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The Colony #2
The Insurgent
If a megalomaniac threatened your family, would you give up your freedom for them? Would you give up your soul?
Asher Solomon is faced with that choice. And makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Exactly as Director Silas Reeves expected him to.
Unable to live as the Colony's premier assassin, Ash retreats to a corner of his mind, ceding control of his body to the alter-ego he was engineered to be—Subject A36. As he's unleashed to battle the Insurgents, the only family he ever knew, the tide of war shifts in Silas's favor.
Combined with his expansion into new territories, the director is poised to take over the world.
But the Insurgents don't give up easily. Not on their cause, and not on their people. With the help of a few double agents deep in the Colony, they stand a fighting chance at ending Silas's reign.
In order to shut down the program, they face almost insurmountable odds. And their most dangerous foe—their former champion turned killing machine, A36.
Asher Solomon is faced with that choice. And makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Exactly as Director Silas Reeves expected him to.
Unable to live as the Colony's premier assassin, Ash retreats to a corner of his mind, ceding control of his body to the alter-ego he was engineered to be—Subject A36. As he's unleashed to battle the Insurgents, the only family he ever knew, the tide of war shifts in Silas's favor.
Combined with his expansion into new territories, the director is poised to take over the world.
But the Insurgents don't give up easily. Not on their cause, and not on their people. With the help of a few double agents deep in the Colony, they stand a fighting chance at ending Silas's reign.
In order to shut down the program, they face almost insurmountable odds. And their most dangerous foe—their former champion turned killing machine, A36.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
216 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2022
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Teri Polen
8 books175 followersTeri Polen is the author of young adult horror, science fiction, and fantasy novels. Sarah, her debut novel, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. ReadFREE.ly named Subject A36 one of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2020. An avid reader, movie watcher, and chocolate lover, Teri lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband and Feline Overlord, Bond. Visit her at TeriPolen.com or on Instagram @Tpolen6
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 17, 2022
This book picks up from book one, so you really need to read these books in chronological order. Yet, you won't be sorry you did. I grew even more closer to Asher, Noah, and Brynn in this book. They have grown so much from the first book. More like strong fighters that were more than capable of attempting to take down Director Silas Reeves.
I was curious how the plot twist that came in the form of the cliffhanger in book one would play out in this book. Asher definitely had a personal dilemma to figure out with the surprise. There was no lack of action to be found in this book. As I was more invested in the characters, I was really rooting for them. A nice wrap up to this story. I would read more books by this author.
I was curious how the plot twist that came in the form of the cliffhanger in book one would play out in this book. Asher definitely had a personal dilemma to figure out with the surprise. There was no lack of action to be found in this book. As I was more invested in the characters, I was really rooting for them. A nice wrap up to this story. I would read more books by this author.
May 22, 2022
*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
After being forced to choose between his family and his soul, insurgent Asher Soloman has now become subject A36, the Colony’s ruthless assassin. Retreating into his own mind to preserve what little sanity he has left, Asher is helpless as A36 kills indiscriminately on the orders of Director Silas Reeves. However, the Insurgents refuse to give up on both their cause and their friend. Whilst finding allies in the most unlikely of places, they plot to save Asher and to take down the Colony once and for all.
I’ve just finished book one in the duology and couldn’t wait to get started on book 2! It certainly didn’t disappoint. There was plenty of action from the word go, that immediately drew me back into the world. The characters have grown a lot since the first book and are united in their cause to save Asher and put an end to the Colony once and for all. The first book ended on a cliff-hanger and so I was eager to see how this played out. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept me turning the page for more.
There were a mix of chapters written from each character’s POV this time, which kept the pacing and continuity flowing well, and also giving them more depth than just seeing them from other viewpoints.
The Insurgent was a great end to the duology, it keeps you guessing throughout and rooting for all the characters. There is also a redemption for one character in particular which I liked. I am sorry to say goodbye to this series, but it was a fitting ending that ties up all the loose ends and gives the characters the send off that they deserve.
After being forced to choose between his family and his soul, insurgent Asher Soloman has now become subject A36, the Colony’s ruthless assassin. Retreating into his own mind to preserve what little sanity he has left, Asher is helpless as A36 kills indiscriminately on the orders of Director Silas Reeves. However, the Insurgents refuse to give up on both their cause and their friend. Whilst finding allies in the most unlikely of places, they plot to save Asher and to take down the Colony once and for all.
I’ve just finished book one in the duology and couldn’t wait to get started on book 2! It certainly didn’t disappoint. There was plenty of action from the word go, that immediately drew me back into the world. The characters have grown a lot since the first book and are united in their cause to save Asher and put an end to the Colony once and for all. The first book ended on a cliff-hanger and so I was eager to see how this played out. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept me turning the page for more.
There were a mix of chapters written from each character’s POV this time, which kept the pacing and continuity flowing well, and also giving them more depth than just seeing them from other viewpoints.
The Insurgent was a great end to the duology, it keeps you guessing throughout and rooting for all the characters. There is also a redemption for one character in particular which I liked. I am sorry to say goodbye to this series, but it was a fitting ending that ties up all the loose ends and gives the characters the send off that they deserve.
May 4, 2022
When Asher Solomon’s family and the love of his life, Brynn, are threatened by megalomaniac Silas Reeves, his only recourse is to become the stone-cold killer A36 in order for them to go free. Ash shuts down and lets his inner monster do the director’s bidding, unable to accept the horrors of what he’s forced to do.
Nearly eighteen years ago, I was built in a lab and genetically engineered to be the perfect assassin.
The Insurgent- Teri Polen
Declan is seeking redemption. He betrayed the Insurgents’ trust for all the wrong reasons and now is trying to make it up to them by becoming the general’s right-hand man so he can spy on the creep and anonymously send the information to Silas’ enemies.
Paige and Brynn have no reason to believe anything Declan says, but desperation makes strange bedfellows and soon they find themselves in an unlikely alliance with some of the colony’s most dangerous enforcers in a bid to overthrow Silas, free Asher, and save the Insurgents’ children from a violent oppressor.
People should never be judged by their outer shell, only on what’s inside. What they contribute to the world and how they choose to live.
The Insurgent- Teri Polen
The Insurgent is the second in The Colony series and can be read as a standalone, but I’m glad I read A36 first, it gave me a deeper connection to the characters and their plight. I highly recommend both books in this outstanding series!
Nearly eighteen years ago, I was built in a lab and genetically engineered to be the perfect assassin.
The Insurgent- Teri Polen
Declan is seeking redemption. He betrayed the Insurgents’ trust for all the wrong reasons and now is trying to make it up to them by becoming the general’s right-hand man so he can spy on the creep and anonymously send the information to Silas’ enemies.
Paige and Brynn have no reason to believe anything Declan says, but desperation makes strange bedfellows and soon they find themselves in an unlikely alliance with some of the colony’s most dangerous enforcers in a bid to overthrow Silas, free Asher, and save the Insurgents’ children from a violent oppressor.
People should never be judged by their outer shell, only on what’s inside. What they contribute to the world and how they choose to live.
The Insurgent- Teri Polen
The Insurgent is the second in The Colony series and can be read as a standalone, but I’m glad I read A36 first, it gave me a deeper connection to the characters and their plight. I highly recommend both books in this outstanding series!
June 4, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series (Subject A36) and couldn’t wait to get into the second. It didn’t disappoint. Our hero, Asher, has surrendered to his bio-engineered personality (A36) and become a serious threat to his old team of insurgents. The insurgents are battling the Colony, a diabolical organization that harvests the genes of children (by killing them) so that wealthy people can enhance their bodies.
The leader of the Colony, Silas, is a great antagonist because he’s so horrid! And sadly, Asher has become his killing machine. Declan rises to the top as the main protagonist in this book, and he has some relationships to repair after betraying his friends in the last one.
The author spends the first part of the story catching readers up on the characters and what happened during book one. Forward progress doesn’t really take off until about the 20% mark and then it’s non-stop action, twists and turns, deception, plotting, and battling right up until the end, which wraps up nicely.
Despite Asher’s months of murdering people, I still felt a lot of empathy for him from the first book (and recommend reading them both, in order). Declan was convincing, and I liked his sense of humor, but Brinn, and her unwavering trust in Asher’s love, was my favorite. This isn’t a long book and I had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommended for sci-fi readers and fans of fast-paced action.
The leader of the Colony, Silas, is a great antagonist because he’s so horrid! And sadly, Asher has become his killing machine. Declan rises to the top as the main protagonist in this book, and he has some relationships to repair after betraying his friends in the last one.
The author spends the first part of the story catching readers up on the characters and what happened during book one. Forward progress doesn’t really take off until about the 20% mark and then it’s non-stop action, twists and turns, deception, plotting, and battling right up until the end, which wraps up nicely.
Despite Asher’s months of murdering people, I still felt a lot of empathy for him from the first book (and recommend reading them both, in order). Declan was convincing, and I liked his sense of humor, but Brinn, and her unwavering trust in Asher’s love, was my favorite. This isn’t a long book and I had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommended for sci-fi readers and fans of fast-paced action.
May 13, 2022
Having absolutely loved the first book in the series, I was eagerly awaiting the release of this one. And it was most definitely worth the wait. Just like the previous book, this is a gripping read, with wonderful world building, a great cast of realistic and relatable characters, and an action-packed plot full of surprises. It had me hooked from the start, and took me on an emotional rollercoaster throughout. And the ending was thrilling and fantastic.
*NOTE: I was given a free advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of this book, or the contents of my review. All opinions given here are my own.
*NOTE: I was given a free advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. This fact has in no way influenced either my opinion of this book, or the contents of my review. All opinions given here are my own.
April 20, 2022
A thrilling dystopian roller coaster ride.
June 10, 2022
This is book two in The Colony series and it is even better than book one. Initially, I was a little cautious about reading this second book, firstly because the second book in a series can be a disappointment, and secondly, because I had fallen in love with Ash and Brynn as a couple and didn't want any disruption of my ideas about their future together. I was most delighted with how the author handled this book and some of the difficult and complex emotional situations, and I was very satisfied with how everything came together by the end.
When faced with the potential murder of his girlfriend, Brynn, and his surrogate mother, Anna, and complete rejection by his surviving sister, Asher agrees to act as a killer for Silas Reeves, the director of The Colony. In order to undertake this murderous role, Asher retreats into a corner of his mind and allows A36, a genetically enhanced facet of his brain, to take over his body.
The Colony comprises a society of elitist people who are prepared to take genes from other people and children to enhance their own genetic defects and faults. The are also prepared to overlook the methods used to harvest these genes which result in the deaths of the 'donors'.
The Insurgents have been successfully rescuing people and children from harvest centers but the defection of A36 to the side of The Colony, tips the scales against them. The outlook is bleak until help arrives in a few unexpected forms. The tide starts turning in the direction of the Insurgents again.
The book is written from the point of view of several characters and this technique enables the author to get into the minds of various people in different roles in this complex story and gain an understanding of their psyche and thought processes. It makes for a more compelling rendition of the story as the reader is often aware to planned events through the thoughts and conversations of one character, before other characters know about them or experience them. This keeps the tension high and the reader continuously engaged in the plot.
There is good character development with some of the characters from book one, and the careful unravelling of certain historical relationships adds a lot of intrigue to the story.
Ms Polen is a talented writer and has written two excellent novels in this series to date.
When faced with the potential murder of his girlfriend, Brynn, and his surrogate mother, Anna, and complete rejection by his surviving sister, Asher agrees to act as a killer for Silas Reeves, the director of The Colony. In order to undertake this murderous role, Asher retreats into a corner of his mind and allows A36, a genetically enhanced facet of his brain, to take over his body.
The Colony comprises a society of elitist people who are prepared to take genes from other people and children to enhance their own genetic defects and faults. The are also prepared to overlook the methods used to harvest these genes which result in the deaths of the 'donors'.
The Insurgents have been successfully rescuing people and children from harvest centers but the defection of A36 to the side of The Colony, tips the scales against them. The outlook is bleak until help arrives in a few unexpected forms. The tide starts turning in the direction of the Insurgents again.
The book is written from the point of view of several characters and this technique enables the author to get into the minds of various people in different roles in this complex story and gain an understanding of their psyche and thought processes. It makes for a more compelling rendition of the story as the reader is often aware to planned events through the thoughts and conversations of one character, before other characters know about them or experience them. This keeps the tension high and the reader continuously engaged in the plot.
There is good character development with some of the characters from book one, and the careful unravelling of certain historical relationships adds a lot of intrigue to the story.
Ms Polen is a talented writer and has written two excellent novels in this series to date.
July 29, 2022
I read Subject A36 about a year ago. I really enjoyed it, but it took me a while to pick up The Insurgent. That was my mistake, because I may have loved this second volume more than the first. Full of tension and stress, with impossible choices to make. None of them with simple answers.
This is a duology, and I recommend starting with Subject A36. Both are outstanding stories and I recommend them highly.
This is a duology, and I recommend starting with Subject A36. Both are outstanding stories and I recommend them highly.
June 10, 2022
The Insurgent follows Asher, Noah and Brynn once more as they try to fight against The Colonists (the rich and privileged) from kidnapping children and adults from the outside world. Anyone with desirable characteristics has their genes harvested to suit the latest trends, or to enhance abilities, such as making someone more intelligent or less clumsy. Asher, Noah and Brynn are part of the Insurgents, who raid these labs to rescue these people.
It picks up exactly where Subject A36 left off, so you'd need to have read the first book to enjoy this one and follow along. Like Subject A36, The Insurgent is really fast-paced and packs a lot of story and character development into its 200 or so pages. It's just as good as its predecessor!
The main point of view in this story is Declan's, with a few chapters from Brynn's perspective too. This makes a fun change from Subject A36 which is almost entirely told from Asher's point of view. It gives great insights into Declan and Brynn, and I enjoyed that it was mixed up so much. The main thing missing here was a perspective from Silas's point of view - giving us some insight into his motives. Subject A36 had some chapters from Dr Everly's perspective, which really added to the story.
I loved the new characters that were added in this book, but I did hope to learn a bit more about them - while some are really important to the story, we don't learn much about them. But we did learn more about Paige, who in Subject A36 was a little mysterious - it was great to find out about her past! As with Subject A36, all the characters feel so realistic. Brynn is a great main character - a really strong young woman, and her romance with Asher is really touching.
The story moves along really well, with a few twists along the way - some I saw coming, and a few
I didn't. It kept me on my toes throughout. I like that the story ends on an optimistic and hopeful note - I love dystopian fiction but a positive spin is rare!
From the ending, it feels like this is a duology rather than a longer series, but I certainly would enjoy reading more in this world. It's brilliantly written, with fantastic, realistic characters and the story is imaginative. While it's fast-paced, it never feels rushed. This is a great series about love, friendship and 'found family' that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a new YA dystopian series to read!
It picks up exactly where Subject A36 left off, so you'd need to have read the first book to enjoy this one and follow along. Like Subject A36, The Insurgent is really fast-paced and packs a lot of story and character development into its 200 or so pages. It's just as good as its predecessor!
The main point of view in this story is Declan's, with a few chapters from Brynn's perspective too. This makes a fun change from Subject A36 which is almost entirely told from Asher's point of view. It gives great insights into Declan and Brynn, and I enjoyed that it was mixed up so much. The main thing missing here was a perspective from Silas's point of view - giving us some insight into his motives. Subject A36 had some chapters from Dr Everly's perspective, which really added to the story.
I loved the new characters that were added in this book, but I did hope to learn a bit more about them - while some are really important to the story, we don't learn much about them. But we did learn more about Paige, who in Subject A36 was a little mysterious - it was great to find out about her past! As with Subject A36, all the characters feel so realistic. Brynn is a great main character - a really strong young woman, and her romance with Asher is really touching.
The story moves along really well, with a few twists along the way - some I saw coming, and a few
I didn't. It kept me on my toes throughout. I like that the story ends on an optimistic and hopeful note - I love dystopian fiction but a positive spin is rare!
From the ending, it feels like this is a duology rather than a longer series, but I certainly would enjoy reading more in this world. It's brilliantly written, with fantastic, realistic characters and the story is imaginative. While it's fast-paced, it never feels rushed. This is a great series about love, friendship and 'found family' that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a new YA dystopian series to read!
June 8, 2022
I’ve been looking forward to the continuing story of Asher and his friends. “The Insurgent” picks up where “Subject A36” left off without missing a beat. Asher is put in a horrible situation where if he doesn’t do what Silas wants him to, Brynn and his family will be killed. He had no choice but to withdraw into himself and let A36 take over. He becomes the killing machine he was bred to be. The story was fast-paced, yet allowed us to get to know Declan, Brynn, and other characters better. There were some unexpected twists and a deep look into what is really important in life. A society that only places value on the outside of a person and will do anything to get perfection, even if it means killing children, is an unsettling mirror of what could be if vanity comes before anything else. The characters are all flawed and have burdens to carry with them, but that makes it very easy for me to root for the insurgent’s success. This could be a standalone read, but I would start at the beginning, so you don’t miss anything. I loved this book as much as I did the first one and can easily recommend it.
June 3, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to Subject A36, though this book stands just fine on its own. Polen provides a great refresher for previous readers and enough back story so new readers won't feel lost.
At the center of the plot, Asher must battle his alter ego, Subject A36--bred to be the perfect killing machine for the Colony, a nefarious organization that engages in "gene" harvesting. With plenty of high-octane action, the story moves along at a good clip, but also places emphasis on character interaction and development.
I was surprised by several twists and turns, and found myself changing opinion of more than one pivotal character. Action scenes explode off the pages and the intrigue had me biting my nails. If you enjoy a good tale with polished writing and characters who worm under your skin, you'll find The Insurgent smart science-fiction with heart!
At the center of the plot, Asher must battle his alter ego, Subject A36--bred to be the perfect killing machine for the Colony, a nefarious organization that engages in "gene" harvesting. With plenty of high-octane action, the story moves along at a good clip, but also places emphasis on character interaction and development.
I was surprised by several twists and turns, and found myself changing opinion of more than one pivotal character. Action scenes explode off the pages and the intrigue had me biting my nails. If you enjoy a good tale with polished writing and characters who worm under your skin, you'll find The Insurgent smart science-fiction with heart!
June 22, 2022
The Perfect Dystopian read!!!
This is an amazing action packed series that really tugs on the heartstrings.
Be sure to check out the first book in the series:
Subject A36
If you haven't read the first book, that's ok!
Teri does a wonderful job placing recaps throughout The Insurgent that help the story go along smoothly.
Since I read both books in order, I skimmed over the recaps.
Asher is ultimately my favorite character. He is strong willed and will do anything for his family. There are a few moments that are quite emotional with some decisions that have to be made.
There is no shortage when it comes to action in this book. I felt as though I were inside a movie while reading this series. I really enjoyed each characters POV. The plot and world building are phenomenal.
Please consider reading this series. It will not disappoint.
This is an amazing action packed series that really tugs on the heartstrings.
Be sure to check out the first book in the series:
Subject A36
If you haven't read the first book, that's ok!
Teri does a wonderful job placing recaps throughout The Insurgent that help the story go along smoothly.
Since I read both books in order, I skimmed over the recaps.
Asher is ultimately my favorite character. He is strong willed and will do anything for his family. There are a few moments that are quite emotional with some decisions that have to be made.
There is no shortage when it comes to action in this book. I felt as though I were inside a movie while reading this series. I really enjoyed each characters POV. The plot and world building are phenomenal.
Please consider reading this series. It will not disappoint.
June 17, 2023
First - this is not a standalone, and you'll feel a little lost if you don't read book one first. Now that that's out of the way, on to the review. I've been dying to read this after the cliffhanger the first book left us with, and I was not disappointed in this new installment. The story itself is filled with action, unforgettable characters we've already come to know, and just enough twists to keep you wondering where the story will turn next. Polen does an excellent job of bringing the dystopian setting to life, unfolding the story around the reader, making it easy to forget where you are as you read. Definitely a book you do not want to miss out on if you enjoy action packed dystopian thrillers!
June 1, 2022
After "Subject A36" I was thrilled to know a sequel was on the way. Was it ever worth the wait! Teri Polen has kept her momentum in the exciting storytelling of this series. You don't really have to read the first novel before this one... but it's too good to miss.
Dynamic world building, relatable characters, and heart-stopping suspense.
Dynamic world building, relatable characters, and heart-stopping suspense.
August 20, 2025
Great Book 2!
The Insurgent is a fabulous ending to the Colony Series. It is a page turner that kept me from doing many of my necessary tasks at home!
The Insurgent is a fabulous ending to the Colony Series. It is a page turner that kept me from doing many of my necessary tasks at home!
August 28, 2025
Anticlimactic…
August 13, 2022
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author Teri Polen for allowing me a spot on this blog tour and for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Insurgent is the 2nd book in The Colony series. I read the first book Subject A36 2 years ago and absolutely loved it. Move forward 2 years and I had forgotten everything about the book, so I decided to reread it before jumping into The Insurgent to refresh my memory and I still loved it.
The Insurgent picks up right where the first book left off. After the cliffhanger in the first book, I needed to know the fate of these characters. The first chapter of this book is gripping and heartbreaking. Poor Asher just can't catch a break. Each of the characters have grown since the first book some more than others. And some get redemption although I'm still not a big fan of said character, but I am glad they redeemed themself. I also loved the connection between some of the characters. They have a really strong bond and no matter what they were up against their conviction in each other never wavered.
There is no shortage of action in this book. From beginning to end is pretty much action packed. The author recaps what happens in the first book all throughout this book and if you don't read them back-to-back, I think that is a good thing to have included. Plus, it's done in a way where it's incorporated into the story really well. Because I literally read both books back-to-back, I didn't need the recap of what happened so when those occurred, I was like I already know this just get on with the story.
The ending felt a little bit rushed to me but at the same time I liked how she chose to end things. We are pretty much left with an open ending but for me it's a good open ending. I don't typically like to imagine what happens to characters after a book has ended but because I liked the ending so much, I am fine with using my imagination. But there is also potential for the author to write more in this series. I don't know if she plans to do that or not but if she chose to, I would totally read it.
Overall, I loved this book just as much as I did the first one and fell in love with the characters and the story. If you haven't read this book, I would highly recommend you do.
The Insurgent is the 2nd book in The Colony series. I read the first book Subject A36 2 years ago and absolutely loved it. Move forward 2 years and I had forgotten everything about the book, so I decided to reread it before jumping into The Insurgent to refresh my memory and I still loved it.
The Insurgent picks up right where the first book left off. After the cliffhanger in the first book, I needed to know the fate of these characters. The first chapter of this book is gripping and heartbreaking. Poor Asher just can't catch a break. Each of the characters have grown since the first book some more than others. And some get redemption although I'm still not a big fan of said character, but I am glad they redeemed themself. I also loved the connection between some of the characters. They have a really strong bond and no matter what they were up against their conviction in each other never wavered.
There is no shortage of action in this book. From beginning to end is pretty much action packed. The author recaps what happens in the first book all throughout this book and if you don't read them back-to-back, I think that is a good thing to have included. Plus, it's done in a way where it's incorporated into the story really well. Because I literally read both books back-to-back, I didn't need the recap of what happened so when those occurred, I was like I already know this just get on with the story.
The ending felt a little bit rushed to me but at the same time I liked how she chose to end things. We are pretty much left with an open ending but for me it's a good open ending. I don't typically like to imagine what happens to characters after a book has ended but because I liked the ending so much, I am fine with using my imagination. But there is also potential for the author to write more in this series. I don't know if she plans to do that or not but if she chose to, I would totally read it.
Overall, I loved this book just as much as I did the first one and fell in love with the characters and the story. If you haven't read this book, I would highly recommend you do.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews