Evolution (Extraction #3)

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Author(s)

Stephanie Diaz

Publisher

St. Martin's Griffin

Genre(s)

Science Fiction

Age Range

12+

Release Date

September 08, 2015

ISBN

978-1250041265

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Clementine's world is on the brink of destruction. An army of aliens from the distant planet Marden has arrived with a massive fleet of battleships, intent on finally putting an end to the war Kiel's old rulers initiated. With the Alliance headquarters reduced to rubble and one of the rebel leaders close to death, Clementine and her friends have no choice but to retreat to the Core to escape the alien ships attacking the Surface. But safety in the Core means forming a temporary alliance with their sworn enemy, Commander Charlie. He's a ruthless man and a liar, but striking a bargain with him—his pardon in exchange for their help defeating the Mardenites—is the only way the rebels might survive the war. And Charlie needs their help too, for Marden's force is more powerful than anyone anticipated, with weapons and technologies never before seen on Kiel. Unless old feuds can be set aside long enough for a diplomatic solution to be found, all of Kiel's people will be destroyed, and everything Clementine and her friends have sacrificed in their fight for peace will have been for nothing.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable trilogy

August 19, 2015

Overall rating

3.3

Plot

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Characters

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Commander Charlie is no longer the only threat. Now, an alien race from Marden has invaded, taking a large number of the Surface citizens with their arrival. Clementine will have to negotiate with the Mardenites as best as she can if she wants to keep everyone safe and keep the Commander from destroying everything in his ruthless path.

The Mardenities are a fascinating addition to this world, and I love all the interactions Clementine has with them. While everyone else is ready to fight them, she is the only one who sees that the two peoples might need each other. Stephanie Diaz offers a realistic look at the sacrifices people have to make, even for peace, and the edge of danger that comes with working with an unlikely ally.

Diaz shows a new maturity as a writer in this last installment with a plot that has more unexpected twists and turns than previously. The Mardenities shift everything around, and this makes for an excellent break from the typical rebellion/Commander story. The ending wraps up all the loose ends nicely with a little heartache, some destruction, and a large amount of hope that will leave fans of the series very satisfied.

The relationship with Logan is what left me wanting more the most. The reader rarely sees his character in the previous two novels, and little changes in this finale. Logan and Clementine take a step forward in their relationship, but there is a static feel between them that generates a lack of complexity and development. However, readers who enjoy a no-drama romance may prefer a quiet, always forgiving relationship without the angst.

One of the minor antagonists in the series makes a severe change of heart by the end that is poorly supported. His past wrongdoings seem automatically forgiven, though some, including several cases of attempted sexual assault, are quite harsh and never resolved. This is one area of the story that is a bit uncomfortable and is the only part of the story that feels unfinished.

There are still parts of the story I had issues with, but overall, Stephanie Diaz wraps her trilogy up nicely. Fans of the previous works won’t be left disappointed with this final battle of survival between Clementine, the Commander, and the Mardenites.