. And it is a gripping, high-octane, hard-to-put-down dystopian read. Milacci also weaves in elements of Christian faith throughout in authentic ways. Bria wrestles with a lot of guilt because of something that happened in the past with a brother we know is dead but don't exactly know how or why. She notices that some of her friends have great peace in the midst of their awful circumstances and is genuinely curious about why, and thus matters of faith come up naturally. The training and competitions that the recruits go through to reach elite status and just what all is going on with Talionis' leadership keep the pace moving well while also doing a good job of world building, and you get to know a fair amount of characters. I felt like Milacci did an excellent job of portraying the culture shock someone coming from a community that survives off the land would experience coming into a tech-rich, electrified city. I really wish I had book 2 of this right now. I need to know how this all works out! Highly recommended to dystopia fans who like things like Divergent or Hunger Games and also like elements of Christian faith woven in.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: The kidnapping is brutal and the soldiers beat teens into submission. The training sessions are also brutal, occasionally even fatal, and they do things like shoot rubber bullets at the recruits on their way to meals on a regular basis to keep them on their toes. The leaders do public executions of traitors or slackers, and one leader almost beats a recruit to death just because he doesn't like her. There are 2 drownings described and one shooting.
Ethnic diversity: Various friends of Bria have different skin tones.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: The soldiers try to manipulate the teens using food portions, brainwashing teachings, and other psychological games. The teens go through simulations of ops in which they frequently die and it messes with their heads.
This combines a far future apocalyptic America with the very real present day issue of child soldiers. It is a creative way to get readers thinking compassionately about teens in the world who really are going through things like Bria. And it is a gripping, high-octane, hard-to-put-down dystopian read. Milacci also weaves in elements of Christian faith throughout in authentic ways. Bria wrestles with a lot of guilt because of something that happened in the past with a brother we know is dead but don't exactly know how or why. She notices that some of her friends have great peace in the midst of their awful circumstances and is genuinely curious about why, and thus matters of faith come up naturally. The training and competitions that the recruits go through to reach elite status and just what all is going on with Talionis' leadership keep the pace moving well while also doing a good job of world building, and you get to know a fair amount of characters. I felt like Milacci did an excellent job of portraying the culture shock someone coming from a community that survives off the land would experience coming into a tech-rich, electrified city. I really wish I had book 2 of this right now. I need to know how this all works out! Highly recommended to dystopia fans who like things like Divergent or Hunger Games and also like elements of Christian faith woven in.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: The kidnapping is brutal and the soldiers beat teens into submission. The training sessions are also brutal, occasionally even fatal, and they do things like shoot rubber bullets at the recruits on their way to meals on a regular basis to keep them on their toes. The leaders do public executions of traitors or slackers, and one leader almost beats a recruit to death just because he doesn't like her. There are 2 drownings described and one shooting.
Ethnic diversity: Various friends of Bria have different skin tones.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: The soldiers try to manipulate the teens using food portions, brainwashing teachings, and other psychological games. The teens go through simulations of ops in which they frequently die and it messes with their heads.
April 29, 2025
After last month’s read, I was a little hesitant to read yet another Christian YA, and this one an indie published one with a female lead. But this book pleasantly surprised me at how much I enjoyed it! I’m not usually a huge fan of dystopian, post-apocalyptic settings in the real world, much preferring a medieval setting and fantasy world. But Recruit of Talionis had great writing, an engaging plot, and mostly likable characters. Even the hinted-at romance was tolerable.
Of course, I found myself liking the villain, Demetrius Ark, as usual. I’m hoping for a redemption arc, honestly–no pun intended. I wouldn’t say he was my favorite, but his characterization was very compelling and is the type of character I like to read and follow. The prologue definitely pulled me in, but it also gave me the impression the villain was younger than he actually was. Which I personally would have also enjoyed (I feel like that would have been a good way to contrast the main character from him, especially in a YA novel) but it was also good as was, and I do get there were probably reasons for him needing to be an adult, as well.
All the characters were pretty well done–I can’t say I really have a favorite. Maybe Cai, the mentor. I liked the way he was portrayed. All the allies were likable as well, and most of the villains you loved to hate, with a few intriguing ones in the mix. The setting was well described, and plot fast paced and mostly held my attention. The author also described teen soldiers and the thought-processes they might go through realistically, in my opinion. And the Christian salvation message and message of forgiveness was well integrated.
If I had one complaint, it would be the main character sometimes got on my nerves. Like, she knew what she needed to do to escape, what was smart to do, and yet would act rashly and stupidly instead–even after knowing better. She would act stupidly by resisting the bad guys because she didn’t agree with them, knowing that in order to escape from them and halt some of their activities, she needed to trick them into thinking she was on their side. This eventually gets someone killed, but honestly, I never really thought I saw a change of heart in her rash actions. Maybe this was her character flaw, which is fine, but I never thought I saw it redeemed, so to speak. Of course, there are more books in the series, so perhaps in the following books she will learn better. And this wasn’t such a huge thing that it made me hate her–it just made me mildly irritated with her. At least her other friends seemed to have a better grasp of what being undercover actually meant.
Overall, however, I enjoyed this story, a lot more than I thought I would. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy dystopian, futuristic, post-apocalyptic America settings, child-armies and propaganda, and Christian YA literature! If you liked The Hunger Games, consider giving this book a try! It’s a little different, but quite similar in high-stakes, theme, and setting.
Rating: 4.75/5 Stars
Of course, I found myself liking the villain, Demetrius Ark, as usual. I’m hoping for a redemption arc, honestly–no pun intended. I wouldn’t say he was my favorite, but his characterization was very compelling and is the type of character I like to read and follow. The prologue definitely pulled me in, but it also gave me the impression the villain was younger than he actually was. Which I personally would have also enjoyed (I feel like that would have been a good way to contrast the main character from him, especially in a YA novel) but it was also good as was, and I do get there were probably reasons for him needing to be an adult, as well.
All the characters were pretty well done–I can’t say I really have a favorite. Maybe Cai, the mentor. I liked the way he was portrayed. All the allies were likable as well, and most of the villains you loved to hate, with a few intriguing ones in the mix. The setting was well described, and plot fast paced and mostly held my attention. The author also described teen soldiers and the thought-processes they might go through realistically, in my opinion. And the Christian salvation message and message of forgiveness was well integrated.
If I had one complaint, it would be the main character sometimes got on my nerves. Like, she knew what she needed to do to escape, what was smart to do, and yet would act rashly and stupidly instead–even after knowing better. She would act stupidly by resisting the bad guys because she didn’t agree with them, knowing that in order to escape from them and halt some of their activities, she needed to trick them into thinking she was on their side. This eventually gets someone killed, but honestly, I never really thought I saw a change of heart in her rash actions. Maybe this was her character flaw, which is fine, but I never thought I saw it redeemed, so to speak. Of course, there are more books in the series, so perhaps in the following books she will learn better. And this wasn’t such a huge thing that it made me hate her–it just made me mildly irritated with her. At least her other friends seemed to have a better grasp of what being undercover actually meant.
Overall, however, I enjoyed this story, a lot more than I thought I would. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy dystopian, futuristic, post-apocalyptic America settings, child-armies and propaganda, and Christian YA literature! If you liked The Hunger Games, consider giving this book a try! It’s a little different, but quite similar in high-stakes, theme, and setting.
Rating: 4.75/5 Stars
March 29, 2023
Bria swims, hard, every day in the Maine (or what used to be Maine, anyway) bay near her home. She hopes that somehow, the process of striving against the waves until she can't life her arms for another stroke, will destroy the monster of guilt she feels.
Unfortunately, it never works.
But she has hope that someday, learning more from her mom's cartography trips, she'll be able to become a scout. Because in the dystopian world they live in, no one is completely certain what's out there; what still remains of towns and cities, what hasn't been destroyed.
That dream is crushed when she awakens one morning, bound, in a forest along with hundreds of other teens. And in her (unsuccessful) attempts to escape, she makes an enemy of a very dangerous military man, who's rounding them all up. She and the group are finally taken to Talionis, where her journey actually begins; assigned to a squad of other recruits, they're informed of what they're about to embark upon. Hard physical training and severe punishments. "Education" about Talionis, their purpose in it, and the food they will or won't receive depending on their progress.
Bria has been forced into a life she never dreamed was possible (and not in a good way). Despite the terrible pressures and fear before her nearly every moment, there's a journey before her that could include saving a little one, friendships, and maybe even meeting a God whom she's avoided, angrily, since the tragedy in her childhood.
I highly recommend Recruit of Talionis. It stands out from its genre in an amazing way, with a strong yet sympathetic protagonist, her allies and enemies, and the arduous and formidable task before her. I read the book almost without stopping. I believe this book is going to engross readers, and, like me, you'll be waiting with great anticipation for the next Talionis saga!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Unfortunately, it never works.
But she has hope that someday, learning more from her mom's cartography trips, she'll be able to become a scout. Because in the dystopian world they live in, no one is completely certain what's out there; what still remains of towns and cities, what hasn't been destroyed.
That dream is crushed when she awakens one morning, bound, in a forest along with hundreds of other teens. And in her (unsuccessful) attempts to escape, she makes an enemy of a very dangerous military man, who's rounding them all up. She and the group are finally taken to Talionis, where her journey actually begins; assigned to a squad of other recruits, they're informed of what they're about to embark upon. Hard physical training and severe punishments. "Education" about Talionis, their purpose in it, and the food they will or won't receive depending on their progress.
Bria has been forced into a life she never dreamed was possible (and not in a good way). Despite the terrible pressures and fear before her nearly every moment, there's a journey before her that could include saving a little one, friendships, and maybe even meeting a God whom she's avoided, angrily, since the tragedy in her childhood.
I highly recommend Recruit of Talionis. It stands out from its genre in an amazing way, with a strong yet sympathetic protagonist, her allies and enemies, and the arduous and formidable task before her. I read the book almost without stopping. I believe this book is going to engross readers, and, like me, you'll be waiting with great anticipation for the next Talionis saga!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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