Book Review: Extinction Trials Exile by SM Wilson

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 Review:
It is a month after the end of the Trial and Storm is not a popular person. Her relationship with Dell has yet to recover from the strain of her helping others and not helping him and they disagree about the killing of the dinosaurs with the virus that is still being constructed. She is finding living with a huge group of people, her 'claimed family', impossible after the solitude she had before, and isn't coping with the responsibility. She is well aware that Reban Don knows she is lying about her 'family' to get them the food and healthcare they need and she fears at any moment it will all be taken away from them. Now her lies about her skills have led to a change of job, working in with the very people she needs to avoid.

Lincoln decides to use the remains of the salve on his sister Arta in the hospital as she is deteriorating and thinks he may have an ally when a top scientist's daughter comes down with the same deadly illness. Could they get back to Piloria to get more of the medicine if it works? Can he trust that this man will help him save Arta and not just his own child? He is also brooding that he has lost his friends because of his actions at the Trial, but manages to make contact with Blaine's family to share news of his survival, knowing the risk that he is taking.

Then everything blows up around them with the announcement that the drug is ready to be tested and a new expedition back to Piloria will begin-sending back everyone who survived the first trip. Lincoln sees the opportunity to find Blaine and get the recipe to the salve which could halt the plague but he'll need to get his friends on side again to help him. Storm is still torn at the prospect of having to kill the dinosaurs but returning to Piloria feels better than the environment that she is leaving. Reban Don also finds that his circumstances are now about to change drastically as his enemies plot his downfall when they discover his secret.  

I was so excited to get back into this book world! I loved the first book and couldn't wait to get reading this one. It has a slower startthan the first book but I never found it dull in any way. I was interested to see the struggles that Storm and Lincoln were going through on their return home, and how they deal with the consequences of their lies told at the Trial. I liked seeing the change of attitude of the scientist when his daughter got sick which nicely set up a secondary mission for the group that were being sent back. The thing I liked most in these early chapters was was the move that was made against Reban Don by his enemies, led by Silas, and what that meant for Storm.

Most of all, I was excited to see everyone head back to Piloria. I can fully understand why Storm is happy to be back in a place with freedom, beauty, food and medicine rather than the grim life that they all have at home, in spite of the dinosaur danger. It was interesting to have the addition of Jesa, who has been seeking news of her father for years and now has the chance to join the expedition to go and see for herself, unaware of her father's fragile mental state. I liked the nervousness of the boat trip as every survivor knows exactly what they are going to face this time as they are instructed to deliver the virus to the nests of the dangerous predators and note whether it works or not. I loved the dinosaur interactions and the sheer danger of this mission.

The thing I loved most about this book was Reban Don. Having hated him for his attitude to Storm in the first book, it was great to now see all the other sides to him as he joins the expedition. I really did warm to him throughout the book as he proves himself in many different ways. I don't want to go into any more detail and spoil things but I really enjoyed this side of the plot. It was interesting to see the fractured group of friends at odds with the missions and struggling to trust each other as they are forced to work together again. I liked having Leif back with Lincoln and Storm as I liked him in the first book.

The other great thing about the book were the unexpected twists which of course I can't talk about! One in particular really shocked me and I do enjoy when an author can pull off an unexpected surprise without the reader seeing it coming. I did sort of expect the ending but it in no way detracted from the impact of it on the characters. There was also a loose thread left there that could go either way-I'm talking here about Leif's situation so I hope those who have read it understand what I mean. Is he or isn't he? I really hope not! What will the author do with it I wonder! 

I've seen some mixed reviews of the book so I want to give a few thoughts on this. Some think it was too slow to get into Piloria. OK maybe for some people but I felt that it was important to set the stage for Lincoln's quest by showing the situation in the hospital and with the scientists, and for the new plot of Storm being thrown together with Reban Don. If you want to be hyper critical perhaps the scenes with Octavius and her working for him could have been reduced but perhaps that could be important in book three. Others complained that the ending was too random and I don't agree with that.What Storm did has been brewing in her mind since she first went to Piloria and the hints were there through both books even before Reban Don comes into consideration. I expected this to happen and felt it was correct for her character.

SM Wilson is obviously a great storyteller as it isn't hard to get into these books and be swept along in the plot. I cared about her characters when I first met them and I've enjoyed seeing them evolve. I liked seeing the group dynamics in both books and the complicated friendships just as much as the dinosaur dangers they faced. I liked that there is no gooey romance clouding the story and that Storm and Lincoln's connection is emotional but complex. I have really enjoyed the first two books and can't wait for the third book in February!

Read June 2018.
4 stars.