I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
This is the first full novel in the Five Roads to Texas series and a good one to start it off. In this book, we pick up Sidney’s story from where we left her in the first book. Sidney is in a bad place, having started a riot unintentionally just because she needed clothes that fit her pregnant body. The base is too packed with people and she can feel the tension, especially after the riot, building too high. We get to meet some other characters from the anthology and once Sidney and the others escape the base, we seem to follow them more than Sidney. Which is ok, because Sidney isn’t in on the fights or anything so her story would be pretty dull if we didn’t have the other perspectives.
There’s a lot of things that happen and some of it seems a little unbelievable but it still makes for a good story. The two brothers are wonderful disgusting and you feel bad for the sisters and their grandpa. What Jake and Sidney find at the farm is as close to paradise as you can find in a situation like this. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen with them next and if Jake is going to somehow end up working with Ian or maybe join the fight against the people trying to take over the country. The only complaint I have is Carmen’s portrayal. It seems a little too stereotypical and I wish the author hadn’t gone down that route with her and had given us a strong female character instead of a stereotype.
Mr. Wehrlen again does good with reading the story, though I still wish there were a bit more differences in his character voices, but even still it doesn’t distract from the story. Mr. Wehrlen keeps the action from being overwhelming but keeps the slower spots moving at a good pace so you don’t get bored. He brings life and personality to the characters, helping you connect with them and care about what happens with them.