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.
Journey To Territory M by L. J. Epps Series: Extinction of All Children #2
Published by L.J. Epps on November 11, 2018
Genres: Fiction / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Fantasy / General, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
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The second book in the Extinction series takes Emma and her old and newfound friends on a wild journey.Emma Whisperer's journey continues in this sequel to the Extinction series. Emma, the last eighteen-year-old in Territory L, finally escapes Territory L and makes it into Territory M. She tries to find her niece, Abigail, and searches for the leader of Territory M to see if the walls can come down. She brings two friends with her on her journey to finish what she started back in Territory L. Emma hides out, trying not to get caught. Who can she trust? Will they find Abigail? Is she still alive? Will they find the newbie camp? Will they find out who the leader of Territory M is? Will the leader help them bring the walls down?Emma thought escaping from Territory L would solve all of her problems. She soon finds out that escaping to Territory M is not all she envisioned it would be. President Esther, Rich, and the leader of Territory M have more in store for Emma than she bargains for.Take a ride with them as their adventure begins in an abandoned college where they meet up with some unruly characters. Will these people, known as the runaways, be friends or foes? Emma and her friends-old and new-find themselves searching for places to hide out from President Esther and her henchman Rich, all the while trying to find the leader of Territory M. Take a ride with Emma as she finds some much-needed answers.
I picked this up right after finishing Extinction of All Children. Emma and Eric were able to escape (run away) to Territory M (you know, the middle class) with a little help from Julian. Coming into this book I understand why certain people are risking everything to help her. . . she stood up for what so many people believe but fear to speak. What I don’t understand is why President Esther is letting her get away with it. Why is Emma being protected from the consequences of what she has done? Just to be clear right up front, I still don’t have those answers. Perhaps Territory U will give those answers because I need to know!
My head is wanting to give you a book report, a summary of what happens, and not a review, but I’m trying my best to change that because spoilers are real. I think part of that is I still have the same questions and frustrations with Emma and her story as I did coming into it. Yes, she gets to Territory M and, in some ways, finds that it’s not that much different. There are still unfair rules/laws/whatever, but there is also opportunity to better yourself that Territory L doesn’t have. As long as you play by the rules, that is. Emma meets new ‘friends’, I say tongue in cheek, as not all are the friends they seem to be, with their own motivations for what they do. Emma also changes some, and there were a few times I wanted to Gibbs’ smack her. She wants to be rash when it’s her mission, but instantly changes her thought process when it’s someone else that needs to do/find someone. She can’t even keep straight what she is actually wanting to accomplish on her mission to escape. I feel like sometimes she wastes her chances to actually effect the change she wants because she is sidetracking herself. I get the sidetracks, but girl, you are wrapping me in loops.
Ultimately, the love triangle shows up again toward the end of the book, and it’s still just as flat and distracting as it was before. She’s still very caught up in skintone in the most awkward ways, and while I feel like there’s a deeper story there that could be told, it isn’t, so becomes more a distraction than a catalyst to help tell the story. And tell is what the story does. I hear a lot about what is going on, but I don’t really feel or experience it. I still have no idea why Emma is given chance after chance without consequences. I mean, there are consequences that are quite harsh, but they are taken out on people Emma loves and cares for. What about Emma does President Esther hold dear that allows this to continue? I hope to find out in Territory U (you know, upper class).
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.
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