Firstborn

Author: Tosca Lee

Series: Descendants of the House of Bathory #2

Publisher: Howard Books

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

The sequel to The Progeny, my top pick for last year, had big shoes to fill, luckily it did not disappoint. 

After Audra Ellison went to extreme measures to erase her past from her memory, she has now come face-to-face with what she tried so hard to forget. These secrets she was willing to die to protect are now what make her more vulnerable than ever to both the Historian and traitors within their midst.  All her efforts to protect those she cares about seem to be falling short.  The man she loves, Luka, has fallen into the hands of the Historian and she is in a race to meet the demands to save his life.  Her powers are growing but also take a toll on her physically and emotionally.  With the help of her friends and unexpected allies, Audra risks everything in order to save them all and stop a four-hundred-year-old war between progeny and scion.  Just when things look their worst, Audra feels she is in over her head and isn’t sure if she can be the answer they are all looking for.

Fans of Tosca Lee’s The Progeny have been anxiously awaiting the sequel, Firstborn.  I have now read The Progeny three times; I had to reread it before starting Firstborn to make sure I remembered everything correctly and it was just as good as the first time.  With a book that good, it is hard for a sequel to live up to the hype.  Luckily Firstborn does not disappoint.  There is just as much suspense and tension as the first book and the ending was even more than I expected.  Audra goes through so much in a very short period of time when all things are considered.  She doesn’t know if she has the strength to be what everyone needs her to be and if she is strong enough  or what will she be like when it is all said and done.  One of the ways I determine a book is outstanding is if when I am reading it I see it playing out in my mind as a movie.  That can happen with a lot of books but the movie in my head isn’t always the best. Firstborn would be a blockbuster that doesn’t let up.  In a way, I wish this wouldn’t be the last book for the series, it’s so good that two installments just don’t feel like enough.  But on the other hand, if it were to be spread out over a few more novels, it would have made the story less enjoyable by having fluff and too much unneeded story.  Tosca Lee is the kind of author that everyone needs to read, either these books or one of her other works.  There is something for everyone out there. Firstborn is a book I will be recommending to everyone that enjoys a heart-pounding suspense ride that will take you to another world away from any troubles you might be having.  I know it is still early in the year, (at least for me reading this in February), but I am going to go ahead and name this my top pick of the year.  It will be hard for anything to top this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.