Retribution (Book 2) picks up a year after Undisclosed (Book 1) concludes. Readers haven’t missed out on much, except the transformation of Travis. His quest to find Will, his brother, has turned Travis into a killer, as he uses his new powers to handle obstacles. His relationship with his new team is strained as he is consumed, and typically solo, in his quest. I think this is pretty significant in character development and is probably why Mills titled the book accordingly. Don’t worry – the team and Travis play all their parts in this installment, and a few Guardians join the fray. The synopsis mentions a familiar menace – well, if you’ve read Book 1, that clue really means one thing. Yes, the DBag is back and as ruthless as ever. That’s all I’ll say about this bit of plot. The main adventure finds the team seeking answers to an ancient riddle in hopes of saving Earth from cataclysmic events. This book reads very quick. There are some interesting and fun conspiracy theory tie-ins, but the bulk of the action has a National Treasure meets Lord of the Rings feel. Book 2 in trilogies is usually not as good as the intro and conclusion; it is often reserved for character development with little action. I’d say this installment, although not as fun as Undisclosed, has a healthy balance of development and action. I do think it sets the stage for a fun conclusion to the adventure.
4 of 5 Stars - ARC provided.
From the Publisher:
Forever haunted by what occurred beneath Mount Archuleta in Dulce, New Mexico, Travis Marshall returns a year older, his DNA altered, and his full potential unknown. Exploring his newfound abilities, his relationship with Jayde and countless cities searching for his brother, he realizes the world he once knew has been forever changed. Hiding the side effects of his genetic changes, and wrestling with a major discovery in the city of Chicago he is once again forced to face a familiar menace, and this time vengeance is personal. Driven to find the original diary of James Vincent Forrestal, as well as a legendary artifact, Travis must face his greatest fears and unravel an ancient mystery before it’s too late. Through a series of unexpected twists and turns, every clue leads him closer to decoding a global event with catastrophic consequences.
