Exile (The Extinction Trials #2)

Author: S. M. Wilson

Genre: YA, Sci Fi, Dystopian

Publisher: Usborne

Publication Date: June 1st 2018

Format: Paperback (384 pages)

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Synopsis:

Betrayal. Sacrifice. Survival. Welcome to The Extinction Trials.

After surviving on Piloria once, Storm and Lincoln are the obvious candidates to return to the dinosaur continent to test the new virus that should clear the way for human settlement. But they have their own priorities – finding a cure for the plague that’s sweeping Earthasia, and keeping themselves alive.

My Rating: ★★★★★

W O W.

If you read my review of The Extinction Trials back in January you’ll know that I fell head over heels in love with this series. So you could say that my expectations were stacked pretty high before picking up book 2, Exile. You’ll be pleased to know that Exile packs just the same level of punch as the first book does, possibly even more!

Picking up not long after the ending of The Extinction Trials, we find ourselves back on Earthasia with Stormchaser, Lincoln and a few others. Storm and Lincoln are both struggling in their own way to come to terms with what they went through on Piloria and we get to see a bit of a different side to them both. I really enjoyed getting to see a bit more of the politics behind the Stipulators. I was keen to see how things were going to pan out for Storm and Reban Don, how little Arta was faring and then we got to meet the curious character that is Octavius Arange too. It was great to be reunited with old friends but I did take a shining to some of the new characters fairly quickly too.

The whole time we were on Earthasia I was itching to get back to Piloria and be surrounded by gorgeous greenery and terrifying dinosaurs (sorry to ruin any illusion of paradise you may have just built…). And, of course, my dream came true and it wasn’t too long before Storm and team were heading back out to Piloria on a slightly different mission this time. Let me tell you now, friends, the action does not wait around for you. Within minutes of them being in Piloria the action is there and, in my opinion, ramped up a step from the previous book. I loved how quickly we were reminded that although Piloria is gorgeous, it is a deadly land where the humans are definitely on the back foot.

The “do dinosaurs deserve to die?” question was well thought of in this book too. It is a question that was raised by Storm in The Extinction Trials as she struggled to decide whether the humans had any right to take Piloria for their own. This goes a step further in this second instalment as we see Storm and a few others face the idea of killing the dinosaurs. I just really love that there is a moral aspect behind the book too. It tugs on my little old heart strings.

Some readers have decided pretty quickly whether they are team Stormchaser or team Lincoln (our two narrators) but I honestly can’t pick. Both of them have qualities that I really admire and, more importantly, they both have their flaws. I love that Stormchaser is so ballsy. She takes the adventure face on, shows great courage and determination whilst also showing her caring and empathetic side. Lincoln melts my heart, especially when it comes to his little, poorly sister Arta. I love reading from both of their POVs and love how this adds a slightly different element as you get to see both of the growing.

I was THRILLED that we got to see much more of Blaine in book two. I adored this crazy guy back in book one but we didn’t see too much of him. There were some really touching moments involving Blaine and his storyline in this book and they made me really emotional. Speaking of which, there was a LOT of tugging on my heart strings during this book and I think that was partially because I just adore the characters and reading this book felt like sitting down for a coffee and natter with a best friend. I didn’t reread The Extinction Trials before picking up Exile but within pages I was right back there in that world.

The world building is, yet again, absolutely exquisite. The scenery is so vivid and lush; I was so easily able to imagine myself clambering through the gorgeous forests of Piloria with the ground crunching beneath my feet and the dense heat around me. The dinosaurs were just as terrifying yet awe-inspiring as previously. I am still 100% certain I could not survive on Piloria but if I was offered the chance to go I certainly wouldn’t turn it down.

This series is a true wonder. The ending had me gasping aloud to myself and I am SO flipping excited to see what is going to happen next. One thing is for certain, I’ll be on the edge of my seat the next time I visit Piloria too! Absolutely brilliant!

An ENORMOUS thanks to the lovely Stevie at Usborne for sending me a review copy and an even bigger thanks to Susan for writing such wonderful books and even giving little old me a shout out in the acknowledgements – what a huge privilege!

Have you read The Extinction Trials or Exile? Are they on your TBR?

What’s your favourite dinosaur?

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