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In this breathtaking second book of The Scion Chronicles, 17-year-old Jacey vows to protect everyone at the Scion School from being overwritten—having their minds wiped and replaced by wealthy and secretive "Progenitors." But when a VIP progenitor arrives to overwrite a 15 year old, Jacey faces a heartbreaking choice: risk everything to save one girl or sacrifice that girl for the greater good.

Seizing on Jacey's distraction, Belle makes a desperate move to secure her own safety and to claim the love of her lifelong obsession: Vaughan. But the journey to freedome leads Belle to the precipice of evil, forcing her to make an impossible decision. . . . Who will she save? Who will she sacrifice?

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First published September 1, 2014

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About the author

Eric Kent Edstrom

57 books164 followers
Eric is the author of the fantasy series Starside Saga, the YA dystopian series The Scion Chronicles, and the YA sf series Bigfoot Galaxy.

His short stories have been featured in numerous anthologies.

He lives in Wisconsin with his family.


Follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Norah Una Sumner.
869 reviews510 followers
January 3, 2016
Great,as always.

I was pretty obsessed with Daughter of Nothing so I couldn't wait any longer to read the sequel to it.In Child of Lies we don't have just Jacey's POV anymore,now we have Belle's and Humphrey's POV,too.I was very skeptical about Belle's POV because I don't really like her but Eric K. Edstrom definitely proved me wrong.We get to know Belle a bit more and we can finally understand some of her actions.She is really developing as a character.I loved Jacey and Humphrey,as always,they're freaking awesome.I found Summer to be quite boring,to be honest.The story was good,very interesting with a couple of twists,but I have to admit that I skimmed through the parts when Jacey and Summer are hiding in that windmill.The ending was pretty cool,I can't wait for the next book,I hope that Jacey and Humphrey will finally have some time to spend with each other in peace.

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Favourite quotes:

''He was like coffee in a way. Bitter at first. But once she'd acquired the taste, his presence filled her with warmth and energy.She'd never felt anything from a boy's stare before.But now she's hooked.''

''I see you're wearing my suit.You're such a disappointment.You could never fill it.''
Your disapproval of me,” Humphrey said, “is the best thing I've heard all day. Speaking of which, this has been a long one and I want to go to bed.''

''Welcome to the Scion School.Now,where were you planning to take the Scions?''
The man's mouth clamped tight,though his eyes were wide.
''Don't answer her,''Sensei said.''I want an excuse to shoot you.''

''I talked to Livy a while ago.''
''Livy?Why were you talking to her?We've been trying to get ahold of you.''
''When Livy calls,I answer.No offense,but you know how she is.'' Vaughan's tone was so matter-of-fact Jacey didn't know what else to say.He was right.Livy did have that effect.
Profile Image for Sherry Fundin.
2,092 reviews147 followers
December 20, 2018
Jacey awoke…and remembered.
.

How would you feel if you were bred, raised, educated and trained only to have someone else’s mind taking over your body? They are clones. Sounds pretty freakin’ creepy to me! Unless you’re the other person. Old, decrepit, on your last leg, and death around the corner. A second chance at life.

Child of Lies raises many ethical and moral questions, not overlooking the legality of it all. Of course, it’s only for the rich, so you blue collar workers may as well forgeddaboutit.

Jacey was not going to let that happen. She felt responsible for everyone.

I loved how all the characters learned to overcome their differences and function as a team. Their knowledge grew, as did their personalities.

This ”what if’ story could very well give you nightmares. The tension and suspense made me want to look ahead, but I contained myself. No peeking.

I am so worried. More than once, Eric Kent Edstrom had me saying, “Oh no, no, no.” Leading me on , making me fear for them all, even the not very nice Belle. Maybe she will learn something and be the better for it.

Nature or nurture? Can your environment form who you are? Would a clone have a mind of its own? A personality of its own?

About two thirds of the way through Child of Lies I ran across a wonderful surprise and a ray of hope put a smile on my face.

Child of Lies by Eric Kent Edstrom picks up where Daughter of Nothing left off, so the series does not stand alone and each book should be read in order. It gripped me from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down. Human nature and the worst circumstances show who we are and bring out the best or the worst in us.

To me this felt original, amazing and so creative and frightening that it stuck with me long after I finished reading. It runs the gamut that is good and bad about! humanity!

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Child of Lies by Eric Kent Edstrom.

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Profile Image for Leigh.
265 reviews18 followers
September 13, 2014
WOW! Eric Edstrom delivered with the second installment in The Scion Chronicles. I did not want to put it down. This sci-fi, dystopian, action and adventure story is a must read.

We return to the Scion school in Child of Lies but with Jacey and Humphrey in charge trying to protect the scions. Humphrey is settling into his role as Dr. Carlhagen. Will he be able to maintain his cover when Senator Bentilius and her guards arrive unexpectedly? Jacey will have a hard decision to make. Will she save Summer from having her mind wiped and replaced by Senator Bentilius or allow it to happen to protect all the other scions? Will she make the right choice? Can the scions be saved?

The author does a great job of continuing to develop each character. Jacey really shines in her leader position even though she struggles at times with making the right decision. Quick thinking, compassion and love are the qualities the scions admire in Jacey. Despite his hatred of Dr. Carlhagen, Humphrey was able to play his part in the charade without wavering. Together they make a good team. What an interesting turn of events! I will have to say I wasn't sure how this one was going to turn out. Surprising twists and turns kept me wanting more. I am looking forward to the next adventure.
Profile Image for Heather Langston.
222 reviews32 followers
July 9, 2015
Child of Lies is the second book in the Scion Chronicles. And the plot thickens in this one. First of all, if you haven't read "Daughter of Nothing," I highly suggest you read it before this one. Otherwise, you'll be a little lost! I enjoyed this very much, although, not quite as much as the first one. In this one, we get to know a bit more of Belle. Which, to start, I wasn't sure how much I would like that but she did actually kind of grow on me. Jacey has taken on the care and protection of the other Scions while Humphrey has "become" the headmaster, Dr. Carlhagen. However, the Scions are having to filter through all the lies to figure out who they can trust. And that is proving to be quite a ride! For those who enjoyed "Daughter of Nothing," I believe you'll find that "Child of Lies" doesn't disappoint! Can't wait for the next one!

I received an e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nila.
315 reviews52 followers
August 5, 2014
The journey of The Scion Chronicles, continues with 17 year old Jacey vows to protect everyone at the Scion School from being overwritten. When a VIP progenitor arrives to overwrite a 15 year old, Jacey must choose whether to risk everything to save one girl or sacrifice her for the good of everyone else. Loads of action throughout the story kept me turning the pages to see what would happen. This is book two of a series I didn't want to end, I will read this author again!
Profile Image for Samantha Rodriguez.
26 reviews7 followers
Read
March 25, 2015
It was a really good book I liked it but it wasn't exactly my favorite but it was still very good. I really Eric Edstrom books well the one's I've read so far but. The one's I have read have been fantastic. I really like the sci-fi genre part. It's a great book in my opinion I recommend it if you like sci-fi
4,417 reviews44 followers
June 10, 2017

If you are smart and/or rich and old, what can you do? Who can protect the children? On the other hand, maybe the children don’t need much help – a la Lord of the Flies. The author suggests you read Book 1 before reading this one. I would agree. It took several chapters before I figured out what was going on. On the other hand, I did read and enjoy this book without reading Book 1 in the series. So, …
Profile Image for louise sumner.
132 reviews2 followers
April 21, 2019
Dizzying with expectation!

Oh my gosh, I love this series! I love the characters, including Belle and I cant wait for the next book but i felt it important to say... it's a series full of "what on earth!!!" I cant understand the negative reviews!!! There is a constant stream of interest, the characters are very interesting and its a well written dystopian read! As good as The Hunger Games, if not more so!
Profile Image for Loretta.
Author 15 books99 followers
March 28, 2018
I enjoyed this every bit as much as book 1. I went straight on to book 3 and am now on the final one. It's been a really good readathon.
Profile Image for Ilana.
1,220 reviews15 followers
January 4, 2017
Title: Child of Lies
Author: Eric Kent Edstrom
Publisher/Year: Undermountain Books LLC 12/8/16
Length: 273 Pages
Series: The Scion Chronicles #2

Overview

Sometimes living is the sacrifice one must make for love.

In this breathtaking second book of The Scion Chronicles, 17 year old Jacey vows to protect everyone at the Scion School from being overwritten. But when a VIP Progenitor arrives early to overwrite a 15 year old Scion, Jacey faces an impossible choice--risk everything to save her or to sacrifice her for the good of all.

Author Eric Kent Edstrom returns with his trademark thriller pacing, stunning twists, and surprising characters in this YA dystopian tale about cloning, mind transfer, and the power of loyalty.

My Thoughts

This incredibly dynamic story continues right where we left off, where we know that there was a transfer of minds and a lot of unrest and uncertainty at the school. Jacey and Belle are still at odds, Dr Carlhagen is still trying to further is fortune and end game, and all of the Scions are at risk.

Throughout this second book in the series, we spend a lot of time wondering who's who and who can be trusted. This is where we see Jacey continue to come into her own, not just being a leader as we know she is already, but opening her eyes to what's real in the world and then trying to figure out how to save those that she cares about and loves. Humphrey, who we have learned is Dr Carlhagen's scion proves to be made of stronger stuff, and he's showing us that he does have a soul and a heart and that while he's being forced to pretend to be someone he's not, he is also working to keep his friends and 'family' alive. From this, we also see that what seems like dislike towards Jacey has grown into something that's much fonder and romantic. (of course this makes Summer really angry because you'll remember that she has a crush on him, but that will play out on it's own).

Belle also plays a huge role in this 2nd installment. We know that she's in love with Vaughn and will believe that he's who he says he is, even when everyone else says that he's not. She only wants to believe what she sees since that's how her brain is wired. What's really sweet about how the author develops her though, is that we see that she goes from being incredibly stoic and selfish to being selfless in a way - with her story going in a path that we don't truly expect.

Then there's Mr Justin - the dr's butler. He's always been a bit of a mystery - we don't know what it is that motivates him, and i think that there's more than just money and greed. he's certainly keeping his secrets, and we see bits of that coming through the story. He's secretive about information that he shares and people that he talks to, and we learn that he's got his own plot to kidnap several Scions back to the mainland, but we dont' know the end goal there.

So it's a roller coaster of a story. Jacey and Summer end up on the run out of the campus, and trying to survive while they are being hunted. As we know, there's no love between them, and getting Summer to stop being bratty and bullish is part of the challenge, but then Jacey also sees that Summer has a skill set that's perfect for survival. It's impressive to see how quickly Summer's character grows, since she's also playing a pivotal role. Her Proginator has come early to transfer into the new body as she is dying and everyone seems ok with letting that happen - except for Jacey. So the clock is ticking on how to keep that from happening.

There are deaths, injuries, alliances and people returning from the dead. All exciting and anxiety ridden. What gets me the most is that the ending that we get here - the cliffhanger is that someone who's found to be dead likely isn't and now it's trying to figure out where that person is and what's going to happen now. So...on that note, i'm going to track down book 3 and see what's next for all these folks.
Profile Image for Veena.
180 reviews62 followers
October 5, 2015
Science fiction is one genre which has failed to draw my attention time and again. Daughter of nothing is one of the books that I read and surprisingly liked which falls in the genre. Eric weaves the story around his uniquely designed characters so well that you start believing that it could all be possible one fine day. After I finished daughter of nothing I was patiently waiting for its sequel since I refused to believed that the wonderful book would not have a story. I received this book from Eric for review purpose and I must say, I am not disappointed at all.

for complete review, visit: http://acupofcoffeeandafairytale.blog...
Profile Image for latybug.
157 reviews
September 4, 2014
I received a free ARC copy of this book, thank you!
I truly enjoyed this second story in the series. The author takes you deeper into the characters and their relationships with each other.
While I am still not fond of Belle, I did find myself understanding her a little bit more.
The story kept me entertained, and there were several twists that I did not see coming. Sometimes I was a little confused as to who had transferred into who, but it kept the story interesting, and I am anxious to find out what happens next.
I look forward to reading the next book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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