I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Extinction Of All Children by L. J. Epps Series: Extinction of All Children #1
Published by L.J. Epps on June 17, 2016
Genres: Fiction / Dystopian, Fiction / Fantasy / General, Fiction / Science Fiction / General
Pages: 248
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
Amazon|Barnes&Noble|Goodreads
A young adult, fantasy novel about a teenager who is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory. There will never be another child; every baby born after her has been taken away. Everyone wonders why she survived.Emma Whisperer was born in 2080, in the small futuristic world of Craigluy. President Esther, in charge for the last twenty-two years, has divided their world into three territories, separated by classes-the rich, the working class, and the poor-because she believes the poor should not mingle with the others. And, the poor are no longer allowed to have children, since they do not have the means to take care of them. Any babies born, accidentally or willfully, are killed. Emma is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory; every baby born after her has died. Somehow, she survived this fate. During the president's Monday night speech, she announces a party will be held to honor the last child in the territory, Emma Whisperer. Emma must read a speech, expressing how happy she is to be the last eighteen-year-old. Emma doesn't like the rules; she doesn't believe in them. So, she feels she must rebel against them. Her family doesn't agree with her rebellion, since they are hiding a big secret. If this secret gets out, it will be disastrous, and deadly, for her family. During Emma's journey, she meets-and becomes friends with-Eric. He is one of the guards for the president. She also befriends Samuel, another guard for the president, who is summoned to watch over her. As Emma meets new people, she doesn't know who she can trust. Yet, she finds herself falling for a guy, something which has never happened before. After doing what she feels is right, Emma finds herself in imminent danger. In the end, she must make one gut-wrenching decision, a decision that may be disastrous for them all."Fans of dystopian fantasy will devour this book. L. J. Epps writes a story that, while dealing with heavy subject matter, is still a light, enjoyable read. This dystopian fantasy novel ignites the imagination, and is a must read for fans of The Hunger Games and the Divergent Trilogy."-Kristina Gemmell, Beta Reader
There is something about the dystopian genre that draws me in. I think in some ways it takes the horrors of history and recreates them in the future. Different as technologies change and the way we choose to hate changes. But, no matter how you feel about the word, hate is so much a part of human nature. I’ve read my fair share of dystopian novels, but honestly, none of the super popular ones. I’ve seen parts of the movies, but that’s about it. But offbeat, self-pub, I’ve read those. I feel like I’ve read this one before and just didn’t review it, because there were parts I remembered, and it doesn’t really resemble any other I’ve read. In some ways, it reminds me of the Lifetime show The Lottery from years ago, though here, no children are allowed to be born, whereas in the show, no children are being born. But the same intrigue and elimination of people in a different way. Let’s talk about that.
There’s a lot to unpack with this book, so let’s explore a moment. The premise of the book was really good. If you are poor, it is illegal to have children because you can’t provide for or care for them. But wait, there’s more! We’ll promise opportunities to advance beyond poverty, but it’s rarely seen, and sometimes you wonder if it’s a shadow and not real when they list names for those moving up. Since you are poor, you have availability to contraceptives but only on weekdays, so be wise. And we all know that nothing is perfect, people still get pregnant and hauled off to jail or prison to have their baby born and taken from them, presumably for death. Enter Emma, the last legal child born in Territory L (lower class, aka poor), who has recently turned 18. But Emma, Emma doesn’t toe the line at all, and the first chance she has, she speaks out against the law(s), rules, and domination of her Territory. Now we have some real drama to pursue.
As a young adult novel about young adults, the love thread does come into play with an awkward love triangle of sorts with men she has just met through her jail time and doesn’t know, but has to make choices of trust. And it was just that awkward, and I felt as though it pulled attention from the bigger story at play. The story I want to read. Everyone is also identified by their skin color, which felt awkward as well. With so many ways to describe someone, it always came back to skin tone. I feel like there’s a thread there that needs to be identified and told, but it doesn’t hit any of its marks and is almost the opposite of what is trying to be told. While it leads to the bigger opportunity. The book is good, the premise is good, but it’s flat. A lot of telling without showing, and what is told doesn’t really dig beneath the surface for me. There’s enough good that I really did enjoy reading the book and can’t wait for Emma’s adventures in Territory M, but I wanted, needed, more. I feel like I’m on the outside, looking in, not with Emma and the others living the experience.
About L. J. Epps
L.J. Epps is a lover of all things related to books: fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as biographies and autobiographies. She has also been known to sit and read comic books from cover to cover, several times over.
Over the last few years, L.J. has written several manuscripts; her mission is to publish all of them. She enjoys writing fiction in several genres, including contemporary romance and women’s fiction, as well as young adult dystopian, science fiction and fantasy. She loves to write because it immerses her into another world that is not her own.
Wanna share your thoughts? Leave a comment!