3 Stars!

Tracy Hewitt Meyer crafted the first book of the Blackthorn Peak duology, Generation Annihilation, by creating a world hellbent on destroying an entire generation of teenagers in an effort end violence. That novel was a fresh story and a very entertaining read. Meyer returns to that world in the second novel, Generation Retaliation, with the story of what happens after some of the teens escape and the time has now come for revenge.

Shaun Treadway and his friends had escaped from Blackthorn Peak Asylum six months earlier and their lives were not all that much better. It was difficult to really call it living. They were a ragtag band of survivors that were forced to live off the land and scrape together what they could to just survive. They were permanent exiles due to their past crimes and wanted status. Their only solace is that they stopped the plot to rid the world of their generation. That is what they thought, but that all changed one day when the Agency returned to the asylum and the teens learned that all they went through was nothing more than a minor setback in the Agency's plan.

Of more immediate concern, though, is that Shaun knows the Agency will be coming for them. There is no way they are going to let the only ones who know of their plans go free and risk wider exposure to th world. Trapped between the Agency and the rest of the world who would punish them for their crimes, they realize there is only one thing they can do: take the fight to the agency. Overwhelmingly outnumbered, the band teens has only their wits (and maybe a surprise ally or two) to wage war against the Agency and prove to the rest of the world that their generation is worth saving.

Generation Annihilation was a compelling read with a strong premise that focused mainly upon Shaun and a few of the other teens at Blackthorn Peak Asylum. Meyer takes this further in Generation Retaliation as this is a novel about a worldwide conspiracy, kind of, and has a much bigger scope. This gives the reader a much broader view of the Agency and its network throughout the world. Meyer also digs into the origins of the Agency as well as some of the world that surrounds it. This is interesting but it also takes away from the immediacy of the story. The grand conspiracy that is the Agency and the story behind it were interesting (although why the Agency was started in the first place was disappointing and comic book villain-esque), but it was not compelling reading. There were longer passages in the book in which I felt more like I was reading a magazine article than a novel. Worth reading, but nothing to grab my undivided attention.

Generation Retaliation is an interesting book but it just does not live up to the standard of the first novel. In fact, it almost felt at times like this was just an unnecessary novel. It provides some interesting background to the first novel, but a lot of the action in this novel, as well as the plot twists, just did not work smoothly and seemed a bit forced. It felt like there was a bit of a story left over from the first novel, so Meyer created a second, but there just was not enough to provide a solid story for the entire novel. Maybe I am judging a bit harshly, and I do think the book is worth reading by those who enjoyed the first novel, albeit with tempered expectations, but I found this novel to be a bit of a letdown. And, seriously, I really could have done without the origin of Agency and the man who founded it. That was just way too cliche for me as I cannot begin to count how many times I have read a version of that story. If you enjoyed the first novel, then go ahead and read this novel as well. It is worth the time to read, just do not expect the same level of story as in the first novel.

I would like to thank BHC Press and NetGalley for this review copy. Generation Retaliation is available now.

A good and well plotted conclusion to an intriguing duology
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for this opportunity. This book will be available September 10,2024!

Not a big fan of this arc. It def has its audience though so that being said I would highly recommend this to ppl who enjoy ya horror or have kids who enjoy horror. I think they would love it.

This was a mediocre mind messer to be honest. I think it concludes the story well but was formulaic and predictable. I tried to enjoy it but I didn’t.

In the thrilling conclusion to the Blackthorn Peak duology, Shaun Treadway and his friends hide deep in the Appalachian Mountains, facing scarcity and betrayal. When the Agency returns to the asylum with vengeance, hope dims for Shaun. Now pursued by both the Agency and the law, their odds seem insurmountable. But Shaun refuses to surrender, driven by love and justice. With unwavering determination, he vows to dismantle the Agency. In a battle against deceit and danger, Shaun learns that fighting for what’s right is always worthwhile, no matter the challenges. In this gripping finale, courage and conviction are put to the ultimate test.

In contrast to the first novel in the series, this one builds a far more plausible immersive world of spies and bureaucrats. The novel gains depth and realism from the writers’ attention to historical and political context. We are inspired to admire the real-life heroes who toil in the shadows to defend their nations by the way they portray clandestine activities. Even though a lot was going on, with connections and leads, I occasionally needed explanation, but I still liked the pace.

Get this book if you’re searching for an action-packed, YA novel that moves quickly and is dark, spooky, and atmospheric. Shaun discovers in this thrilling epilogue that standing up for what’s right is always worthwhile, no matter the circumstances. Strongly advised!

I recently fell completely in love with this author, so I scooped this book up without realizing it is the second book in a series. However, we get just enough context for it not to matter that I missed the first book.
I love it. I was really into the scene and these kids in a forest alone with winter approaching.
Also the rage and pain these kids have just comes off the pages.
Wonderful.

This was another fun read. While the writing is quick and easy to read, the story dragged in a few places. But it also might just be my personal IDGAF for teenage melodramatics. *shrugs*. And, apparently, kids stuck in the mountains after escaping an asylum require all the mood swings.

I am a mega fan of closing storylines, so big props to this conclusion. The consistent sense of anxiety, tension, and creepiness kept me interested enough to keep reading, but if I'm being honest, I did skim several areas. There were a few sections I caught myself getting distracted but didn't feel the urge to go back and reread. Overall, it's a good read I'd recommend, but maybe it's more midgrade than YA.

This book was a satisfying conclusion to the duology that started with Generation Annihilation. It maintained the dark and eerie vibes that made the first book such a creepy read. At times, the book was a little slow, but threads were tied up nicely by the end of the novel. Thank you NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.