A few months have passed since the war broke out between the Tuckers and the Greenbriers. With both clans still healing from their losses, things seem to have settled down as best as possible. Despite the tragedy and current circumstances, Ella can’t help but cherish the fleeting moments of silence and peace. She knows that the conflict between her clan and their neighbors is far from over, yet she clings to these small pockets of joy, however fragile they may be, to make living easier. However, this peaceful reprieve is rudely shattered when two screevlers attack the clan and chaos arises. The brutal and unforeseen attack leaves a clansman—Ella’s father—fighting for his life. To save him, The Tucker Clan strikes a bargain with a group of nomads called the junkers. This deal has Bill Puckett, the town’s powderman and a valuable asset to the community, travelling to the Far East to get the medicine needed to save him. While Bill journeys with them, these nomads in turn leave some of their own people behind. However, the presence of these new outsiders keeps the Tuckers, especially a select few, on edge and uneasy. They fear these “trash-pickers” will do nothing but corrupt the minds of the clansfolk with talks of outside the walls and should not be trusted. Will Bill make it back in time to save Phil? Will the truth about the real nature of the Tuckers finally come out? And will Omar betray his new-found clan for a deeper, hidden agenda of his own?
In this second installment of The Tucker Clan saga, readers are taken out of the hills of Appalachia and into the weathered grounds of New Ashburn. Here, we witness how this new generation of survivors is fighting to rebuild and revolutionize itself and its new world through new scientific inventions. Author Ethan Warrener delivers an emotional and thrilling sequel in FOR PEACE AND PURPOSE. The stakes are higher, the conflicts more layered, and the characters more deeply developed. Warrener aptly expands this dystopian world beyond the secluded Tucker territory to other parts of the country that have also been affected by the dissolution of the failed experiment fifty years ago.
Warrener does well to show the raw resilience and determination of humans, including half-breeds, to not only survive but thrive. Innovation is a constant human trait, and he highlights this seamlessly into the story by reflecting humanity’s innate drive to adapt, rebuild, and push boundaries—even in the face of overwhelming odds. Whether it’s through the ingenuity of the junkers or the old, primitive traditions of the Tuckers, the story captures the unyielding spirit of survival and freedom. This determination is not just about endurance; it’s about finding purpose and forging a future in a fractured world: “‘If you won’t fulfill your purpose’—Armstrong examined her fingernails—‘how are you different from a hand that can’t grasp? If you won’t do the purpose you are designed for, what other purpose is there for you than the fire?’”
What truly sets this sequel apart is its web of subplots, which keeps readers engaged. Omar’s double-life and quest for revenge casts an ominous shadow over the story; old Brody’s suspicions of a brewing threat add urgency and tension; and Ella’s newfound responsibility and journey as the new clan’s next keeper adds an emotional (and inspiring) touch. Also, Warren’s writing is easier to get through, especially now that readers have a solid background and understanding of the book’s dynamics.
Ethan Warrener returns with a captivating and emotionally charged sequel in FOR PEACE AND PURPOSE. With so many threads still left to unravel, this installment promises an even more gripping journey ahead for readers, especially sci-fi lovers.
~Tomi Alo for IndieReader