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Return to Poly-Gen
Edel won’t talk about what happened to her in those dark months she spent away from Jay. Jay knows her past trauma torments her each night, and he has tried to get her to open up, but no matter how many chances he gives her, Edel will never talk about it. When Jay can’t bear to see her suffer any longer, he comes up with the perfect solution. What if she could write it all down? What if she could confide all her horrors in a notebook and let her feelings out on the page? Would she find some relief from this never-ending nightmare? Would she finally experience a sense of closure?
Jay gives Edel the perfect gift. A simple notebook and pen, and a solemn promise of confidentiality. He won’t read it unless she asks him to.
Edel wishes she could confide in Jay, but that just isn’t possible. She isn’t ready yet. So instead, she pours all her pain and suffering into the pages. Here’s her account of what happened to her, from her capture to her escape, told in her own words.
Jay gives Edel the perfect gift. A simple notebook and pen, and a solemn promise of confidentiality. He won’t read it unless she asks him to.
Edel wishes she could confide in Jay, but that just isn’t possible. She isn’t ready yet. So instead, she pours all her pain and suffering into the pages. Here’s her account of what happened to her, from her capture to her escape, told in her own words.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 27, 2023
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 10, 2023
Just finished the novella "Return to poly-gen" by Ashleigh Reverie by reading it on my tablet thanks to the kindle unlimited subscription of my girlfriend.
This is a short novella which is part of the "Almost Human" series written by Ashleigh. This book fills the gap of what occurs between books two and three, we did not know what happened with Edel in the Poly-gen factory, and this book gives all the details in quite a detailed way. I think it can be read either after reading book 3 (as I have done) or right after finishing book 2. But If you have not read book 2, you will be totally lost about the background story.
Without giving spoilers about the story, I will mention that I really found this short novella quite interesting, presenting more info about the androids XJ5 (something I missed on book 3), and honestly, if you have gone through all the books of Almost human series, you will find this story perfect for the story.
In terms of the writing, I really think that you can tell the evolution of the author. I found the writing quite more mature and dark which I loved it!
This is a short novella which is part of the "Almost Human" series written by Ashleigh. This book fills the gap of what occurs between books two and three, we did not know what happened with Edel in the Poly-gen factory, and this book gives all the details in quite a detailed way. I think it can be read either after reading book 3 (as I have done) or right after finishing book 2. But If you have not read book 2, you will be totally lost about the background story.
Without giving spoilers about the story, I will mention that I really found this short novella quite interesting, presenting more info about the androids XJ5 (something I missed on book 3), and honestly, if you have gone through all the books of Almost human series, you will find this story perfect for the story.
In terms of the writing, I really think that you can tell the evolution of the author. I found the writing quite more mature and dark which I loved it!
February 22, 2023
I read this novella of Edel's backstory after reading the Almost Human trilogy. It was presented as a diary, with moments in between narrated in third person using a different font to show breaks from her first person memories. It really gave much more depth to Edel's torture after recapture; a particularly skin crawling bit was when her captors inserted a button device into her, which had tiny hairlike fibres that spread through her central nervous system to extract information, but also as a form of torture. This book really made Edel's clinginess and loyalty to Jay in book 3 make so much more sense as she risked a lot to keep her friends safe, and also had understandably regressed in her range of emotions and sense of security after suffering such abuse. I really liked how it fell into sync with the information that Jay knew towards the end of book 3 about how Edel escaped from the two scientists while travelling by car, though it showed a much more human dimension to her sometimes frightening demeanour in the third book. I also enjoyed how it ended, with Edel taking control over her memories and ultimately compartmentalising them, really showing her healing and how far she had come along on her path as a regular human.
August 14, 2023
Return to Poly Gen is a novella that details the capture and torture of Edel that happened at the end of Almost Human Book 2. It's short but super intense and at times off-putting but that is pretty fitting for a story that deals with this subject matter. I've connected very well with Edel as a character during the past two installments of the almost human series and I do here as well. There is some further insight into the state of Poly Gen and how it runs. We also get to meet a few of the people in charge of the Poly Gen facility. One is Hobson who is a particularly contemptible human being and the other is Birchell. I'm I will get to learn more about her in the coming novels. All in all, this was a good short read and I'm hoping that one day Edel will have to courage to share all of her thoughts and feelings with Jay. Only time will tell.
November 23, 2024
Intense & Tragic - If you haven’t read the Almost Human series yet, which I strongly suggest you do then this will come as a bit of a spoiler for the ending of book 2 and book 3. This is Edel’s tragic story of what happens after that dramatic finale in book 2 and before that shocking entrance in book 3. Edel is taken back to Poly-Gen where she receives unimaginable abuse and torture that would break any normal human. This was an intense and breathtaking read. It’s quite short as well and you can easily read it in a 2 hour sitting. Hobson was a despicable human being and a believable villain for the book. This can be read as a stand-alone and is a great introduction to the series but as I said at the start I do recommend you read the other books in the series too because they’re all awesome.
March 15, 2023
This short interlufe in the Almost Human series by Ashleigh Reverie is a perfect accompaniment to the first book in the series which I have already read. It fills in a few gaps and explores some very dark and distributing themes, and I am glad to have read it to better understand the character of Edel. Jay too stayed true to his character and his compassion and sincerity came through. Some of the passages were difficult to read due to the content but I really enjoyed this book as a sort of diversion to the main plot but also something which is relevant and will drive future events. The author has also enhanced the world in this short book and there are also nods towards the previous entries, which I really enjoyed reading
August 19, 2023
Solid 4.5 star read.
I went in without reading the rest of the series (I was looking for a short read and this came up) but there was still enough world-building for me to understand what was going on and to empathize with Edel.
Sometimes the style was a bit repetitive but the story was interesting and immersive even for such a quick read. Makes me curious about the rest of the series to see everything that led up to this.
It does have descriptions of t0rture, but its really not overly graphic, though I am typically a horror reader (who dabbles in extreme horror here and there) so take that with a grain of salt.
Overall a nice (can I say nice about this kind of dark content?) way to spend an evening reading.
I went in without reading the rest of the series (I was looking for a short read and this came up) but there was still enough world-building for me to understand what was going on and to empathize with Edel.
Sometimes the style was a bit repetitive but the story was interesting and immersive even for such a quick read. Makes me curious about the rest of the series to see everything that led up to this.
It does have descriptions of t0rture, but its really not overly graphic, though I am typically a horror reader (who dabbles in extreme horror here and there) so take that with a grain of salt.
Overall a nice (can I say nice about this kind of dark content?) way to spend an evening reading.
August 26, 2024
More, more, more!
Knowing she had difficulty expressing herself verbally, Jay got Edel a notepad. Painfully, but thoughtfully, Edel recalled and describes her memories. Everything she experiences, the pain, the humiliation, the abuse, the whole nightmare written about.
Another fantastic book by Ashleigh Reverie. She has the skill to portray the pain and hardship, both mental and physical, of the agony endured at the hands of a sadistic man. Through these graphic descriptions, the reader is given a profound insight into human suffering, thereby enriching the story with a degree of authenticity and emotional depth. Compelling read, I just want this series to go on and on!
Knowing she had difficulty expressing herself verbally, Jay got Edel a notepad. Painfully, but thoughtfully, Edel recalled and describes her memories. Everything she experiences, the pain, the humiliation, the abuse, the whole nightmare written about.
Another fantastic book by Ashleigh Reverie. She has the skill to portray the pain and hardship, both mental and physical, of the agony endured at the hands of a sadistic man. Through these graphic descriptions, the reader is given a profound insight into human suffering, thereby enriching the story with a degree of authenticity and emotional depth. Compelling read, I just want this series to go on and on!
June 3, 2023
Brutal
This novella gives us the truth about Edel’s torture after her capture and return to the lab where she was created. I liked how it added information between Books 2 and 3 in the author’s Almost Human series. It well illustrates the kinds of torture and inhumane treatment it takes to dehumanize us.
I do not recommend this book to anyone who has been brutalized. It’s a raw and emotionally draining portrait of the worst kinds of human behavior. It adds details to the overall tale, but sensitive readers can skip it and get what they need from Book 3.
This novella gives us the truth about Edel’s torture after her capture and return to the lab where she was created. I liked how it added information between Books 2 and 3 in the author’s Almost Human series. It well illustrates the kinds of torture and inhumane treatment it takes to dehumanize us.
I do not recommend this book to anyone who has been brutalized. It’s a raw and emotionally draining portrait of the worst kinds of human behavior. It adds details to the overall tale, but sensitive readers can skip it and get what they need from Book 3.
December 29, 2023
Outstanding!
This book is not my usual genre, but having enjoyed another book written by this author, I decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did. The book compelled me to keep reading, I just had to know how it would end. I so wanted a good outcome for the main character.
The writing is beautiful and the story outstanding. Very highly recommended!
This book is not my usual genre, but having enjoyed another book written by this author, I decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did. The book compelled me to keep reading, I just had to know how it would end. I so wanted a good outcome for the main character.
The writing is beautiful and the story outstanding. Very highly recommended!
October 6, 2024
A Dark, Detailed Short Story
I have to admit, I haven't read the Almost Human books that this short story goes with but I'm definitely going to be adding them now. If you don't like details regarding torture, then this book isn't for you as it's incredibly detailed what Edel went through back art Poly-Gen. A great and worthwhile read.
I have to admit, I haven't read the Almost Human books that this short story goes with but I'm definitely going to be adding them now. If you don't like details regarding torture, then this book isn't for you as it's incredibly detailed what Edel went through back art Poly-Gen. A great and worthwhile read.
June 15, 2023
A thrilling ride! Do not think you don't like this genre until you've read this series. You will change your mind! But don't expect to find a ton of authors as good as this one! This author's books are top shelf reading!
August 23, 2024
Lots of detail – some scenes you don’t really want to read about, but Edel needed to get the trauma off her chest.
The author has found a way of getting this (between-books) short story onto paper by letting the protagonist write about her past suffering in a note book.
Nice work.
The author has found a way of getting this (between-books) short story onto paper by letting the protagonist write about her past suffering in a note book.
Nice work.
June 3, 2023
I beat you to this one Jessica! LOL. Another winner by a fantastically talented author who I am glad was recommended to me!
December 11, 2023
Yes! Fantastic 5 star book. Thanks for the recommendation, Jessica! I always recommend this series to everyone.
May 5, 2024
I have to catch up with this series because the new one is out! This was stalwart writing that really pulls you in and does not let you go!
May 14, 2024
Yes yes yes! Do please read this series. Doesn't matter if you like the genre you'll like the books! Five, big, five stars!!!
October 12, 2024
Return to Poly-Gen tells us about what happened to Edel when she was taken back to Poly-Gen. She couldn’t describe what happened to her—the torture and the torment—to Jay so he gave her a notebook and a pen, and told her to write it all down. Not for him, but for her. He believed that this way she could learn to compartmentalise it.
It's a harrowing account and you really feel for Edel as she recounts her story. And you wonder if she’ll ever get over it.
The author has done a wonderful job of allowing us inside Edel’s mind and this is an important part of the ‘Almost Human’ series.
It's a harrowing account and you really feel for Edel as she recounts her story. And you wonder if she’ll ever get over it.
The author has done a wonderful job of allowing us inside Edel’s mind and this is an important part of the ‘Almost Human’ series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews