Recruit of Talionis (Talionis Series, #1) (2024)

Entertaining read that kept me on the edge of my seat with some genuine surprises. Milacci does an admirable job of depicting the horrors of child soldiers in a way that remained age-appropriate for a YA audience. Looking forward to reading more of this series!

Great story, suspense, awesome characters. Loved what the author did here.

Perfect for fans of Shatter Me, The Hunger Games, and even Delirium by Lauren Oliver, RECRUIT OF TALIONIS is a fast-paced, action packed dystopian tale where America has fallen and the survivors are left to pick up the pieces. A militia group in the city known as Talionis promises to keep the peace and restore order to the order-less world, but new recruit Bria soon learns that not all is what it seems.⁣
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I really enjoyed this first installment in the series. Milacci has given readers a world that feels so bleak and hopeless, but she manages to shine a little bit of light and hope through the characters and their amazing friendships-slash-found family. The military aspects were super interesting and I liked seeing the characters work through and overcome the often extreme challenges they were faced with. ⁣
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Bottom line — THE RECRUIT OF TALIONIS is a good first installment in a new dystopian series. This is also a clean read free of sex, swear words, and anything overly graphic, so it’s perfect for both teens or younger readers who may be looking for something a little deeper and more challenging than their normal reads. 3.5 stars.

*Digital arc provided by Book of Matches Media and the author.

Though YA dystopian isn't my typical genre, I loved this gripping, action-packed story from C.J. Milacci. She balances the danger and horrors of a hopeless situation with the true hope found beyond the characters' present surroundings. A great story that leaves you wanting more!

THIS BOOK.

Was I immediately draw in by the characters and plot? Yes.

Was this premise written in the best way possible? Yes.

Have I already put this book on my favorites shelf on my bookshelf? Also yes.

The Recruit of Talionis contains brilliantly created characters possessing depth and displaying courage amidst great hardships and obstacles. This book captivates the mind through its interwoven, high-intensity plot, and it captivates the heart through the purity of selfless sacrifice and a hope that doesn't disappoint in a world full of disappointments.

Not my genre of choice, but I'm so glad I read this book. I loved it! I recommend this book to all teens struggling to find hope in the world. It's so good!

I didn’t like putting down this engaging—and dare I say, refreshing—dystopian novel. C.J. Milacci brought together a cast of characters I liked—and some, I loved to hate!

I found the varied reactions to the recruits’ extreme circ*mstances true to life. I also enjoyed the friendships and rivalries that grew in the furnace of boot camp.

Although the book goes to some dark places throughout, hope shines through in several places, giving it a positive feel.

The book is clearly aimed at teens, but adults will like it, too. The relational angst is mild, the book is clean of sex and profanity, and the violence is not graphic, so middle-school readers may also enjoy it.

I look forward to the next in the series.

*4.5 stars*
Wow! It’s been a while since I picked up a YA dystopian read, and I couldn’t put this one down! I’m already anxious for the next release in the series. The setting of the story is in what we know as the North Eastern region of the United States, but it takes in the distant future following another world war among other events, and the world is a very different place. I liked that there was a map of the world with the new country names included, although it was also described well in the narrative. It was evident that a lot thought and planning went into the world building and development leading up to the city of Talionis.

At first I thought this just fell under a “clean read” category, however it definitely falls under the Christian fiction genre. It can be really hard to find good books in this category, and so that made me really happy. Although I have to admit that the spiritual content often felt forced and I wasn’t sure how it tied into the main plot, I still appreciated that it was present in a YA read like this.

I liked that Bria was not molded into a character that could do anything and everything like an all-star. While she did have her talents, she also had her weaknesses and fears. She was a protector at heart and that was her driving force. She helped others, and there were times she needed help from them. No one can do it all on their own, and I cherished reading a journey that showed that in such a positive light.

With danger lurking at every corner, and friends working together against the forces of evil, this was an easy book to pick up, and not so easy to set down. I was captivated from cover to cover and can’t wait to read the next in the series because I need to know what happens next! I highly recommend to fans of dystopian reads and to friends looking for cleaner reads for their avid reading teens.

*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

THIS BOOK. IT WAS AMAZING. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
The whole book had me captivated and entertained, every chapter had me on the edge of my seat. It had everything in there: action, peril, betrayal, loyalty, death, hope, pain, everything. I felt it all, even cried at one point.
This story was so good, and it was so touching. The Christian themes implemented in the story were fit in such a perfect way, and I liked seeing it in there. I’m a sucker for YA Christian fiction, and this one hit home for me. It had the dystopian action I love in ANY book, and of course the Christian themes made me love the story even more.
One other thing that made this story absolutely amazing are the characters. Bria, the main character, was so relatable. I connected deeply with her character. She showed traits that I see in myself, and she reacted to certain situations in the same way I would. And all the side characters were so good, Nika being one of my favorites. She was spunky, brave, strong, and was a place to lean on when things went off the deep end. All the characters were so unique and special to the story, but these two were definitely my favorite.
The military aspect to this book was incredible. I felt like I was there right along with Bria and everyone else. The military training and drills felt so real and alive; I could see everything happening, the events jumping off the page in non-stop action. The plot was amazing, nothing unbelievable or impossible. You can really tell the author spent a lot of time thinking through it.
Lastly, I just wanted to say C. J. Milacci, you did an amazing job writing this book. As a writer, I appreciate your strong writing style and the way you describe things and the way you create scenes and characters and places. It’s so admirable, and I’m so glad I found this story. Please write more books!! 😂😂
I will DEFINITELY read the next book soon, because I have been left on a cliffhanger that I desperately need resolved. So, please read this book, I’m sure you won’t regret it. I fully believe it will touch your life in some way, whether that be small or large. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!

I really liked this one! I'll admit, I did have a singular problem with it, but that was a me thing, not the book's fault.

I'll be the first to say that I don't normally read military books. In fact, I can't remember the last time I read one. But this one was a great one to start with. The military aspects were addicting, something about them called to me. I loved that our main character actually struggled with them, she wasn't just good at everything.

I also loved the found family aspects. Ari and Nika were so much fun! I loved how they all brought their own strengths to the company, and how they actually did things. I wasn't a huge fan of Storm, but I'm also not a kid person, so that checks out.

Now, my one issue with this, the religious aspects. For some reason, they bugged me. Partly because they felt preachy, and partly because I prefer my books without religious mentions. Again, this is a me thing. Not a problem with a book, just something that hindered my enjoyment of it.

Despite that, I really liked this one! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the second (although maybe I shouldn't, because I stayed up wayyyy too late reading this)

Thanks to Book of Matches Media for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Too often dystopian books project only darkness and defeat but Recruit of Talionis plunges the reader into a dark world where the characters move through difficult times with courage, determination, and faith. They find hope in spite of the circ*mstances.

This is a great book to offer to teens and young adults—or anyone who enjoys reading this genre. Well written and full of unexpected turns.

A girl trapped in a cruel, futuristic world. A thrilling escape plan. Persevering hope. Milacci’s Recruit of Talionis delivers a page-turning story filled with multifaceted characters, determination, and adventure. Highly recommended!

Amazing book! An exciting story that you get lost in, that keeps you thinking about it even when you’re not reading; and a message woven in that is rich with meaning. Highly recommend this book for youth and adults alike! Can’t wait for book two!

To be perfectly honest, I was excited about this book long before I even picked it up, simply because of how C.J. Milacci made it. Not many people would do a kickstarter campaign for a book, and I really respect that she went for it all in anyway!

Things I loved about the Story: The atmosphere! Normally I'm not a huge worldbuilding person, but this entire book has an overarching 'feeling' to it that I can't really explain. I could practically smell the salt wafting off the sea in the first few chapters, and when the setting changed to be more stark it was jarring in the perfect way!

The pacing was great as well, C.J. didn't waste any time throwing us into what was happening. I really hate it when stories feel like they drag so I really appreciated that.

The Characters! Though sometimes I wanted to shake Bria for her choices (I mean really, how rebellious will you choose to be when you know your in a place where they shoot you if you disobey?) I overall related to her character. There were a lot of side characters who I enjoyed reading, though I sometimes lost track of who was who.

There is one theme that seems to run across the entire book...struggle. Internal, external, there is always some kind of struggle happening behind the scenes. As conflict is the driving force of a story, I'd say it's good that Bria never went long without some kind of conflict brewing underneath the surface...

She also incorporated her faith into the story enough to breath hope into all the cracks. I personally struggle with reading stories where authors try to incorporate their faith because it feels a little...cheesy or unreal...I appreciate what they are trying to do, but I also recognize that it's hard to pull off conversions without things feeling 'fake' simply because no matter how hard you try, real people will always be more complex then characters. But aside from my personal struggles with this topic, she did really well conveying how Christ can be the light that helps you stand tall in situations where others would fall. Though their were multiple dark points in the story, you always had hope that things 'might' get better.

Also the villains. My word. I hated them. Which is the point. Someone give me Demetrius Ark so I can punch him.

All in all I can't wait to read the second book in the series, and would definitely recommend reading it!

Content Warnings (that I remember)
Violence: Getting shot, hand to hand fighting, bombs going off, terrorism, and electrocution. None of this was to graphic for me, and depicted in a way that I understood without...being overwhelmed.

Death.(it's a war book so...what can you really expect? XD) Again, not super graphic.

Romantic Touch? I think? *though that might be my personal opinion leaking through on who is DEFINATELy more then a friend* Really hoping C.J does something with them in t he next book...

Recruit of Talionis checks all the boxes for lovers of dystopian fiction and adds a Christian spin.

When Bria is kidnapped from her family and forced to become a recruit of Talionis, a cadet plunged into rigorous military training, she is determined not to submit. Her captors might be able to keep her from returning home, but they can't force her to comply. Or can they? What is the cost of resistance when your opponent holds all the cards?

The action in this story is off-and-running right from the start, but it took me a little longer to get pasted the nuts-and-bolts of the genre and start to care about the characters. Even at the end of the book, I wish I'd had a chance to connect more with some of the minor characters that strongly influenced the story. That said, I did connect well with plenty of the characters. Bria, Nika, Matthias, Storm, Cai and more were each compelling and interacted with each other and the plot really well. The longer I read, the more I wanted to keep reading.

Plotting, in my opinion, is the strength of this book. The acknowledgements at the back of the book indicate that the author consulted with someone who gave her advice on getting the military elements right, and it shows.

This book is for you if you like:
- classic dystopian elements
- action heavy plot
- military elements
- belief that one is unforgivable to Salvation story arc
- longer form (edging on epic length, imo) story telling
- teasers for book two

I'll definitely be reading book two when it releases.

Similar Books
The Hunger Games
Counted Worthy
Captives
Camp Valor (for the YA military elements)
Ender’s Game

Oh my goodness this was such an exciting book to read! It was so different than anything I've read this year and that was a lovely change. There was drama, action, fun, excitement, and so much to keep me on my toes and keep those pages turning. Milacci has penned a novel that older teens will enjoy as well as adults.

Think Hunger Games but clean and with a powerful gospel message. The faith thread is perfect - at least for this reader. We need more of these books in our YA sections today! I cannot wait for book two. For any reader looking for a high speed, thrilling novel, this one is for you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Caught me right from the start and didn't let me go until the end. Well, it didn't entirely let me go, because I'm dying to read the next one.

On the brink of choosing her life career, Bria is kidnapped and forced to become a soldier. In this dystopian, near-future novel I got to accompany Bria on her journey to cope with abrupt and horrifying changes. She finds new friends and new enemies. Lots of action and suspense, along with courage, despair and hope.

Recommended for anyone, especially teens and young adults.

Bria enjoys her life in her small town of survivors of the huge world war that rearranged the world and destroyed most of what used to the USA. She is excited to join her mother in her next mapping journey, and hopes maybe she can do the same one day. But after a town festival, Bria awakes to find herself in a strange clearing being pushed around by soldiers and told she's a recruit for Talionis. She tries to escape, but the soldiers make it very clear very quickly that rebellion will not be tolerated, so she decides to be smart and play the long game in planning her escape. The kidnappers lose no time in dropping the "recruits" into training as well as starting the brainwashing. Soon many of the other teens, including Bria's own cousin are convinced Talionis is on the side of right and they are being trained to be part of something wonderful. But Bria isn't buying it. Especially when she learns the soldiers kidnapped a little girl who witnessed her neighbor being taken. She decides to put in the bare minimum effort required to survive, but that backfires when they condemn her to 24 hours in the Ruins, an area outside the city of Talionis that makes hardened soldiers turn white in fright. What Bria finds in the Ruins though gives her a reason to come back into Talionis and become the best she can be, not because she has bought into the programming, but because she wants to bring it down and to do so she needs the highest access possible. Though she isn't the strongest or best fighter, Bria has shown she can excel in tactics so she dives into training with 100%. Along with her roommates, Ari (tech wiz) and Nika (physically gifted), Bria starts finding some other like-minded teens to join the underground resistance and stop Talionis from kidnapping more soldiers and whatever else they are planning to do with their young army.

This combines a far future apocalyptic America with the very real present day issue of child soldiers. It is a creative way to get readers thinking compassionately about teens in the world who really are going through things like Bria. And it is a gripping, high-octane, hard-to-put-down dystopian read. Milacci also weaves in elements of Christian faith throughout in authentic ways. Bria wrestles with a lot of guilt because of something that happened in the past with a brother we know is dead but don't exactly know how or why. She notices that some of her friends have great peace in the midst of their awful circ*mstances and is genuinely curious about why, and thus matters of faith come up naturally. The training and competitions that the recruits go through to reach elite status and just what all is going on with Talionis' leadership keep the pace moving well while also doing a good job of world building, and you get to know a fair amount of characters. I felt like Milacci did an excellent job of portraying the culture shock someone coming from a community that survives off the land would experience coming into a tech-rich, electrified city. I really wish I had book 2 of this right now. I need to know how this all works out! Highly recommended to dystopia fans who like things like Divergent or Hunger Games and also like elements of Christian faith woven in.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: The kidnapping is brutal and the soldiers beat teens into submission. The training sessions are also brutal, occasionally even fatal, and they do things like shoot rubber bullets at the recruits on their way to meals on a regular basis to keep them on their toes. The leaders do public executions of traitors or slackers, and one leader almost beats a recruit to death just because he doesn't like her. There are 2 drownings described and one shooting.
Ethnic diversity: Various friends of Bria have different skin tones.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: The soldiers try to manipulate the teens using food portions, brainwashing teachings, and other psychological games. The teens go through simulations of ops in which they frequently die and it messes with their heads.

Bria swims, hard, every day in the Maine (or what used to be Maine, anyway) bay near her home. She hopes that somehow, the process of striving against the waves until she can't life her arms for another stroke, will destroy the monster of guilt she feels.

Unfortunately, it never works.

But she has hope that someday, learning more from her mom's cartography trips, she'll be able to become a scout. Because in the dystopian world they live in, no one is completely certain what's out there; what still remains of towns and cities, what hasn't been destroyed.

That dream is crushed when she awakens one morning, bound, in a forest along with hundreds of other teens. And in her (unsuccessful) attempts to escape, she makes an enemy of a very dangerous military man, who's rounding them all up. She and the group are finally taken to Talionis, where her journey actually begins; assigned to a squad of other recruits, they're informed of what they're about to embark upon. Hard physical training and severe punishments. "Education" about Talionis, their purpose in it, and the food they will or won't receive depending on their progress.

Bria has been forced into a life she never dreamed was possible (and not in a good way). Despite the terrible pressures and fear before her nearly every moment, there's a journey before her that could include saving a little one, friendships, and maybe even meeting a God whom she's avoided, angrily, since the tragedy in her childhood.

I highly recommend Recruit of Talionis. It stands out from its genre in an amazing way, with a strong yet sympathetic protagonist, her allies and enemies, and the arduous and formidable task before her. I read the book almost without stopping. I believe this book is going to engross readers, and, like me, you'll be waiting with great anticipation for the next Talionis saga!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS!

I love it when I finish a book and still think about it all day.

I was excited to read this book ever since I found out it was a Christian Dystopian, which is one of my favorite genres! The covers look amazing, too!

Plot:
I was intrigued at the beginning with Bria's tragic past and was drawn even more in when she is taken to Talionis. From there, I had a hard time getting into the story, but once I hit the midpoint! Woah! It was amazing. I cried. Well. I always cry when I read, but still. I loved this story.

Also, I appreciated how the escape wasn't drawn out but was over pretty fast.
The ending was so good but so sad, with Mason, Ava, and Cade.

Characters:
Bria definitely gave off some Katniss vibes throughout the book. It took me a while to connect with her, but once we started getting more into her internal conflict, I really related to her. And her salvation! 😭 So beautiful. I loved how it was done. How Cade's sacrifice mirrored Christ's.

Nika and Ari are such good friends. I loved how their characters developed in their own strengths and how they weren't just copies of each other.

I was super skeptical of Matthias at first, but he proved himself. One of my favorite characters. I need more backstory on him, though!

And Cade. He was such a great character. He started to become my favorite from the beginning. And his sacrifice! Oh. I cried. It was portrayed so well, too. Of course, my favorite character dies. 😭

Storm was so cute and showed Bria's care for others so well.

Also, Bria's conflict with Shay was so relatable. Having someone who she knows and should be looking out for her, but instead, they are working against her.

Cai reminded me of a Christian version of Red from Calculated by Nova Mcbee. I loved his relationship with Matthias.

Favorite quote:
"I'm ready-I'm not afraid to die. And I will die to protect the innocent and those who aren't ready for death and what comes after."

A riveting story of hope and perseverance in the face of oppression, Recruit of Talionis is a must-read for fans of dystopian/apocalyptic YA fiction!

Forget where you came from. Forget the life you knew. You are now recruits of Talionis.

Along with hundreds of terrified youth, Bria Averton is taken captive by a covert force of militants and brought to the hidden fortress city of Talionis. Forced into rigorous training and threatened at every turn, Bria has no choice but to comply or face the consequences of defiance. Still, she is determined to undermine the will of the Commander and his cohorts and find her way home.

I quickly grew to love the characters in this story—I admired Bria's selflessness and felt for her guilt, and her relentless pursuit of hope was inspiring to read. Both the side characters and antagonists were well-fleshed out; Matthias and Nika are personal favorites! I'll admit, the scenes with the Commander almost gave me chills, and I'm especially intrigued by the dynamic between the members of the Valarius family. I hope to see more of them in the next book!

The first half of the book did a great job of setting the stage for Talionis, and the second was full of high-paced action and intense plot twists. I managed to guess a few of them ahead of time, but some of them came as a total surprise! I'm not a particularly patient person, so I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next.

Overall, this was a thrilling (yet at the same time heartwarming) read that I would recommend to fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and the like. For a debut novel, C.J. did a terrific job with this one!

An epic dystopian suspense novel

This was my first time reading anything by CJ Milacci and I am hooked! Recruit of Talionis begins with the story of a broken young woman who must learn to find a new source of strength and peace in her life. When she wakes up as a prisoner in Talionis, she is torn between accepting the system or finding a way to escape. But when she discovers the truth about the foundation of Talionis, she has to decide to lay down the guilt of her past if she wants to find true freedom.

Young readers will find Bria and her struggles easy to relate to as she is repeatedly pitted against a bitter rival and has to overcome her shortcomings and failures. I loved watching Bria fight her inner battles, become stronger, and learn to trust other people in difficult situations. There is a beautiful message of salvation and redemption, forgiveness and freedom in Christ woven throughout the narrative.

I loved the building suspense and the how the characters worked together despite the cruel reality of their situation. This novel shows how the light of truth can shine through the darkness and I loved the inspirational story Milacci created. The ending was gut-wrenching and exciting and I’m looking forward to continuing the series!
I enjoyed the park empitono connections I made with the characters and I’m eager to see how their stories play out.

While there are some darker scenes involving military hazing and violence, the author sticks to a message of hope and healing as the characters learn moral values and find the determination to fight against injustice.

The beginning pages of the book are emotionally difficult, as one would expect in a dystopian novel. Teens kidnapped and taken into a brutal regime, expected to comply with brutal commands and to even be grateful to the regime that took them? The ultimate in gaslighting, and unfortunately, a commonly repeated tactic of war captives throughout history.

I admired Bria’s strong, rebellious spirit. I loved how in the beginning, the traits of stubbornness and determination don’t seem to serve her well, and everyone is on her case all the time about it, but by the time we get 20% into the story those are the very traits keeping hope alive for her and others.

The book had a fun cast of characters and I loved the female friendships that developed. There were also plenty of enemies and frenemies all around Bria, and you never knew which person might betray her next. There were some characters I truly hated because they were such horrible humans. Remember President Snow in Hunger Games? Like that.

I always love a romance subplot, and there was a subtle one here. But no spoilers as to whether anything worked out. Or who was the love interest. Again, the author keeps us guessing about who is loyal to Talionis and who wants out.

As much as I hated certain loyalists, I understood where they were coming from too. The desire to survive and thrive is in all of us. I liked that we got to see that in some of the characters. They weren’t all bad or all good.

There were some heartbreaking moments. Sniffle! And there were some deeply moving moments.

There is a Christian message in here with Bible verses and discussions among the characters. I felt like it was organic to the plot and well done.

I am looking forward to book two! Don’t miss out on this one.

Recruit of Talionis
Talionis Series #1
By C.J. Milacci

The Recruit of Talionis is an intriguing read. Set sometime in the future, the world as we know it has been drastically altered by something known as the Demise, and it is in this environment that we are introduced to Bria Averton. Bria is seventeen years old when her life is altered when she is stolen away from her home to an unknown city known as Talionis.

What is Talionis? And why she was brought there along with hundreds of other teens is foremost on her mind. All too soon, Bria learns that she is to forget her past and willingly serve Talionis and its ruler, Commander Demetrius Ark, without question. Following rules has always been a thing with Bria, and she isn't about to willingly and blindly serve her captors as they try to turn her into the perfect soldier. But her captors know things about her that they shouldn't, and they are more than happy to use any means possible to force her compliance.

But those who rule and control Talionis don't know Bria and her determination to escape and warn her family of this unknown threat to them.

This is a harsh world. Punishment for failure or disobedience is severe, and kindness is vulnerability to be leveraged. Welcome to Talionis! This is definitely a dystopian read at its best. Survival is paramount, and betrayal is to be rewarded.

This is an action-packed read that is sure to engage. I will admit I found this to be a book I didn't want to put down. The characters are well-developed, and there are a few I really dislike (I mean, I really, really dislike them). There are a couple characters I can't get a good read on - are they evil? Are they sympathetic to the plight of the recruits? And then there is our small group of recruits determined to resist and not lose themselves to Talionis. Truly an excellent read that is a must-read, in my opinion. I love how it ended so that one knows more is to come.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

I hope you are working hard on the next story, CJ! I really liked this one, such a different kind of story.

Bria Averton is happily enjoying her town's celebration but wakes the next morning in a nightmare. She has no idea where she is or how she got there and the people who have woken her up are very mean and not willing to tell her anything. She finds out that she is a recruit in Talionis and for some unknown reason, she and the other recruits are being trained militarily and she wants no part of it - but there are consequences to not doing as your told and not excelling at what they tell you to do.

At some point Bria is punished and sent to The Ruins, a place where very few people make it out alive. There Bria meets Cai, someone who escaped Talionis but can't get beyond the ruins because of an electrified, very high wall surrounding the city. The only thing that can get him out, a flying transport, is impossible to steal! He needs others for his escape plan and Bria is going to be his first recruit.

Such interesting characters and all of them play key roles in the story. It's also clean, thank you very much!

I thoroughly enjoyed Recruit of Talionis. There were never any dull points in the book. It was always very interesting and kept me reading. I was always eager to find out what happens next.

I like the characters and the world the book is set in. The main characters are believable and heroic but also have their weaknesses and don’t always do everything well. That makes it easier to identify with them. It has a good mix of serious and humorous parts and I like it when books sprinkle in humor.

I like how a strong Christian message is worked into the book but is done in a subtle way.

I look forward to reading book two.

Someone who goes to the same church as CJ Milacci gave me this book and it sat on my shelf for a while until I had nothing else interesting to read and decided to give it a try. As I read it I felt all the emotions Bria did. Anger, frustration, grief, fear, love, faith, and so much more. I saw myself in Bria's hatred for evil and unjustness. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for hope in the darkness. Any kind of darkness can be suffocating, but there is always a light. There will always be morning on the other side, no matter how long the night seems. This book has joined my list of books to share with others. Thank God for authors like C.J. Milacci!

There's no recruit I'd rather have by my side than Bria. She is courageous, determined, and authentic. Kidnapped and forced into military service for a city she didn't know still existed, Bria never stops fighting for her freedom. Her friends are fierce and funny, her foes pull no punches. If you're looking for a pulse pounding plot and great characters, look no further. Recruit of Talionis will thrill fans of dystopian YA as well as those looking for action and someone to cheer for when it looks like hope is lost. Well done, CJ Milacci!

A stunning debut! I'd been in an anti-reading funk for a few months and within a few pages of this book, that turned around and now I can't wait to read more! The characters are relatable and fun, and the story is fast paced with many throw backs to other favorites sci-fi novels or dystopian, like Hunger games, Enders game, and even bits of The Selection series. The deeper themes were expertly woven in and really hit the Main Character's journey home. All I can say is, when is book 2 coming out?!