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Title: Extinction of All Children
Series: Extinction of All Children #1
Author: L. J. Epps
Publication Date: June 4, 2016
Genres: Dark Fantasy, Dystopian, Young Adult
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Synopsis
A young adult, fantasy novel about a teenager who is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory. There will never be another child; every baby born after her has been taken away. Everyone wonders why she survived.
Emma Whisperer was born in 2080, in the small futuristic world of Craigluy. President Esther, in charge for the last twenty-two years, has divided their world into three territories, separated by classes—the rich, the working class, and the poor—because she believes the poor should not mingle with the others. And, the poor are no longer allowed to have children, since they do not have the means to take care of them.
Any babies born, accidentally or willfully, are killed. Emma is the last eighteen-year-old in her territory; every baby born after her has died. Somehow, she survived this fate.
During the president’s Monday night speech, she announces a party will be held to honor the last child in the territory, Emma Whisperer. Emma must read a speech, expressing how happy she is to be the last eighteen-year-old.
Emma doesn’t like the rules; she doesn’t believe in them. So, she feels she must rebel against them. Her family doesn’t agree with her rebellion, since they are hiding a big secret.
If this secret gets out, it will be disastrous, and deadly, for her family.
During Emma’s journey, she meets—and becomes friends with—Eric. He is one of the guards for the president. She also befriends Samuel, another guard for the president, who is summoned to watch over her. As Emma meets new people, she doesn’t know who she can trust. Yet, she finds herself falling for a guy, something which has never happened before.
After doing what she feels is right, Emma finds herself in imminent danger.
In the end, she must make one gut-wrenching decision, a decision that may be disastrous for them all.
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Purchase Links:
Barnes & Noble // Indiebound // Amazon
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An Excerpt from Extinction of All Children
Today the wind is colder—sharper—and it whips right through my bones. Even so, I continue to run as fast as I can through the wooded area. It smells damp like rain, and mud sticks to my shoes. The air feels thick like sand is choking me. At times, it is hard to breathe; but I continue on. I have to make it back home before dark. If I’m found on the streets after dark, it means I’m not following orders. And my family might not receive our daily supplies; supplies we need to make it in this land.
Even though I make this trip through the woods at least three times a week, today I feel weaker, more sluggish, as if it is my first time. But it isn’t the first time, and it will not be the last, since I’m the one my family counts on.
No, I’m not the boy of the family. Boys are considered stronger, but my brother Theodore—we call him T, for short—is nineteen and not a fast runner; so, he couldn’t make the trip that I have to. That isn’t the real reason. The real reason is that they say they need his talents for other things, and he can’t get hurt.
I have to pace myself. The trees seem thicker and wider, which is odd, since they should be thinning out. This time of year, the leaves should be falling toward the ground, but they aren’t. This land is different, and the seasons aren’t exactly on point. Sometimes, it is hard to even tell what time of year it is. Ever since our world was taken over and broken into territories, everything seems to blend together.
I know I’m tiring because my thoughts jumble. Why didn’t I wear my hair in a ponytail? It is long and thick and reaches beyond my shoulders. I usually know to put it up, out of the way, on days like this. The wind slaps me in my face, obstructing my view. Maybe I should put my hood up; but, it won’t stay on, and there is no time to fight with it.
The pack on my back that I used to carry to school starts to feel heavy, as if lead weighs me down. But, I can’t soften. I’m almost there, and, not only am I bringing what my mother asked for, but I’ve also made the most important part of the trip. The part of the trip my mother will ask me about first. She always does; it is always the same.
I need to hurry. It will be dark soon. Normally, I make the trip early, before dusk arrives. But today, I spent more time at the market, looking for what mother asked for. I groan. I don’t know how many more times I can make this trip; especially, once winter is upon us.
Not to get food but the other thing, the thing we aren’t supposed to talk about, the thing we aren’t supposed to mention until we are within the four walls of our small home.
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About the Author
L.J. Epps is a lover of all things related to books: fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as biographies and autobiographies. She has also been known to sit and read comic books from cover to cover, several times over.
Over the last few years, L.J. has written several manuscripts; her mission is to publish all of them. She enjoys writing fiction in several genres, including contemporary romance and women’s fiction, as well as young adult dystopian, science fiction and fantasy. She loves to write because it immerses her into another world that is not her own.
Author links:
Website // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads
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