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The Symbiosis
A hero lost. An assassin on the warpath. A villain forced to be a savior.
Eight months after Tristan Faraday sacrificed his identity to save the woman he loved, the newest member of the Council faces danger on all sides. The woman he was programmed to care for, Emmeline Boucher, grows more unstable and dependent on him daily while he becomes embroiled in a deadly political game with the ruthless Head of the Council, Fang Chen, who will do anything—destroy anyone—to hold on to her power.
To honor Tristan’s legacy, Samara Zidan has thrown herself into ending the Council’s reign, leading the Resistance in a furious offensive against them. However, her heart remains fixed on finding a way to save the man she loves. When an opportunity presents itself, Samara will end up in the path of the most dangerous people on the planet, risking both her heart and her life.
Desperate to uphold his promise to make amends, Wyatt Faraday has worked tirelessly to find a way to fix Tristan’s faulty memories, but with Fang out for his brother’s blood, time is running out. If he doesn’t restore what was taken from Tristan soon, everything Wyatt cares about will be lost.
Eight months after Tristan Faraday sacrificed his identity to save the woman he loved, the newest member of the Council faces danger on all sides. The woman he was programmed to care for, Emmeline Boucher, grows more unstable and dependent on him daily while he becomes embroiled in a deadly political game with the ruthless Head of the Council, Fang Chen, who will do anything—destroy anyone—to hold on to her power.
To honor Tristan’s legacy, Samara Zidan has thrown herself into ending the Council’s reign, leading the Resistance in a furious offensive against them. However, her heart remains fixed on finding a way to save the man she loves. When an opportunity presents itself, Samara will end up in the path of the most dangerous people on the planet, risking both her heart and her life.
Desperate to uphold his promise to make amends, Wyatt Faraday has worked tirelessly to find a way to fix Tristan’s faulty memories, but with Fang out for his brother’s blood, time is running out. If he doesn’t restore what was taken from Tristan soon, everything Wyatt cares about will be lost.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
483 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2022
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 3, 2022
This second in the The Drift series was everything I’d hoped it would be. Aufenthie’s portrayal of the survival of compassion, tenderness, and love in a world which is in many ways their antithesis makes this an absolutely super read.
In the cruel, dystopian world Aufenthie has created, the flashes of love are beacons of hope… love for family, love for found family and friends, and the kind of love for a life partner which endures the worst of adversities. The characters are incredibly sensitively created, so that their motives can be understood - even those one might easily simply hate in a lesser book. Indeed, one who was seen as the enemy in the first book ended up making me cry.
Can’t wait for the concluding instalment.
In the cruel, dystopian world Aufenthie has created, the flashes of love are beacons of hope… love for family, love for found family and friends, and the kind of love for a life partner which endures the worst of adversities. The characters are incredibly sensitively created, so that their motives can be understood - even those one might easily simply hate in a lesser book. Indeed, one who was seen as the enemy in the first book ended up making me cry.
Can’t wait for the concluding instalment.
August 1, 2022
An incredible follow-up to the first book! The Symbiosis is a grab bag of experiences. It has a lot of intense action moments, slower heartfelt moments, and everything else in between. New alliances are made, and watching two once enemies come together against a common goal is hilarious. One of my favorite tropes if I'm honest. I love me a goodie/baddie team up. The climax is intense and leaves you eager to see what's to come next. It also has incredible examples of love, from romantic to familial to friendship. I am looking forward to the next installment.
June 29, 2022
“The Symbiosis,” by the phenomenal indie author Casie Aufenthie, is the followup novel to “The Drift,” which I read late last year, and which I thought was one of the best books of 2021. I have been eagerly awaiting this novel, and can't express how much honor I felt to be asked to be a part of the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) team. I was able to devour this superb story right before its formal publication in July. I really, really liked this book a lot. A pure delight in reading. It's already on my short-list of best reads of 2022.
In this sequel, the meticulous world-building, character development, and intrigue established in the first book really hits the ground running. The three main characters; Samara, Tristan, and Wyatt, are compelled into a life-and-death struggle. The stakes are raised to their highest, and the payoff is quite literally saving the planet. I am awestruck by Ms. Aufenthie's command of expert dialogue, and the raw skill to construct a plot that flows as fast as you can turn the pages. Believe me, it's wonderful to see the transition for morally ambiguous, grey-hat protagonists, that evolve into characters whom you will very much care about. There's something for everyone here—action, suspense, love, death, hope, loss, surprise, and sacrifice. What a treat it is to be able to escape into such a rich and detailed world of Ms. Aufenthie's imagination!
This is flat out one of the best sequels I've read for a book series, and I sincerely hope Ms. Aufenthie chooses to continue writing within this fantastic world! If you've read “The Drift,” then I guarantee you're gonna love reading “The Symbiosis!”
In this sequel, the meticulous world-building, character development, and intrigue established in the first book really hits the ground running. The three main characters; Samara, Tristan, and Wyatt, are compelled into a life-and-death struggle. The stakes are raised to their highest, and the payoff is quite literally saving the planet. I am awestruck by Ms. Aufenthie's command of expert dialogue, and the raw skill to construct a plot that flows as fast as you can turn the pages. Believe me, it's wonderful to see the transition for morally ambiguous, grey-hat protagonists, that evolve into characters whom you will very much care about. There's something for everyone here—action, suspense, love, death, hope, loss, surprise, and sacrifice. What a treat it is to be able to escape into such a rich and detailed world of Ms. Aufenthie's imagination!
This is flat out one of the best sequels I've read for a book series, and I sincerely hope Ms. Aufenthie chooses to continue writing within this fantastic world! If you've read “The Drift,” then I guarantee you're gonna love reading “The Symbiosis!”
July 22, 2022
I have been looking forward to this book since the second I finished its predecessor, The Drift. And wow! I knew I was going to love it but I was not prepared for the way my heart was ripped open!!
All my favorite characters were back, as well as some new ones. Wyatt remains one of my favorites and I loved the fact that he met Chloe, his love interest. That's all I'm going to say about that since my heart is still trying to recover. It might not.
The Symbiosis was a lot darker than The Drift and I was here for it. Such tension, angst, and sometimes, hopelessness. I enjoyed watching Samara try to help Tristan learn the truth about who he really was and what the Council had done to his memories. The few moments they had together in the kitchen were packed with such emotion I could barely stand it!!
I had a list of favorite characters that I jokingly told myself that I'd subtract a star from this review for each one who died. I don't want to spoil anything, but let me say that had I actually done that then this would not be a 5 star review. (Insert crying emoji here!!) But this book is AMAZING and I couldn't give it any less than it deserves. 5 stars all the way and I'm SO ready for the third book!! It's time for war!!
All my favorite characters were back, as well as some new ones. Wyatt remains one of my favorites and I loved the fact that he met Chloe, his love interest. That's all I'm going to say about that since my heart is still trying to recover. It might not.
The Symbiosis was a lot darker than The Drift and I was here for it. Such tension, angst, and sometimes, hopelessness. I enjoyed watching Samara try to help Tristan learn the truth about who he really was and what the Council had done to his memories. The few moments they had together in the kitchen were packed with such emotion I could barely stand it!!
I had a list of favorite characters that I jokingly told myself that I'd subtract a star from this review for each one who died. I don't want to spoil anything, but let me say that had I actually done that then this would not be a 5 star review. (Insert crying emoji here!!) But this book is AMAZING and I couldn't give it any less than it deserves. 5 stars all the way and I'm SO ready for the third book!! It's time for war!!
May 17, 2022
Where do I start…
After reading The Drift, I was expecting The Symbiosis to be equally brilliant, but it’s not. It’s so much better and on so many levels; I didn’t even think it was possible.
I wish there was some sort of ‘golden buzzer’ thing for books, as I would give it to this one without a second thought.
From many truly amazing books out there, The Symbiosis was one I couldn’t stop reading; as ridicules as it sounds, concerned that something may happen while I am not reading it. And while I understand this is not how reading works, this is how deep my care for characters was. Casie Aufenthie brought characters’ development in this book to the whole new level. Just like her characters evolving into something completely new, so did her story in the Symbiosis.
It’s a spoiler free review, so I will not point to any specific scenes (though there were 100s I loved and wish I could talk about them over and over again!); but I will try to focus on parts I found truly outstanding.
First: love. Of course, it’s a romance: there is a theme of love in it. But it’s not a romantic love that I have in mind. The Symbiosis explores so many different types of love in such a beautiful and moving way! Motherly love. Friendship love. Family love. Love as a weakness and love as a strength. Love that extends beyond hate and is worth everything.
Second: intrigue. It was plotted through the story in the perfect way. With the knowledge it was there, I was reading page after page after page, trying to put it together. However, there was no way of knowing what exactly will happen next. No way of knowing until tears run down your face. The mystery and the reasoning that kept it all moving were spot on! And so were the obstacles on the way.
Finally, third: sense of responsibility. This is a theme that is much more prominent in The Symbiosis. Questions about the greater good, sacrifice and purpose in the world are beautifully plotted into narrative. Presented through the depth and complexity of all characters, shown via consequences of their decisions, this part is impacting not just the action of the story, but also changes in characters.
It’s intense, touching, thought-provoking and phenomenal. If you read The Drift, this is your next must-read. If you haven’t, I can only suggest: read it and come back for The Symbiosis. I cannot recommend it enough with only a few words, but I can promise you that if you want to find feelings inside you, you didn’t even know you had: this is a book for you.
After reading The Drift, I was expecting The Symbiosis to be equally brilliant, but it’s not. It’s so much better and on so many levels; I didn’t even think it was possible.
I wish there was some sort of ‘golden buzzer’ thing for books, as I would give it to this one without a second thought.
From many truly amazing books out there, The Symbiosis was one I couldn’t stop reading; as ridicules as it sounds, concerned that something may happen while I am not reading it. And while I understand this is not how reading works, this is how deep my care for characters was. Casie Aufenthie brought characters’ development in this book to the whole new level. Just like her characters evolving into something completely new, so did her story in the Symbiosis.
It’s a spoiler free review, so I will not point to any specific scenes (though there were 100s I loved and wish I could talk about them over and over again!); but I will try to focus on parts I found truly outstanding.
First: love. Of course, it’s a romance: there is a theme of love in it. But it’s not a romantic love that I have in mind. The Symbiosis explores so many different types of love in such a beautiful and moving way! Motherly love. Friendship love. Family love. Love as a weakness and love as a strength. Love that extends beyond hate and is worth everything.
Second: intrigue. It was plotted through the story in the perfect way. With the knowledge it was there, I was reading page after page after page, trying to put it together. However, there was no way of knowing what exactly will happen next. No way of knowing until tears run down your face. The mystery and the reasoning that kept it all moving were spot on! And so were the obstacles on the way.
Finally, third: sense of responsibility. This is a theme that is much more prominent in The Symbiosis. Questions about the greater good, sacrifice and purpose in the world are beautifully plotted into narrative. Presented through the depth and complexity of all characters, shown via consequences of their decisions, this part is impacting not just the action of the story, but also changes in characters.
It’s intense, touching, thought-provoking and phenomenal. If you read The Drift, this is your next must-read. If you haven’t, I can only suggest: read it and come back for The Symbiosis. I cannot recommend it enough with only a few words, but I can promise you that if you want to find feelings inside you, you didn’t even know you had: this is a book for you.
May 24, 2022
*I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a review ahead of publication.
Don’t let the gorgeous cover fool you; The Symbiosis takes a drastically darker turn from its predecessor, diving further into how truly unfair the world Aufenthie created is, and how even well intentioned decisions can be still twisted to blow up in your face. This unfairness allows the stakes to be raised even higher than they were in The Drift, and they get even higher by the end of The Symbiosis.
Though very much different in tone and story compared to the book before this, Aufenthie manages to keep the two consistent in both continuity and ambience, even though we go someplace with an aesthetic wildly unlike anything you’d expect to find in this universe. She re-introduces us to some old friends (so good to see Kip and Asha back!), gets us to better know some characters we met last time, and introduces us to some new faces you will undeniably love and yearn to know better in the next book. Aufenthie also walks the characters we knew previously across a morally grey tightrope, letting us see the darker pieces of the heroes and softer pieces of the villains, making The Symbiosis even richer with depth and character development.
In spite of the thicker layer of darkness in this story, Aufenthie manages to pepper in sweetness and humor at appropriate times in order to give us a little light. If you loved The Drift and were anxiously awaiting for the sequel, you will NOT be disappointed.
Don’t let the gorgeous cover fool you; The Symbiosis takes a drastically darker turn from its predecessor, diving further into how truly unfair the world Aufenthie created is, and how even well intentioned decisions can be still twisted to blow up in your face. This unfairness allows the stakes to be raised even higher than they were in The Drift, and they get even higher by the end of The Symbiosis.
Though very much different in tone and story compared to the book before this, Aufenthie manages to keep the two consistent in both continuity and ambience, even though we go someplace with an aesthetic wildly unlike anything you’d expect to find in this universe. She re-introduces us to some old friends (so good to see Kip and Asha back!), gets us to better know some characters we met last time, and introduces us to some new faces you will undeniably love and yearn to know better in the next book. Aufenthie also walks the characters we knew previously across a morally grey tightrope, letting us see the darker pieces of the heroes and softer pieces of the villains, making The Symbiosis even richer with depth and character development.
In spite of the thicker layer of darkness in this story, Aufenthie manages to pepper in sweetness and humor at appropriate times in order to give us a little light. If you loved The Drift and were anxiously awaiting for the sequel, you will NOT be disappointed.
July 14, 2022
I absolutely love this book. The characters are amazing, and I enjoyed how the story flowed to its climax, and promised even more exciting events to come. I also found myself sympathizing with characters I didn't think I would care about. Very much looking forward to the next book!
August 10, 2024
The Symbiosis was a phenomenal second book to The Drift. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through!
Spoilers ahead:
Even in a dystopian setting, Casie continues to portray strength, hope, love and compassion through Tristan and Samara’s relationship and their unending passion to do better for all. I loved how we continued to get the dual POV between the two characters, especially once Tristan’s mind was altered.
I was in awe of how Casie portrayed the “villian” of this book, Emmeline. Casie constantly reminded us that Emmeline is not inherently evil, but that her situation was created over years of cruelty, abuse and isolation. Emmeline’s violence and rage was utterly devastating but I also felt deeply for her character and the tragedy of her situation.
Wyatt’s redemption arc had me laughing out loud (especially his disgust of glitter haha), swooning, and sobbing. Even with the small glimpses of Chloe, I love her and hope we get to see more of her in The Convergence!
The wedding and final battle scenes are action packed, emotional, and beautifully written.
This is another phenomenal book by Casie Aufenthie!
Spoilers ahead:
Even in a dystopian setting, Casie continues to portray strength, hope, love and compassion through Tristan and Samara’s relationship and their unending passion to do better for all. I loved how we continued to get the dual POV between the two characters, especially once Tristan’s mind was altered.
I was in awe of how Casie portrayed the “villian” of this book, Emmeline. Casie constantly reminded us that Emmeline is not inherently evil, but that her situation was created over years of cruelty, abuse and isolation. Emmeline’s violence and rage was utterly devastating but I also felt deeply for her character and the tragedy of her situation.
Wyatt’s redemption arc had me laughing out loud (especially his disgust of glitter haha), swooning, and sobbing. Even with the small glimpses of Chloe, I love her and hope we get to see more of her in The Convergence!
The wedding and final battle scenes are action packed, emotional, and beautifully written.
This is another phenomenal book by Casie Aufenthie!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2022
Now THIS was an epic sequel. I adored The Drift, so I was very excited to read this continuation when it came out, wondering what tortures and delights Aufenthie had in store for our heroes this time, and she did not disappoint. Every chapter, every sentence held my interest and pulled be deeper and deeper into the story, to the point that I'd often find myself thinking about it when I didn't have time to actually be reading it. Tristan and Samara remain my favorites, although Wyatt certainly made his way up there. The history / lore behind the world (s) continues to be fascinating, with new bits and pieces added to the overall picture. But the romance was definitely the selling point for me. Sooo torturously sweet. In conclusion, if you liked the first book, you'll like this one, too. No question.
October 1, 2022
I’m way overdue in writing this review, but I think I can convey just how amazing this book is now.
I adored book one. Aufenthie created a cast of characters that live and breathe on the page, and in the minds of readers long after finishing. Book two continued this, and more. For me, characters are the most important part of a book. I went into The Symbiosis already loving Samara and Tristan and Kip, and especially Wyatt. I finished the book head over heels for them, understanding them, appreciating them, even more. So let me highlight some things I loved about them.
Tristan. His darker aspects shining through. His loyal heart ever constant. His strong sense of duty.
Samara. Her fierce drive to reclaim her love. Her strength (in so many ways). Her maternal instincts and heart.
Kip. His reliable humor. His leadership qualities. His friendship.
And my favorite, Wyatt. His snide inner thoughts. His hatred of glitter. His casual murderous urges. His total dedication to his brother. His journey with love…
These characters, and their journeys, broke me in the best ways. I laughed. I mentally yelled. I also sobbed. Yes, sobbed. The final portion of the book is intense and emotional and utterly gripping. The entire book is utterly gripping, in all honesty.
Devastating and renewing and powerful, The Symbiosis is truly a magnificent read you won’t want to miss.
I adored book one. Aufenthie created a cast of characters that live and breathe on the page, and in the minds of readers long after finishing. Book two continued this, and more. For me, characters are the most important part of a book. I went into The Symbiosis already loving Samara and Tristan and Kip, and especially Wyatt. I finished the book head over heels for them, understanding them, appreciating them, even more. So let me highlight some things I loved about them.
Tristan. His darker aspects shining through. His loyal heart ever constant. His strong sense of duty.
Samara. Her fierce drive to reclaim her love. Her strength (in so many ways). Her maternal instincts and heart.
Kip. His reliable humor. His leadership qualities. His friendship.
And my favorite, Wyatt. His snide inner thoughts. His hatred of glitter. His casual murderous urges. His total dedication to his brother. His journey with love…
These characters, and their journeys, broke me in the best ways. I laughed. I mentally yelled. I also sobbed. Yes, sobbed. The final portion of the book is intense and emotional and utterly gripping. The entire book is utterly gripping, in all honesty.
Devastating and renewing and powerful, The Symbiosis is truly a magnificent read you won’t want to miss.
November 20, 2022
Wow! What a journey! This sequel was everything I hoped it would be, and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in this dystopian sci-fi fantasy sequel to The Drift. Author Casie Aufenthie does it again, but - in this reader’s opinion - even better this time. And The Drift was excellent!
The Symbiosis picks up where we left off with Samara, Tristan, Kip and Wyatt. As was hinted at the end of The Drift, Wyatt continues his shift into lighter shades of gray. It is Emmeline that takes center stage in this book as the primary “villain” (But of course, we all know Fang is the real villain!)
I enjoyed diving a bit more into Emmeline’s world. She is not inherently evil - my favorite kind of villain because it’s easy to be sympathetic towards her despite the really terrible things she does. As the author is very careful to point out throughout the story, Emmeline is a sad story; a villain created by abuse, neglect, and Fang’s cruelty. And I wanted to believe that Emmeline could pull out of it; that maybe she could be another Wyatt.
My favorite character continues to be Wyatt. He is flawed, but his heart is pure in his love for his brother, and it is a joy to witness him pull out of Fang’s influence and become more fully himself; even fall in love. It’s a beautiful transgression that mirrors the overall arching theme of these books - that love and pure intentions will outshine corruption and manipulation, but of course, at a great cost. That battle is fierce, and the loss is great.
Some of the best authors struggle with endings. Not this one! Aufenthie delivers another heart wrenching, on-the-edge-of-your-seat finales. I won’t say more other than it was one of the best endings I’ve read in a book.
This book is phenomenal. An energetic, spellbinding read from cover to cover. Really looking forward to the next book in this series!
The Symbiosis picks up where we left off with Samara, Tristan, Kip and Wyatt. As was hinted at the end of The Drift, Wyatt continues his shift into lighter shades of gray. It is Emmeline that takes center stage in this book as the primary “villain” (But of course, we all know Fang is the real villain!)
I enjoyed diving a bit more into Emmeline’s world. She is not inherently evil - my favorite kind of villain because it’s easy to be sympathetic towards her despite the really terrible things she does. As the author is very careful to point out throughout the story, Emmeline is a sad story; a villain created by abuse, neglect, and Fang’s cruelty. And I wanted to believe that Emmeline could pull out of it; that maybe she could be another Wyatt.
My favorite character continues to be Wyatt. He is flawed, but his heart is pure in his love for his brother, and it is a joy to witness him pull out of Fang’s influence and become more fully himself; even fall in love. It’s a beautiful transgression that mirrors the overall arching theme of these books - that love and pure intentions will outshine corruption and manipulation, but of course, at a great cost. That battle is fierce, and the loss is great.
Some of the best authors struggle with endings. Not this one! Aufenthie delivers another heart wrenching, on-the-edge-of-your-seat finales. I won’t say more other than it was one of the best endings I’ve read in a book.
This book is phenomenal. An energetic, spellbinding read from cover to cover. Really looking forward to the next book in this series!
August 29, 2022
Where we left off last, our hero Tristan was in a dire situation after sacrificing his identity for the woman he loves, Samara. Tristan is now working for the ruthless Council who rule this dystopian world while Samara leads the Resistance against them. Without his memories, Tristan has no recollection of being the leader of the Resistance but Samara and an unexpected ally, Tristan’s brother, Wyatt, are determined to help.
I absolutely adored the dynamic between Samara and Wyatt. They detested one another but their love for Tristan and their common goal brought them together. They bicker like siblings and a sense of mutual respect is forged between the two.
I loved seeing Wyatt soften and become vulnerable and open to his emotions. Being a part of the ruthless council has not taken away his humanity which was deeply buried but not forgotten.
Samara is my favourite character. A cut throat ex assassin, her love for Tristan and a little girl she adopts is beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. She’d do anything for those she loves and her sense of justice is commendable.
All the scenes with bestie Kip is a comical relief in an emotionally intense story so his antics and one liners provide a reprieve from the brutality of war.
The battle scenes are beautifully written with the right amount of action and emotion. Imagining people being telekinetically flung into a black hole, and the skies blazing with electricity and chaos showcases the high stakes that the world could end.
I will warn you this book will likely make you shed a few tears here and there but that’s what I love!
Can’t wait for book 3, really looking forward to it!
I absolutely adored the dynamic between Samara and Wyatt. They detested one another but their love for Tristan and their common goal brought them together. They bicker like siblings and a sense of mutual respect is forged between the two.
I loved seeing Wyatt soften and become vulnerable and open to his emotions. Being a part of the ruthless council has not taken away his humanity which was deeply buried but not forgotten.
Samara is my favourite character. A cut throat ex assassin, her love for Tristan and a little girl she adopts is beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. She’d do anything for those she loves and her sense of justice is commendable.
All the scenes with bestie Kip is a comical relief in an emotionally intense story so his antics and one liners provide a reprieve from the brutality of war.
The battle scenes are beautifully written with the right amount of action and emotion. Imagining people being telekinetically flung into a black hole, and the skies blazing with electricity and chaos showcases the high stakes that the world could end.
I will warn you this book will likely make you shed a few tears here and there but that’s what I love!
Can’t wait for book 3, really looking forward to it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2024
Wow! Although I enjoyed The Drift I did have a few problems with it, but this sequel really blew me away. If book 1 didn't entirely win you over, don't hesitate to check out part 2, you won't regret it.
The love story between Tristan and Samara is even better than ever. Their romance feels more intense and convincing than before but without distracting from other important aspects of the plot; it's a great balance. The worldbuilding is brilliant too-- things get even darker in this book as secrets are revealed and the Council's past is further explored; the bigger role unstable Emmeline plays is well written.
I love how certain characters grow and change as their world forces them into unexpected alliances. As the story goes on a skillfully sustained atmosphere of tension rapidly evolves into a full-on, exciting sense of impending doom, coming to a head with one hell of an explosive ending. I had a few small quibbles here and there but nothing that really detracted from how much I liked this book. Can't wait for the next sequel
The love story between Tristan and Samara is even better than ever. Their romance feels more intense and convincing than before but without distracting from other important aspects of the plot; it's a great balance. The worldbuilding is brilliant too-- things get even darker in this book as secrets are revealed and the Council's past is further explored; the bigger role unstable Emmeline plays is well written.
I love how certain characters grow and change as their world forces them into unexpected alliances. As the story goes on a skillfully sustained atmosphere of tension rapidly evolves into a full-on, exciting sense of impending doom, coming to a head with one hell of an explosive ending. I had a few small quibbles here and there but nothing that really detracted from how much I liked this book. Can't wait for the next sequel
December 26, 2022
Ever since I read The Drift, I was looking forward to reading this one! And Aufenthie did not disappoint!
Something I loved about this story was that it features all kind of villains. Fang, who is an irredeemable sociopath who's only after her own personal benefit and doesn't care whom she hurts along the way, Hadeon, who is a disgusting opportunist, Emmeline, a product of circumstance, whom you constantly switch between wanting gone and wanting to protect, and Wyatt, who officially graduated from being a villain in the last book to a full-blown hero in this one! He was always my favorite, and now I'm just obseesed.
It was a great read, and now I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Something I loved about this story was that it features all kind of villains. Fang, who is an irredeemable sociopath who's only after her own personal benefit and doesn't care whom she hurts along the way, Hadeon, who is a disgusting opportunist, Emmeline, a product of circumstance, whom you constantly switch between wanting gone and wanting to protect, and Wyatt, who officially graduated from being a villain in the last book to a full-blown hero in this one! He was always my favorite, and now I'm just obseesed.
It was a great read, and now I can't wait for the next book in the series!
January 15, 2023
Excellent world building and characters. I read the Symbiosis and the 1st book in the series almost back to back. I only do that when I really like the first one. Symbiosis might even be better.
November 17, 2024
Such a great sequel! loved how it dove right in to the chaos! The characters continue to grow and are so interesting. CANNOT WAIT for the 3rd book!!!!!
June 17, 2024
I really enjoyed The Drift, but this sequel took things to a whole other level.
There's not much I could really say with this being the second installment in a plot-heavy series, but where I had a few disappointments in certain moments with book 1, the story here had me start to finish! Any little quibbles I had in general were pretty quickly forgotten to be honest, as there'd so often be something excellent to immediately follow.
So if you enjoyed The Drift, absolutely dive straight in here, but even if it didn't quite sell you, this sequel might just turn you around!
There's not much I could really say with this being the second installment in a plot-heavy series, but where I had a few disappointments in certain moments with book 1, the story here had me start to finish! Any little quibbles I had in general were pretty quickly forgotten to be honest, as there'd so often be something excellent to immediately follow.
So if you enjoyed The Drift, absolutely dive straight in here, but even if it didn't quite sell you, this sequel might just turn you around!
September 8, 2024
There was no waiting to pick this sequel up once book 1 was finished. After that brutal cliff hanger, I had to know what happened to Tristan and Samara. This one will have your heart aching in the best way possible. I can’t wait for book 3 - the big finale!!
May 8, 2024
It is about time I got started on some sequels, I've been wanting to reenter this series for over a year. I will do my best to quickly recap The Drift (book 1). This is a sci-fi romance series, set in a distant future with 3 species of humans: Unevolved (regular humans), Illuminatos (mentally evolved) and Corporis (physically evolved). When we last saw our protagonists, Tristan had had his mind altered by Fang. His lover, Samara, returned to the resistance movement he set up. Now a member of the council he had tried to destroy, Tristan has no true memories of his recent past or Samara…or so it seems. The Symbiosis picks up fairly soon after where we left off.
While The Drift introduced us to this post apocalyptic world and set up the protagonists’ romance, this book digs deeper into the characters and their relationships with other people around them. That is not to say that the romance doesn’t make a return. Since Tristan and Samara were torn apart by scheming and circumstances beyond their control, a good amount of the plot is dedicated to bringing them back into each other’s lives.
Aufenthie’s writing has a thrilling, cinematic quality to it. Scenes flow with a swiftness and agility that brings to mind Samara’s efficient fighting style. Each chapter feels like it belongs; nothing is extraneous. On a vaguely related note, this chapter transition gave me a good laugh:
End of Chapter 3:
"If she had to guess, Wyatt Faraday was probably happier than he had ever been in his life."
Chapter 4:
"Wyatt Faraday was not happy."
Mindscapes and alternate realities are explored further in The Symbiosis. Close combat is still a standout part of this series, and is described in grisly detail. While there are some truly epic action scenes and telekinetic battles peppered throughout this book, political intrigue plays a larger role this time around.
The author introduces us to all kinds of supporting characters; on the surface, some appear to be stereotyped, but then the layers start peeling back and we learn surprising things about them. I didn’t think I could ever like the incredibly prejudiced, arrogant Wyatt, Tristan’s powerful older brother. But he gets a POV in this and he rapidly became one of my favourite characters in this book (along with Smiley, Kip and Chloe). In a story filled with idealistic and hot-blooded people, I found it touching to watch someone weighed down with responsibility and a nihilistic outlook, allow himself to hope for something more.
As with Romeo and Juliet, our main couple make impulsive decisions in the heat of passion. Now, I am one of those readers who feels uncomfortable with some aspects of romantic love: possessiveness, angst, betrayal. I think the tolerance for strong emotion varies in people, much like the way some enjoy extra spicy foods, while others can only tolerate mild flavours. I like Tristan and Samara, but sometimes I get queasy on the rollercoaster ride that is their love story. Another more tentative relationship between supporting characters emerges. It is sweet and awkward – more my speed.
The villains are as horrible as ever. Evil master strategist, Fang takes a massive risk playing with forces that could destroy her as easily as her enemies. Emmeline, Lord Tristan’s betrothed, presents some complex problems. She is a burden, a victim, and a bully, along with many other things; more a dangerous phenomenon than a person, which is really quite tragic.
Content warnings:
The ending is very well executed and terribly bittersweet. I especially liked the way it was tied up with the personal “lessons” Tristan is reflecting on. Everything has been set up for an epic final instalment in this trilogy.
While The Drift introduced us to this post apocalyptic world and set up the protagonists’ romance, this book digs deeper into the characters and their relationships with other people around them. That is not to say that the romance doesn’t make a return. Since Tristan and Samara were torn apart by scheming and circumstances beyond their control, a good amount of the plot is dedicated to bringing them back into each other’s lives.
Aufenthie’s writing has a thrilling, cinematic quality to it. Scenes flow with a swiftness and agility that brings to mind Samara’s efficient fighting style. Each chapter feels like it belongs; nothing is extraneous. On a vaguely related note, this chapter transition gave me a good laugh:
End of Chapter 3:
"If she had to guess, Wyatt Faraday was probably happier than he had ever been in his life."
Chapter 4:
"Wyatt Faraday was not happy."
Mindscapes and alternate realities are explored further in The Symbiosis. Close combat is still a standout part of this series, and is described in grisly detail. While there are some truly epic action scenes and telekinetic battles peppered throughout this book, political intrigue plays a larger role this time around.
The author introduces us to all kinds of supporting characters; on the surface, some appear to be stereotyped, but then the layers start peeling back and we learn surprising things about them. I didn’t think I could ever like the incredibly prejudiced, arrogant Wyatt, Tristan’s powerful older brother. But he gets a POV in this and he rapidly became one of my favourite characters in this book (along with Smiley, Kip and Chloe). In a story filled with idealistic and hot-blooded people, I found it touching to watch someone weighed down with responsibility and a nihilistic outlook, allow himself to hope for something more.
As with Romeo and Juliet, our main couple make impulsive decisions in the heat of passion. Now, I am one of those readers who feels uncomfortable with some aspects of romantic love: possessiveness, angst, betrayal. I think the tolerance for strong emotion varies in people, much like the way some enjoy extra spicy foods, while others can only tolerate mild flavours. I like Tristan and Samara, but sometimes I get queasy on the rollercoaster ride that is their love story. Another more tentative relationship between supporting characters emerges. It is sweet and awkward – more my speed.
The villains are as horrible as ever. Evil master strategist, Fang takes a massive risk playing with forces that could destroy her as easily as her enemies. Emmeline, Lord Tristan’s betrothed, presents some complex problems. She is a burden, a victim, and a bully, along with many other things; more a dangerous phenomenon than a person, which is really quite tragic.
Content warnings:
The ending is very well executed and terribly bittersweet. I especially liked the way it was tied up with the personal “lessons” Tristan is reflecting on. Everything has been set up for an epic final instalment in this trilogy.
September 5, 2022
THE SYMBIOSIS was amazing! I was a huge fan of the first book in Casie Aufenthie’s amazing sci fi series, THE DRIFT, and book two did not disappoint! The world building in this series is so complex and brilliant that I am left in awe with every page that I read. Just outstanding sci fi writing. Rebel insurgent Samara Zidan is one of the Corporos, one of the three species that humans have evolved into, and is an Elite soldier. Her former lover Tristan, an Illuminatos, or psychic mind-wielder, sacrificed himself in order to save her at the end of book one and is now being manipulated and controlled by Fang, a member of the Council intent on repressing the human population. Samara’s only hope for rescuing Tristan and saving his brainwashed mind is his brother Wyatt, another Illuminatos and leader of the Council, but they aren’t exactly friends because of what he’s done to her in the past. And there is the further complication of Emmeline, another powerful Illuminatos who Fang has mindwiped to believe loves Tristan so that they will kill anyone who tries to come between them. Tristan has no memory of Samara… or does he? I absolutely LOVED the writing in THE SYMBIOSIS… from the snarky dialogue to the intense street fights to the plight of the rebels. But what left me absolutely captivated was the relationships between the characters. Every relationship had depth, tragedy and nuance, from the friendship between Kip and Samara, to brothers Wyatt and Tristan who have a fraught and complicated history (this was my favorite relationship of the book), to Emmeline, who it would be so easy to hate, because she is evil on so many levels, and yet there were scenes that were so sensitively written that they absolutely broke my heart for her. Of course what gave me anxiety on every page and yet filled me with hope was Tristan and Samara. As Kip, Samara and Wyatt fight to save Tristan before it’s too late, Fang has other plans… the question being who will run out of time first.
April 24, 2023
It is a shame that this book, just as the previous one in the series, does not have a larger following.
It could be classified as a sci-fi romance , but it actually is a story about different types of love - romantic, family, friends; and everything else is so masterfully done that this categorization alone somehow diminishes the book's merits.
The world building is excellent; the main characters make sense - they are sensible yet flawed - the grow and change as the story progresses and the world changes around them; the secondary characters are alive, they come off the page and more importantly they stay true to the themselves ( no 180° here to fit a new twist because the author backed themselves into a corner).
The story is clever, funny when it needs to be, heartbreaking, and it does not get boring despite its length.
I came across the first book - The Drift- on Audible, and just had to get The Symbiosis on Kindle ( even though reading from screens gives me headaches , and I try to avoid it as much as possible - 😄 so yes, it gave me a headache but it was totally worth it); hopefully it comes out as an audiobook too, so I can enjoy it even more.
P.S. No spoilers here, but I think everyone is a little mad about a certain character's demise. How could you?
I get it, it makes sense, it fits the story, it drives the story but still......... How could you?🤨
It could be classified as a sci-fi romance , but it actually is a story about different types of love - romantic, family, friends; and everything else is so masterfully done that this categorization alone somehow diminishes the book's merits.
The world building is excellent; the main characters make sense - they are sensible yet flawed - the grow and change as the story progresses and the world changes around them; the secondary characters are alive, they come off the page and more importantly they stay true to the themselves ( no 180° here to fit a new twist because the author backed themselves into a corner).
The story is clever, funny when it needs to be, heartbreaking, and it does not get boring despite its length.
I came across the first book - The Drift- on Audible, and just had to get The Symbiosis on Kindle ( even though reading from screens gives me headaches , and I try to avoid it as much as possible - 😄 so yes, it gave me a headache but it was totally worth it); hopefully it comes out as an audiobook too, so I can enjoy it even more.
P.S. No spoilers here, but I think everyone is a little mad about a certain character's demise. How could you?
I get it, it makes sense, it fits the story, it drives the story but still......... How could you?🤨
August 1, 2024
There are people in this world that you can tell are doing what they were meant to do and Casie Aufenthie is one of them. After finishing the first book I was so excited to read the second but knew that sequels aren’t always up to the same level as the original. However, this book is better. She is truly an amazing author and this review would be better if I had her unparalleled way with words. All I need to say is this story will make you feel so strongly and powerfully you will believe this is your reality. They are your friends and this is your cause.
I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for book 3 because I know it’s going to be epic.
I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for book 3 because I know it’s going to be epic.
December 11, 2023
4.5⭐️
**POTENTIAL SPOILERS**
I think I may have liked this sequel even better than the first book! It’s the forbidden lovers that does it for me. Although I’m not a fan of the cheating trope, even if it was played out to be necessary. I’m also devastated by one of the character’s deaths and still not ok about it 😭 If you read the first book, you should definitely read this sequel. And it is all set up to continue into a third book which I’m sure I will be reading as well once it is released. 😊
**POTENTIAL SPOILERS**
I think I may have liked this sequel even better than the first book! It’s the forbidden lovers that does it for me. Although I’m not a fan of the cheating trope, even if it was played out to be necessary. I’m also devastated by one of the character’s deaths and still not ok about it 😭 If you read the first book, you should definitely read this sequel. And it is all set up to continue into a third book which I’m sure I will be reading as well once it is released. 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2023
In this fast paced, whiplash of a book, I was simultaneously screaming in anger and cheering in triumph. You know it’s a good book when you race to the finish, feeling like you just rode an intense emotional roller coaster!
This was an excellent sequel to the first book, to say the least, and I will not so patiently await the final installment. Well done!
This was an excellent sequel to the first book, to say the least, and I will not so patiently await the final installment. Well done!
November 21, 2024
How has this story not been made into a movie yet?? I absolutely can’t wait for the third book. Normally sci-fi type books are not my thing but I do enjoy post-apocalyptic so this works for me. This book story is so wonderfully complex and crafted. Not to be missed!
June 30, 2025
A great Act 2
An amazing follow up to The Drift, this book hits all the right notes. Can’t wait to dive into book 3!
An amazing follow up to The Drift, this book hits all the right notes. Can’t wait to dive into book 3!
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