Extinction of All Children Series by L.J. Epps

The year is 2080, and the residents of Craigluy have long been separated by walls into three class-based territories: L for the lower-class, M for the middle-class, and U for the upper-class. Because the citizens of Territory L are poor, President Esther has decreed they are no longer allowed to have children. Pregnant women are jailed until they give birth, then their babies are killed. 18-year-old Emma Whisperer, the last child allowed to live in L, is determined to tear down the walls, and bring an end to Esther’s despotic rule. She must… if she hopes to find her missing niece before she is killed.

Extinction of All Children

When I found out about this trilogy, I was immediately intrigued because dystopia is a favorite genre of mine. The class separations, as well as it being illegal for those living in Territory L to have children—worse still, that any babies born were to be killed—made this sound like a book I would love. Sadly, that was not the case.

The story is told in the present tense from main character Emma’s point of view. While I don’t have a problem with first person narratives or the use of present tense in a story, the combination of the two in this book didn’t work for me. The constant telling of extraneous details felt particularly cumbersome, as well. Repetition of actions or thoughts filled much of the latter portions of the book, and I was often bored as a result.

This story had a great concept that I was eager to read. Ultimately, it proved unable to meet its potential. I was left disappointed… but I still wanted to see what will happen next.

Journey to Territory M

Book two finds Emma in Territory M, along with fellow guards and escapees Eric and Julian. She is still searching for her niece, who may have been illegally adopted rather than killed. She also hopes to talk to the unknown leader of Territory M, in hopes that they will help her in her quest to tear down the walls.

The underlying purpose of book two is simple: hide, and don’t get caught. So why are Emma, Eric, and Julian constantly doing things that would defeat that purpose? It was more than a little annoying, to say the least. Things were often described in odd ways—wind ‘splashing’ or carpet ‘bending’—and feet are always stomping or thumping (as emphasized in the book). I think those annoyances led me to being nit-picky about how Emma is obsessed about her hair (given how often she thinks about it), and repeatedly thinks of her niece as Baby Abigail 99% of the time, because it really irritated me after a while.

New characters were introduced, but little progress was made in moving the main plot forward. Instead, the group moves on to Territory U, and the final book of the series.

Journey to Territory U

In the final installment of the series, Emma and her group are tasked with getting residents of U to sign a petition for the walls to be torn down. President Esther said the walls will come down if they get enough signatures. Meanwhile, Emma is trying to find out what the U Project is, and she is still searching for Abigail.

I have very little to say about the last book in the trilogy. The plot twists lacked the element of surprise, and the main action sequence involving Emma and a foe went down as I expected it would.

Having read the entire series, the feeling I’m left with is disappointment. The premise behind the trilogy has massive potential for an exciting set of books, but—for me—it failed to get there.

Final Musings

I can’t help but wonder if I’m being too picky about this series. I’ve noticed others who gave the books both high ratings and good reviews on Goodreads. What didn’t work for me obviously worked well for other readers.

Based on my reading preferences, however, this isn’t a series I recommend for dystopia fans.

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of L.J. Epps via Netgalley.

Author: L.J. Epps
Series: Extinction of All Children
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia

Book #1: Extinction of All Children
Publication Date: June 3, 2016 by L.J. Epps
Rating: 2 stars

About the Book

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.

 

Book #2: Journey to Territory M
Publication Date: November 10, 2018 by L.J. Epps
Rating: 1 star

About the Book

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.

Book #3: Journey to Territory U
Publication Date: November 10, 2018 by L.J. Epps
Rating: 1 star

About the Book

Emma Whisperer’s journey continues in the third and final book in the Extinction series. Emma Whisperer and her friends are given ten days by President Esther to get their petitions signed to see if the people of Territory U agree with the walls being torn down. They can freely walk through the territory and talk to people.

What is life like in Territory U? Will the people of Territory U be accepting of their message?

Emma and her friends—old and new—explore Territory U and find the rich aren’t always as happy as they seem. They come upon some strange things happening in the territory and also underneath it. Friendships will be tested. Will Emma and her friends come out of it alive?

Emma has already accomplished so much—getting President Esther to let them walk freely through Territory U. Will Emma find and save Abigail? Will she save the people of Territory L? Or, will certain truths destroy her spunky spirit and good heart? Emma’s final journey brings about new challenges and revelations. Will these new discoveries weaken her or make her stronger?

President Esther has more in store for Emma than she could ever imagine. Will Rich get his revenge against Emma? Will President Esther win in the end? See how Emma and her friends handle the misery and destruction the president puts them through.

Take a ride with Emma as she makes some horrifying discoveries and finds the strength to continue on and finish the quest she started.

About the Author

From the author’s Goodreads:

I enjoy reading fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as autobiographies and biographies. I also enjoy reading comics and anything else book related.

I’ve wanted to write a novel for the last ten years but didn’t know if I could. I read many books on writing, and finally found the courage to write and self-publish. I spent four years working on my first novel and there are more books to come.