Tag Archives: The Scion Chronicles

Review: Scions of Sacrifice (The Scion Chronicles #4) by Eric Kent Edstrom

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Title: Scions of Sacrifice
Author: Eric Kent Edstrom
Publisher/Year: Undermountain Books LLC 12/8/16
Length:   366 Pages
Series:  The Scion Chronicles #4

Overview

Threats old and new converge upon the Scions as they make their last stand against the forces of evil.

Scions of Sacrifice sprints head-long to an explosive climax guaranteed to leave you breathless. In this jaw-dropping conclusion of The Scion Chronicles series, Jacey races to rescue Livy from Dr. Carlhagen while enemies surround her, determined to kill her.

But when a trusted ally reveals a secret at the heart of who Jacey truly is, she gathers her allies in a desperate final battle for freedom.

My Thoughts

This series really is something else – i’m incredibly happy that i came across it.  What we have here in this final installment to the series is a continuation of the multiple story lines all weaving together and apart, all with the same end goal it seems.

In this fourth book, we have the Dr on his island with the Senator – all trying to further his end game of getting control of Jacey and also managing to get all the power in the world as he tries to put a positive spin on the Scion program and the fact that essentially carbos are illegal.  While at times things seem to be going in his favor, in fact the tides are turning since the senator has come to her sense and the Dr’s AI has gone rogue – taking matters into his own hands.

There’s also the parallel story of Jacey and her quest to save Livy.  We know that she’s on the island with the Dr and Jacey now has to figure out how to get to the island and to get Livy back.  Where we go with her though is an interesting story.  Dante becomes an ally (or does he) as does a pop star names Meow Meow and with this aspect, we learn that things are not always as they seem.  It’s because of Meow Meow’s real past that things are able to take form through this story since she has contacts and experiences and knowledge that manage to keep them on the run and get them to a turning point in the story.

The third parallel story is that of the Scions on the boat.  They are trying to get to the island that Mr Justin had set up while he was going to play the poor Dr and it’s on the boat that we actually see transformation happen with the Scions.  Summer,  a character in the first book that we felt was nothing but a twittering teenage girl with a crush has continued to evolve into a necessary leader – one who has more skill than anyone else.  We also see that the other Scions are maturing into their own people – taking on roles and responsibilities that would make anyone proud. The quick thinking that they have to employ is impressive as they try to figure out next steps for everyone in the game.

The last bit of the story lies with Belle and Vaughn – whom are now both on servers and trying to help the Scions.  Where the relationship started because Belle’s in love with him has become something greater.  She sees her deficiencies because of what he’s able to do that she feels she can’t and that actually turns Belle into a character that you want to like even more – one who has the potential to save Jacey while she’s on the run and then to be selfless enough to give up herself to let Vaughn get the power he needs to save everyone else.

We see this story take us from the Carribbean to Puerto Rico to Chicago to the barren refugee camps and then back to the island of St Lazurus.  We see military come and go, we see politicals trying to exert their power and we see a lot of the parentage of the Scions – even those who didn’t know that they were being used to create Scions.

I think it’s a fair assumption to say that lots of our friends will die in the quest to overpower the Dr and i don’t think that it’s really anyone’s guess as to who will remain.  It’s a roller coaster and there are alliances and bonds that are created amidst all the death and sadness that at least gives this story a good bit of closure.  We’re left with a sense of hope since there’s a plan that’s put into action, but of course there’s always the question of whether there will be success since there’s a lot left unanswered.

All in all, i think that this was a really unique and interesting journey that we went on and i think that it’s a series that you should all try to tack down.  It makes you wonder what the future of our world will be like since it all seems to have stemmed from an asteroid hitting the earth, setting things into motion that caused all sorts of destruction and corruption. Anyhow, enough deep thinking for me – i hope you guys check this series out and have a great day!

Review: Sister of Shadows (The Scion Chronicles #3) by Eric Kent Edstrom

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Title: Sister of Shadows
Author: Eric Kent Edstrom
Publisher/Year: Undermountain Books LLC 12/8/16
Length:   379 Pages
Series:  The Scion Chronicles #3

Overview

Evil lurks among the Scions, waiting its moment to strike!

Sister of Shadows is the third book in The Scion Chronicles.

When a daring escape costs a beloved Scion’s life, Jacey races alone into the outside world for help . . . and comes face to face with ghosts from her past. As suspicion casts its shadow, Jacey’s friends become foes and old enemies become her only allies.
My Thoughts

This story really couldn’t get much crazier, yet some how it does.  I have to give great kudos to the author because what we have here in this 3rd installment are three different parts of the story told from different vantage points, as they are running parallel to one another.  I have no idea how he was able to keep track of all of it together, but it was nicely done.

The point that we’re at in the story is that the knowledge of what the Scions are intended for is finally getting through to the Scions, and that means that there’s not only unrest, but a lot of confusion as to who to trust and what that means for their futures.  The three storylines are as follows:

The Scions, Jacey and Dr Carlhagen

Where they split from the main story and then go on their paths is a bit into this third book.  Now that we have started to uncover exactly what the plan was that Dr Carlhagen has for the Scions, the need to take control is what they feel is most urgent.  Jacey and Humphrey some how manage to grow up quite fast and take on the leader roles, where Humphrey tries to convince everyone on the outside world that he’s Dr Carlhagen still and for the most part he’s successful.  It’s when one of the more power Progenitors comes (a Senator) early to transfer because of a terminal illness that gives her bout 4 weeks to live, that their world gets completely flipped upside down.

Not only have we lost Vaughn (Dr Carlhagen took that body), but we now are in the midst of losing Summer who’s the Progenitos Scion.  Summer however is only 14 and too early to transfer, and the Scions aren’t going to let her go without a fight.  The journey here is one where we see her and the others grown up incredibly fast, and we see how far the elder Scions can push the limits to save their friends.

Then there’s the story line with the Dr and the Senator.  They have an interwoven past and that means that they are bound by personal ties as well as their own business needs since we see that they were using each other to gain power and money – and build a second Scion school.  That’s where the Dr’s story takes him – on how he can manage to get off St Vitus, away from the school to get his new school set up and then to get the Scions to that new school.  All while some how using leverage over the Senator and the Scions (Jacey primarily since we know that he holds a torch and a grudge against her still)

Then there’s Jacey – we know that she’s our masterful leading lady, and she’s thrown herself into some interesting situations.  She manages to hide Summer, figure out a plan to get the Scions to safety and then when the tables turn on her again, she manages to somehow get off the island trying to find help from the other Progenitors, hoping that maybe they would be on her side.

So as you can imagine, there are three story strings going on here, where we are wondering how and when they will intercept.  What we know is that Mr Justin the butler truly isn’t what he seems, he’s had this other plot the entire time to get back at the Dr, and he’s given the opportunity of a lifetime.  He transfers into a Scion, and no one knows which one, which adds another layer of complexity to the story.  You don’t know when he’s going to strike and make things that much worse.

There’s a lot of military in this book – they are called in by the Senator, by the Dr, by everyone basically since the scions need to be kept a secret.  Jacey is going rogue in her attempt to figure out a way to keep her friends safe and get back one that was kidnapped.  There’s also a lot of death, losing some of our favorite characters when things go from bad to worse.  The world is an interesting place and we are only starting to understand what the initial motivation was that caused Dr Carlhagen to truly develop his God complex.

There are so many questions that have to be answered in the 4th book.  When and where are they all going to reunite and who’s going to survive?  The romance that we saw budding between Humphrey and Jacey – is that going to be something real? (personally, there was a comment in the story where Humphrey said that he loved her his whole life and that seemed random to me since i thought he hated her), and then there’s the triangle that now includes Wanda and Humphrey.  So all in all, there’s so much at stake here.  Is the world really as bad off as it sounds and will the Scions be able to help make things better or is all doomed anyway?  So on that note, i’m off to read the next book and see how it all ends up.  Have a great day!

Review: Child of Lies (The Scion Chronicles) by Eric Kent Edstrom

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Title: Child of Lies
Author: Eric Kent Edstrom
Publisher/Year: Undermountain Books LLC 12/8/16
Length:   273 Pages
Series:  The Scion Chronicles #2

Overview

Sometimes living is the sacrifice one must make for love.

In this breathtaking second book of The Scion Chronicles, 17 year old Jacey vows to protect everyone at the Scion School from being overwritten. But when a VIP Progenitor arrives early to overwrite a 15 year old Scion, Jacey faces an impossible choice–risk everything to save her or to sacrifice her for the good of all.

Author Eric Kent Edstrom returns with his trademark thriller pacing, stunning twists, and surprising characters in this YA dystopian tale about cloning, mind transfer, and the power of loyalty.

My Thoughts

This incredibly dynamic story continues right where we left off, where we know that there was a transfer of minds and a lot of unrest and uncertainty at the school.  Jacey and Belle are still at odds, Dr Carlhagen is still trying to further is fortune and end game, and all of the Scions are at risk.

Throughout this second book in the series, we spend a lot of time wondering who’s who and who can be trusted.  This is where we see Jacey continue to come into her own, not just being a leader as we know she is already, but opening her eyes to what’s real in the world and then trying to figure out how to save those that she cares about and loves.  Humphrey, who we have learned is Dr Carlhagen’s scion proves to be made of stronger stuff, and he’s showing us that he does have a soul and a heart and that while he’s being forced to pretend to be someone he’s not, he is also working to keep his friends and ‘family’ alive.  From this, we also see that what seems like dislike towards Jacey has grown into something that’s much fonder and romantic.  (of course this makes Summer really angry because you’ll remember that she has a crush on him, but that will play out on it’s own).

Belle also plays a huge role in this 2nd installment.  We know that she’s in love with Vaughn and will believe that he’s who he says he is, even when everyone else says that he’s not.  She only wants to believe what she sees since that’s how her brain is wired.  What’s really sweet about how the author develops her though, is that we see that she goes from being incredibly stoic and selfish to being selfless in a way – with her story going in a path that we don’t truly expect.

Then there’s Mr Justin – the dr’s butler.  He’s always been a bit of a mystery – we don’t know what it is that motivates him, and i think that there’s more than just money and greed.  he’s certainly keeping his secrets, and we see bits of that coming through the story.  He’s secretive about information that he shares and people that he talks to, and we learn that he’s got his own plot to kidnap several Scions back to the mainland, but we dont’ know the end goal there.

So it’s a roller coaster of a story.  Jacey and Summer end up on the run out of the campus, and trying to survive while they are being hunted.  As we know, there’s no love between them, and getting Summer to stop being bratty and bullish is part of the challenge, but then Jacey also sees that Summer has a skill set that’s perfect for survival.  It’s impressive to see how quickly Summer’s character grows, since she’s also playing a pivotal role.  Her Proginator has come early to transfer into the new body as she is dying and everyone seems ok with letting that happen – except for Jacey.  So the clock is ticking on how to keep that from happening.

There are deaths, injuries, alliances and people returning from the dead.  All exciting and anxiety ridden.  What gets me the most is that the ending that we get here – the cliffhanger is that someone who’s found to be dead likely isn’t and now it’s trying to figure out where that person is and what’s going to happen now.  So…on that note, i’m going to track down book 3 and see what’s next for all these folks.  Enjoy!

Review: Daughter of Nothing (The Scion Chronicles #1) by Eric Kent Edstrom

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Title: Daughter of Nothing
Author: Eric Kent Edstrom
Publisher/Year: Undermountain Books LLC 9/10/13
Length:   284 Pages
Series:  The Scion Chronicles #1

Overview

While the powerful seek immortality, the Scions struggle for survival.

Few people know that the Scion School exists. Tucked away on a private Caribbean island, the school hosts thirty-six exceptionally gifted students. They train every day to prepare themselves for an immense responsibility, to lead humankind back from the brink of extinction.

At least, that’s what they’ve been told.

Only one student—a seventeen year old named Jacey—suspects the truth. Driven by her undying loyalty to her friends, Jacey races to untangle the truth of who the Scions are . . . and what the headmaster truly means when he says they are bound for a great destiny.

My Thoughts

I’m a fan of dystopia and felt that i kind of needed to have something in the YA genre to start off my year.  I came across this series randomly and i think that there’s something interesting here.

Like the summary says, we find ourselves on an island where there’s nothing more than a school – made up of in essence a lower and an upper school – the upper made up of found ‘Nines’ 2 sets of girls and 2 boys.  Really what these are, are sets of 4 per age group where they are called Scions – and are trained in specific skills, be it math, science,  martial arts etc.  Each has been given a specific set of skills to learn and the AI on the campus won’t allow them to deviate.

When ‘Birthday’ comes around, we see that things are about to change.  Jacey our leading lady and her friend Vaughn go off to listen in on what happens to ‘Graduates’ since this class is the first.  Mind you, all 18 years of their lives, they have been taught that the world outside of the island is a wasteland.  There’s nothing left out there, and the Scions are being trained for greatness – to be the next leaders and to bring the world into it’s future.  So when the two of them listen in on a radio and realize that things aren’t what they seem, life as they knew it would never be the same.

From that moment on, we see the true colors of things come out.  Someone reports that Jacey and Vaughn were together, yet Vaughn is the only one who’s punished.  Instead, Jacey finds that Dr Carlhagen, the man behind it all has taken a liking to her and lavishes her with things, and refuses to punish her.  She tests those boundaries all while trying to find out the truth of things, now that Vaughn’s punishment has left him dying and she’s now paired up with Humphrey whom detests her.

The main bit of this story is really the same that we see in a lot of dystopia.  The younger generation has only been taught one POV on the world, and have been forced to believe it.  All it takes is for one person to question what’s real and what’s not for things to Unravel.  While Jacey isn’t everyone’s favorite since she’s blamed for a lot of what’s happening, she’s strong enough (or hopefully she is) to help guide people to see the light.

The light of course is that once you graduate, a transfer is done. See, the Scions are actually Clones, and their ‘proginators’ or ‘sponsors’ are wealthy folks (as it costs over $100MM to participate) who want to stay young forever.  So upon graduation, the elders transfer their minds into the bodies of the Scions and go on living life in a slightly altered way.  Of course though, Dr Carlhagen has his own motives, as he’s selfish and power hungry, and he not only wants to be young again, he wants Jacey – the clone of the love that he lost at the hands of another man, and decides to make that happen.

Where the story goes once bits on information come to light is interesting.  You can’t really figure out who’s to be trusted and who’s against them at moments, and i think that’s part of the charm.  You’re tricked into believing things that may be false, and the question is what will that cost?  who’s life will be lost.

So at the very end, we find ourselves in a place of uncertainty.  Mr Justin (Dr Carlhagen’s butler) sheds light on a few things that makes where Jacey wants to take things completely impossible.  So it’s up to her and everyone who knows to figure out how to change the world or at least the process at the campus on their own.  And for that, we can only wish them the best.  It’s an interesting idea, and i’m going to track down the next in the series since i’m intrigued.  Happy 2017 all!!