The Tower

The Hybrid #2

by E.K. Frances

Facing execution, or worse, at the Agency, Sebastian Parker’s life hangs in the balance.

As Sebastian grows in power, he learns shocking truths about his true identity and his ultimate destiny.

Will he assist the Agency in their battles? Are they fighting the real enemy? Can Sebastian evade his terrifying fate?

Find out in the second book in THE HYBRID series.

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2022

About the author

Born with a love of fantasy, and an out-of-control imagination, E.K. Frances has been creating stories all their life. Whether travelling the world, or walking the dog, their mind is always dreaming up a new adventure.

Dark, gritty, broken worlds; fast-moving plots, and morally grey characters; blurred lines between right and wrong, and plenty of twists. If you like the sound of that, you will enjoy E.K. Frances’ books.

Are you ready to embrace the darkness?

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Reviews

[Khira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to reading this sequel to The Hybrid - especially since the first book in the series ends on a cliff-hanger - and it didn't disappoint. The story continues with Seb, a teenager living in a world where part of humanity (alphas) have evolved to possess various powers, as he gains strength and battles against all odds to find his place, his identity, and his past. Because of the way the powers of the evolved humans are described and the styling of the battle of Light against Dark, I'm still classifying this series as fantasy, even though it starts with a sci-fi like history of humanity.
In this, the second book, the stakes are higher, the action is more intense, and the twists and turns leave the reader spinning to figure out who is really on Seb's side as different sides try to use him for their own purposes. There is a really fascinating side to the story when framed in terms of Light versus Dark, in terms of what is acceptable and what is done for power alone. There is one part of the novel that left me a little bit puzzled - Seb's time in the human world. It is quite brief and I think it may be a set up for plot development in the next novel.
I am looking forward to the next book already :)

[Ann Birdgenaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tower is a great sequel to The Hybrid by E.K. Frances. This book finds Seb still struggling with his true powers and his guilt at being a ‘killer’. As he awaits execution for his crimes, he continues to hone his skills; exercising and reading to grow strong in body and mind. He also needs to figure out his place in their world before his ‘dark’ destiny is fulfilled. EK. Frances uses fantastic writing to keep the reader guessing about Seb’s true nature. Who Seb can trust at the Agency and who is on his side vs. who wants to capitalize on the most powerful alpha of all time? This one keeps you on the edge of your seat! Highly recommended fantasy, scifi story!

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tower is book 2 in the fantasy hybrid series.
Facing execution or worse, Seb's life hangs in the balance. As seb grows in power, he learns the truth about his true identity and his destiny. While he is waiting to face his fate, he continues to grow his skills - reading and exercise to grow stronger in mind and body.
I loved the writing and the characters in the novel and would truly recommend the book to other fantasy and even non fantasy readers. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I was gifted a copy of the book in turn for a honest review.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

hooked

After reading the first in this series, I was hooked. Can't wait to complete the series!
It's brutal in places, but also there is love

[Tracee Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great dsytopian fantasy series for teens. No spice, just lots of teen trauma and bulling with mistrust for good reasons from a male perspective. It can be irritating and choppy at times, but maybe it's my age.

Waiting for 3rd book of Alpha series to see how Daniel and Sébastien relate.

Definately recommend for teens!

Commented added after finishing both series:
I really enjoyed this teen dystopian fantasy series! The MC is male with a great supporting cast of good and evil. Makes me want to reread the Hybrid series after finishing New Dawn.

I recommend reading the prequels before starting on the Hybrid series. New Dawn was just released so I didn't read them in order.

They are very well written and New Dawn really pulled on my heart strings like the Hybrid series did.

A good series stays with you and these did that for me.

[Arriah Kiprujistho · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first part of this series, “The Hybrid”, I became familiar with the writing style of the author, and I was all prepared to get goosebumps when I picked up this one. It was fascinating to read what’s written in Sebastian Parker’s destiny. The action and the mystery with so many twists and turns, the battle between Light and Dark, and what would Seb find next kept me on the edge. The way the events kept unraveling was extremely unpredictable, and the writing is fabulous and deeply engrossing. I am looking forward to seeing what’s ahead. I highly recommend this series to fantasy readers.

[Joanna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of this series sees Seb (Sebastian), our Hybrid Alpha main character, struggling with the fact that he has killed, or so he thinks. This reinforces all he is hearing about his 'Dark' side and how he will eventually succumb to his apparent 'fate'. With a good group of people around him, needing him for their own ends, how can Seb reconcile what they think of him, to what he himself believes?
This second book had me staying up late to read further util I could no longer keep my eyes open. To say I'm invested in this series is a bit of an understatement.

I received a free copy from the Author but am leaving this unbiased review without coercion.

[Emmeline Everdeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and exciting. Lots of character development continued from the first book. And I really enjoyed the new characters. The world building definitely brought you in. I especially liked when Seb and Polk go to the “Old World”. The end is an exciting cliffhanger and I’m off to read the next one!
This is a YA fantasy series anyone would enjoy!

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOTALLY EXCELLENT Again 😁

This story just keeps showing that you just can't trust anyone 😕. Poor Seb just keeps getting taken advantage of, despite trying to see the Best in everyone 😪. Thanks again E.K., I sure hope Seb finally grows up and takes on the world 🤓.

[Chicken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series so far

I devoured this one just as fast as the first because they're hard to put down. I recommend them to anyone who enjoys this genre.

[Art Isaacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.K. Frances creatively crafts the next installment of the incredible Hybrid series with the next book in the trilogy, The Tower. As good and as dark, if not more so, than the first book.
The story continues to follow the evolution of the main character, Sebastian, as he is making new, but uneasy alliances and life altering discoveries about himself and his history. All as his world is being torn apart amidst constantly shifting allegiances, subterfuges. and attempts to end him. These would drive anyone toward a dreaded dark reality that was prophesized for him, but Seb endures to stay true to his 'light' nature, even as he moves ever closer to becoming the most powerful and feared of his kind on Earth.
This all flows with well written twists and turns that keep you engaged and reading through the entire book and looking to get the last of the trilogy, especially with the surprise betrayal at the end.
I'm now looking forward to delving into that final book to get those answers.

[Gene Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tower is an entertaining follow-up to Frances' previous work, The Hybrid. The story centers on Seb, who grapples with his latent abilities and the burden of being labeled a 'killer.' Seb's a little too trusting, and gets burned a few times as the narrative progress. Seb earns some points as a protagonist for dedicating himself to refining his skills through study and rigorous training while awaiting execution (nothing's just handed to him.) As he "levels up" his powers, Seb uncovers surprising truths about his identity and destiny, all while trying to discern if there's anyone to trust at the Agency. The pacing flows pretty well, balancing character work and the genre elements. It's contemporary YA with fantasy elements, and the first-person prose is often a little blunt ("I'm actually feeling vertigo looking up" as opposed to any grandiloquent descriptions of the sensation, for example.) Probably best for a young reader who might find classic fantasy a little intimidating, or perhaps even dull.

[P.L. Tavormina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars... although...

There was a single distracting writerly ‘tic’ in this book: a self-reporting of actions by the narrator. “I did this/I did that.”

When I see this tendency among my friends, I encourage them to push through it. To rephrase their prose in a less self-reflective way. As a reader, I want to live vicariously through the first-person narrator--only to find myself constantly observing my own actions. It creates a strange story-camera effect. I sit. I stand. I swallow. (It’s distracting.)

But aside from that hiccup, this is great fiction. Nice pacing, nice movement and development both interior and exterior, nice sense of relationship between characters. Solid plot. Tight. Great tension. Overall, a fun continuation of the Hybrid series, which is a world I enjoyed spending more time in. Glad to see the series will continue! I happily rate this five stars and trust other readers to decide if my personal hang-up is one they share or not!

[Shane Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

good premise but sadly poor plot and cheracters

I’m not sure how old the author is but I’d guess between 16-20 as the cheracters are one dimensional. Mc is sad amd confused … no matter what - super sunlbmossive. You have powers we’re not sure about so we’re going to torture you. Mc- “oh thank you - I might be bad someday so please torture me more. I’m so grateful” wtf

[Jordan Encee · Rating 3 out of 5]

WOW! There is a lot! The biggest problem I have with this book is its pacing. It feels like it jumps from place to place. I got confused for a bit there because there were so many revelations that I was like: "Whoa, man, give me a break!" However, I did have fun with the battles and creative moments. I hope things will be much more straightforward in the next book.

[Tony Fecteau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action and a bit of politics come to play in this book. We can see that not everything is as it seems. Some hard truths are learning in this second book of the series.