Penance: An Extinction Cycle Story

The Redemption Series, Book 2

By: AJ Sikes

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's Summary

There is no escaping the evil lurking in the shadows....

After the harrowing trials of Emergence, Jed Welch finds himself alone in the ruins of New York City. But not all is lost.

USMC Staff Sergeant Alexandra Gallegos and the two surviving members of her platoon find Jed, and together they will bring the full weight of their Marine Corps training, and mission-driven sense of vengeance, to bear upon the real monsters: human collaborators who aid the Variants at the expense of their fellow human beings.

For SSGT Gallegos, theirs is a mission borne of duty and command. For Jed, it becomes an act of penance, in hopes he may atone for his sins. 

©2019 AJ Sikes (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Fast Paced.

After the events of Emergence, Jed is alone and scared with countless Variants around him. But thankfully for him, he meets up with USMC Staff Sergeant Alexandra Gallegos and two other members of her platoon. They are wary of Jed at first, thinking him to be in league with the collaborators, but they soon realise that there are bigger threats and Jed can fight.

Admittedly, I really didn't like Jed in the first book, but I understood his feelings, but thankfully here, we see more to him and he grew on me. He is still struggling with doing the right thing, but I think he has finally found his place and he is becoming who he should be. I think what happened to Meg and his role in it made him grow up and realise it's not just him anymore, it's all of humanity and that they need to save everyone they can.

This takes place straight after Emergence and straight after Meg goes into the sewers. We get to see some familiar Variants in this.... the Bone Collector!!! The action never really lets up and it's the team against the Variants and the evil that is the collaborators. It's well written and developed and a welcome addition to the Extinction Universe that Nicholas Sansbury Smith created. Jed has finally grown on me and I'm looking forward to reading the end of this trilogy to see what happens.

Once again, Bronson Pinchot gives a brilliant performance. I don't think I could picture anyone else reading these books because I feel like this narrator understands the world and the characters he is portraying. He is an amazing narrator and I highly recommend him.

Great expansion of Nicholas Sansbury Smiths story

Adrian Sikes has taken a great series of books, added his own flavor. He has taken people that where in the background of Nicholas story and have them their own time to shine.

I’m not usually one that likes add on or spin off books by another author, but I will say Mr. Sikes did not disappoint he has left me wanting more with each of these books.

If you are a fan of “end of the world” action books I would highly recommend this series. Great work and can’t wait to experience more of your work.

A must read!!!

A can’t get enough of the extinction cycle series!! This book was engaging (like the others) right from the moment you start listening!! And Bronson Pinchot is awesome!!!

Ok for free

Have to speed up to 1.2 bc the narrator talks so slow. It is a good story but not sure I would have listen past 1st one bc the story line moves a little slow

interesting series

I guess it's a good twist for this zombie apocalypse so it's not always the same thing of the dead rising. it definitely has a similarities.

Great Book!

Book have a good amount of action and the story is told well how Jed change from a weak and timid person to a strong individual with confidence. Looking forward to the next book.

love it just one question

love it a good redemption story about a selfish "soldier " becoming a real one, caring for his team and the people around him not sure if this is canon tho and I can't seem to find if it is but if it is it doesn't really fit well in the storyline.

skip this one

mediocre. If u listen to post-apocalyptic stories alot, skip this one because you've already heard it before. Nothing new. characters are boring.

A great chapter in the Extinction Cycle Story

The characters were well written, and the way that they formed unit cohesion and mutual support of each other was beautiful. Also I liked how sergeant Gallegos was a strong Marine leader and that her gender made no difference. And the redemption of Jed was awesome. I always liked Jed even from the 1st chapter Of the preceding installment. And Bronson you are the man.

Only works with ear buds

I’ve always been a fan of Bronson Pinchot. However , he’s only okay as a narrator. Inflection is fine, but southern accent may have been learned watching Deliverance. The biggest problem is every bit of dialog is whispered. If you are listening in the car or any speaker system, you struggle to hear anything. Additionally, if it’s a woman talking, he speaks even softer. I only kept listening because I enjoy the Extinction stories.

Very compelling

I would say book one was a good and interesting listen and this book is really much more compelling with good back stories for the original series. Well worth a go