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Tomorrow's Ancestors #1
Subject Twenty One
What if our future lies 40,000 years in our past? Subject Twenty-One is an astonishing debut novel in which a young woman's refusal to accept the status quo opens her eyes to the lies her society is built on.
Elise's world is forever changed when she is given the opportunity of a lifetime - to work at the Museum of Evolution and be a Companion to the Neanderthal, Subject Twenty-One.
As a Sapien, a member of the lowest order of humans, she and others like her are held responsible for the damages inflicted on the world by previous generations. This job may be Elise's only chance to escape a stagnating life in an ostracised and impoverished community.
But it doesn't take long for Elise to realise that, away from the familiarity and safety of her home, her own secrets are much harder to conceal.
And the longer she stays the more she comes to realise that little separates her from the exhibits . . . and a cage of her own.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 17, 2018
92 people are currently reading
789 people want to read
About the author
A.E. Warren
4 books47 followersAfter spending eight years working as a lawyer, A.E. Warren began to write in the evenings and early mornings as a form of escapism from life in a very small cubicle with lots of files. She self-published her first novels, The Museum of Second Chances and The Base of Reflections, in her spare time. Following this, they were both signed (along with a further two books) by Del Rey UK who are the science fiction/fantasy imprint of Penguin Random House.
She is an avid reader, occasional gamer and fair-weather runner. Subject Twenty-One (originally The Museum of Second Chances) is her debut novel and there will be four books in the Tomorrow’s Ancestors series. She lives in the UK with her husband, daughter and hopefully, one day, a wise border terrier named Austen.
She is an avid reader, occasional gamer and fair-weather runner. Subject Twenty-One (originally The Museum of Second Chances) is her debut novel and there will be four books in the Tomorrow’s Ancestors series. She lives in the UK with her husband, daughter and hopefully, one day, a wise border terrier named Austen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
February 20, 2018
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the premise for this, a post apocalyptic world with bad ass genetically enhanced humans, but I felt the story got a little lost in the details.
Elise is a Sapien, living with her family within a small community of other Sapiens - humans not genetically engineered, and held responsible for the destruction of nearly all life on the planet. Due to near extinction, and driven to preserve life, a series of higher life forms have been genetically engineered - those with a few 'extra traits' and those so altered they have ceased to resemble humans as we knew them. Faster. Stronger. More intelligent. They rule over the lives of Sapiens, and seek to regenerate the earth by bringing back to life those animals that have since been made extinct. A second chance. But this second chance comes as a price, as Elise soon realises when she seeks employment within one of the museums that houses these animals.
The plot was well written, well paced, and there's a decent build up of action and character building to the final scenes. The world's back story was also reasonably well described, slough I would have liked more insight into the supposed rebellion Elise's parents were a part of, and what happened to the rebels. It's all left very much up in the air. Also, not much is mentioned in the way of the 'outside' world, other than the Sapien community Elise is a member of and the main base where 'her' museum is. The other 'bases' are mentioned briefly, but not much is known about them or expanded on, which would have been helpful to the plot. I did like that they were named after the nucleotide bases of DNA though. It strangely reminded me of the film GATTACA with Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke (watch it, it's really good). There's also a rather large 'information dump' near the beginning of the plot when Elise joins the museum which didn't really hold my attention very well. It was too much all at once and left me a little confused.
The main thing I enjoyed was the camaraderie between the characters. Elise is a solid main character, although I was unimpressed with her supposed 'hidden talents'. I thought they were unnecessary and didn't add anything to the plot. However, she's likeable and has Kit's best interests at heart. Samuel is socially awkward, clever and reserved. I liked that although there was a hint of sexual tension between the pair, it never fully took over the plot and the friendship progressed naturally and wasn't forced. Georgina was one of my favourite characters. She is good natured, outgoing and warm hearted, sacrificing her position to be friends with lowly Sapiens. Kit by comparison is the most enigmatic, and I felt the least connected to him. He communicates so infrequently with Elise, for his own reasons, that I felt as emotionally unattached to him as everyone else. He only really comes into his own at the end of the book.
Fintorian, in comparison to the main group of friends, seems more like a bit of a pantomime villain. We see him so infrequently that I never really forged an opinion of him other than he's suppose to seem almost ethereal. It perhaps would have helped to have seen some other members of his 'race' to gain a better insight into whether his personality was really so bad, or if that is the general concensus of his species.
I did have some niggling bugbears throughout the novel too. One involved a scene with Kit and Elise, where Kit shows Elise a carved statue of a baby Neanderthal wrapped in a shawl. Kit is a Neanderthal who has been kept completely secluded from the outside world, unable to even visualise anything that falls outside of the time period in which he originally inhabited. He has also never been allowed to hunt or kill other animals to make clothes. If this is true - how does he know what a shawl is? To me, the description of a shawl means a knitted garment, or something more modern. That's just a personal issue however, and in no way reflects the overall well written story.
I did think that the story itself finishes quite abruptly however, and things are left a little unfinished in my opinion. I like a story that's all wrapped up at the end, and this felt more like it was building to a crescendo that never fully arrives. I had just got really into the story, and grown to enjoy these characters and then it stops. The story could have done with being slightly longer, and I would have liked to have seen more of the world outside the base.
Overall, a good story but left a little unfinished for my liking.
I really liked the premise for this, a post apocalyptic world with bad ass genetically enhanced humans, but I felt the story got a little lost in the details.
Elise is a Sapien, living with her family within a small community of other Sapiens - humans not genetically engineered, and held responsible for the destruction of nearly all life on the planet. Due to near extinction, and driven to preserve life, a series of higher life forms have been genetically engineered - those with a few 'extra traits' and those so altered they have ceased to resemble humans as we knew them. Faster. Stronger. More intelligent. They rule over the lives of Sapiens, and seek to regenerate the earth by bringing back to life those animals that have since been made extinct. A second chance. But this second chance comes as a price, as Elise soon realises when she seeks employment within one of the museums that houses these animals.
The plot was well written, well paced, and there's a decent build up of action and character building to the final scenes. The world's back story was also reasonably well described, slough I would have liked more insight into the supposed rebellion Elise's parents were a part of, and what happened to the rebels. It's all left very much up in the air. Also, not much is mentioned in the way of the 'outside' world, other than the Sapien community Elise is a member of and the main base where 'her' museum is. The other 'bases' are mentioned briefly, but not much is known about them or expanded on, which would have been helpful to the plot. I did like that they were named after the nucleotide bases of DNA though. It strangely reminded me of the film GATTACA with Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke (watch it, it's really good). There's also a rather large 'information dump' near the beginning of the plot when Elise joins the museum which didn't really hold my attention very well. It was too much all at once and left me a little confused.
The main thing I enjoyed was the camaraderie between the characters. Elise is a solid main character, although I was unimpressed with her supposed 'hidden talents'. I thought they were unnecessary and didn't add anything to the plot. However, she's likeable and has Kit's best interests at heart. Samuel is socially awkward, clever and reserved. I liked that although there was a hint of sexual tension between the pair, it never fully took over the plot and the friendship progressed naturally and wasn't forced. Georgina was one of my favourite characters. She is good natured, outgoing and warm hearted, sacrificing her position to be friends with lowly Sapiens. Kit by comparison is the most enigmatic, and I felt the least connected to him. He communicates so infrequently with Elise, for his own reasons, that I felt as emotionally unattached to him as everyone else. He only really comes into his own at the end of the book.
Fintorian, in comparison to the main group of friends, seems more like a bit of a pantomime villain. We see him so infrequently that I never really forged an opinion of him other than he's suppose to seem almost ethereal. It perhaps would have helped to have seen some other members of his 'race' to gain a better insight into whether his personality was really so bad, or if that is the general concensus of his species.
I did have some niggling bugbears throughout the novel too. One involved a scene with Kit and Elise, where Kit shows Elise a carved statue of a baby Neanderthal wrapped in a shawl. Kit is a Neanderthal who has been kept completely secluded from the outside world, unable to even visualise anything that falls outside of the time period in which he originally inhabited. He has also never been allowed to hunt or kill other animals to make clothes. If this is true - how does he know what a shawl is? To me, the description of a shawl means a knitted garment, or something more modern. That's just a personal issue however, and in no way reflects the overall well written story.
I did think that the story itself finishes quite abruptly however, and things are left a little unfinished in my opinion. I like a story that's all wrapped up at the end, and this felt more like it was building to a crescendo that never fully arrives. I had just got really into the story, and grown to enjoy these characters and then it stops. The story could have done with being slightly longer, and I would have liked to have seen more of the world outside the base.
Overall, a good story but left a little unfinished for my liking.
July 12, 2021
*Thank you to DelRey for sending me a copy of this book for review!*
I’m going to preface this review by saying that I absolutely adore the concept of this book and the storyline itself had so much potential, I just think the execution itself didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
I know this is intended to be a series, but this book felt far too short and really rushed. While this gave it quick and snappy pacing, I feel like it left most of it underdeveloped and I had a lot of questions throughout. There wasn’t much at all in terms of worldbuilding, we go into the thick of it almost straight away with scarce build-up which I don’t think worked in this books favour.
The writing was fine if not a bit too simplistic and straightforward. It did its job, but I feel like it could’ve been fleshed out a bit. I would’ve especially loved more backstory for our protagonist – we see her family in fleeting moments but we don’t really see her home life at all after the start of the book. We see her at work a lot, but again it’s a very narrowed in view. The book felt pretty sameish throughout and there is a lack of distinct plot points that drive the story forward in my opinion. I was unsure the more I read what the book was actually aiming for a now I’ve finished, am left wondering what the point was.
Don’t get me wrong, this was by no means a bad novel – I think it just differs a lot to how its marketed and wasn’t all that interesting in the end. There was supposed to be a lot of underlying tension and sort of rivalry/antagonism between different groups and species, but I didn’t really feel that at all. I didn’t feel like our protagonist was actually under any danger through reading and it felt like a very apathetic experience as a reader. The whole plot essentially just felt like, she got a job with this neanderthal and it was 300 pages of her talking to it and then 10 pages of action at the end, I can’t make sense of it.
The characters also felt very dull to me, I can honestly say I didn’t care about any of them and found none of them interesting. They all actually felt pretty indistinguishable from the other, no distinct personality in sight. I was also perplexed on the random romance subplot that was mentioned a couple of times then almost abandoned? It served no purpose, came out of nowhere, and then disappeared. It was wild.
I think it’s a common experience for me when reading sci-fi for a lot of it to go over my head, but the logistics of this world and whatnot made no sense. After reading I still can genuinely say I’m not sure how this museum exhibition functions, and I have no clear picture of the societal structure in the world. Also have no idea what sort of timespan we were going for throughout – just all-round confused.
If you’re wondering how on earth a book can get three stars when all I can seem to say about it feels really negative – I honestly objectively don’t think it’s a bad book. It just didn’t give me what I was expecting and several aspects of it made no sense to me and I think were overlooked – but I don’t think they were necessarily bad enough for a negative rating. So there ya go.
I’m going to preface this review by saying that I absolutely adore the concept of this book and the storyline itself had so much potential, I just think the execution itself didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
I know this is intended to be a series, but this book felt far too short and really rushed. While this gave it quick and snappy pacing, I feel like it left most of it underdeveloped and I had a lot of questions throughout. There wasn’t much at all in terms of worldbuilding, we go into the thick of it almost straight away with scarce build-up which I don’t think worked in this books favour.
The writing was fine if not a bit too simplistic and straightforward. It did its job, but I feel like it could’ve been fleshed out a bit. I would’ve especially loved more backstory for our protagonist – we see her family in fleeting moments but we don’t really see her home life at all after the start of the book. We see her at work a lot, but again it’s a very narrowed in view. The book felt pretty sameish throughout and there is a lack of distinct plot points that drive the story forward in my opinion. I was unsure the more I read what the book was actually aiming for a now I’ve finished, am left wondering what the point was.
Don’t get me wrong, this was by no means a bad novel – I think it just differs a lot to how its marketed and wasn’t all that interesting in the end. There was supposed to be a lot of underlying tension and sort of rivalry/antagonism between different groups and species, but I didn’t really feel that at all. I didn’t feel like our protagonist was actually under any danger through reading and it felt like a very apathetic experience as a reader. The whole plot essentially just felt like, she got a job with this neanderthal and it was 300 pages of her talking to it and then 10 pages of action at the end, I can’t make sense of it.
The characters also felt very dull to me, I can honestly say I didn’t care about any of them and found none of them interesting. They all actually felt pretty indistinguishable from the other, no distinct personality in sight. I was also perplexed on the random romance subplot that was mentioned a couple of times then almost abandoned? It served no purpose, came out of nowhere, and then disappeared. It was wild.
I think it’s a common experience for me when reading sci-fi for a lot of it to go over my head, but the logistics of this world and whatnot made no sense. After reading I still can genuinely say I’m not sure how this museum exhibition functions, and I have no clear picture of the societal structure in the world. Also have no idea what sort of timespan we were going for throughout – just all-round confused.
If you’re wondering how on earth a book can get three stars when all I can seem to say about it feels really negative – I honestly objectively don’t think it’s a bad book. It just didn’t give me what I was expecting and several aspects of it made no sense to me and I think were overlooked – but I don’t think they were necessarily bad enough for a negative rating. So there ya go.
July 15, 2021
Headlines:
Great concept
Page turner
Friendship & respect
Subject Twenty One was so easy to get into and honestly, this was such a fast and easy book to read. This 'Jurassic Park-esque' concept grabbed me immediately and I really enjoyed the immersion in such an unusual story of a dystopian future.
This world with three different species of sapien, showed humanity not at its best. Elise, at the bottom of that rung was employed at a museum to be a companion to Subject Twenty One. The build up to this and the time working with him was just so interesting. Still, I wanted to know Kit better than I did at the end. I'm hoping for more of that from the second book.
There was so much plot to unfurl in this story but it was easy to follow. Trust was an underlying theme and it was truly hard to know who was trustworthy. Even Elise's family were suspicious to me. I liked Samuel, quite a lot and again, I want to know more about him.
This book was a fresh, gripping read with themes of suspense, trust, ethics and friendships. I am so on board with this world and I'm dying to read more; I can't wait for book two.
Thank you to DelRey UK for the review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Great concept
Page turner
Friendship & respect
Subject Twenty One was so easy to get into and honestly, this was such a fast and easy book to read. This 'Jurassic Park-esque' concept grabbed me immediately and I really enjoyed the immersion in such an unusual story of a dystopian future.
This world with three different species of sapien, showed humanity not at its best. Elise, at the bottom of that rung was employed at a museum to be a companion to Subject Twenty One. The build up to this and the time working with him was just so interesting. Still, I wanted to know Kit better than I did at the end. I'm hoping for more of that from the second book.
There was so much plot to unfurl in this story but it was easy to follow. Trust was an underlying theme and it was truly hard to know who was trustworthy. Even Elise's family were suspicious to me. I liked Samuel, quite a lot and again, I want to know more about him.
This book was a fresh, gripping read with themes of suspense, trust, ethics and friendships. I am so on board with this world and I'm dying to read more; I can't wait for book two.
Thank you to DelRey UK for the review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
July 4, 2021
if like me you grew up obsessed with evolution and Jurassic Park, this book is for you. I devoured this book in just a few days, and I'm excited to get my hands on the second book! also, my heart belongs to our local soft boy, Samuel!
thank you Del Rey UK for sending me a copy for review!
thank you Del Rey UK for sending me a copy for review!
February 25, 2018
Finally, a book from an unknown author and an unknown publisher that’s actually good. I knew there had to be one somewhere. Granted it had me at Neanderthals, a subject that has always had an enormous appeal for me. But the thing with Neanderthal stories is that traditionally they are set either in present time (discovery has been made) or the past (and that’s how they lived) and this book takes it to the future. Already hugely auspicious. AE Warren creates a dystopian world where mankind (is that politically incorrect now? should it be (wo)mankind or something?) has finally done the civilization in through aggression and starvation and from those ashes new genetically advanced species have emerged, so now there are tiers to the society…Sapiens at the bottom (what remains of the original population), Medius appropriately in the middle with some genetic improvements and Proptiors at the top of the ladder, exceptionally advanced beings. The latter on a sort of quest to repay for the mistakes of their genetically average ancestors have decided to bring back to life all the bygone species, hence the eponymous Museum of Second Chances. The Neanderthals however tend to get lonely, depressed and suicidal, they require companions and into such a job our protagonist a Sapien girl is hired. And no this isn’t some sort of inane Girl meets Neanderthal romance and no this isn’t YA, despite the young ages of the characters, both them and the narrative is too mature for that. This is actually quite a fascinating story about a divided society and the real meaning of progress and biological/genetic advancements. It’s a well written book with terrific descriptions and engaging characters, I was completely engaged throughout, the author has smartly chosen to not get tangled up in tangentials (there isn’t a prerequisite love story here for one thing), in favor of spending more time presenting her fascinating artificially natural or naturally artificial world. In fact the only detractor here was the seemingly abrupt ending…was it meant to be sequel ready? The story does have a resolution, but it seems, I don’t know, sudden. Then again it’s a fictional universe well worth revisiting if the author choses to go in that direction. And for a standalone it’s a very good read, thought provoking and entertaining at the same time. Second book I’ve read recently that played like a movie in my brain, which I enjoy tremendously. Not sure how to classify it as a genre, but it’s somewhere along science fiction, dystopian lines that give the story the contours within which the sociological ramifications of genetic manipulations play out. Not sure of that sounds exciting enough to do the book justice, so instead…it’s pretty awesome. Thanks Netgalley.
January 13, 2020
Some unknown hundreds of years in our future, much of the human species has been eliminated by a plague, and the descendants of the survivors have developed a new, caste-divided society. The lowest caste are unmodified Sapiens. Sapiens are blamed for all the extinctions, disasters, the plague, and the collapse of the old society. And not in an abstract way. Sapiens live under the rules of Reparations, in relative poverty, in ecologically correct homes that blend into the landscape. They're only allowed to fairly basic jobs.
Medius, or or "Midders," are middle caste, considered definitely superior to mere Sapiens, and doing most of the interesting jobs that require real education. However, it's worth noting that Sapiens who can afford to do so, or who win the lottery for genetic modifications, can buy three genetic changes to their next baby, and that baby will be Medius, not Sapiens.
The ruling caste are Potior, or "Supes." It would take ten genetic modifications to make your baby a Potior.
Elise is a Sapiens, and she's tired of working the the Production Center. She wants more breadth and depth to her life, and she applies at the Museum of Evolution for the newly open position to the Neanderthal, called Twenty-One.
When she starts her new job, Elise finds many things are different from what she's been taught. The Neanderthal, who tells her his name is Kit, not Twenty-One, takes a while to trust her and open up, but proves to be just as intelligent as she is. Some of the Midders she encounters don't seem to be any smarter than the Sapiens are, and sometimes perhaps a little less. The Potior who is the head of the Museum is impressive, but despite his height, presence, and physical power, he doesn't seem to be all that perceptive about either the Neanderthals, or Sapiens, or even necessarily the Medius.
There are things going on at the Museum that don't necessarily conform to the claimed mission of undoing the damage Sapiens did.
And her weekly visits home make her aware of trouble in the Sapiens community, unrest at the frankly unfair rules they live under.
Meanwhile, Elise has secrets of her own that could undo her hopes of a career at the Museum, and learning more about the world outside their immediate settlement. She does have a few friends at the Museum. Luca, the Sapien companion to the other Neanderthal at the Museum, Seventeen, who is pregnant by artificial insemination. Georgina, the Medius nurse who treats her injured arm after a mistake that could have ended her career on her first day. Samuel, the Medius supervisor of herself and Luca.
Over the next months, she learns a great deal about friendship, secrets, treachery, and the real history of her world.
The characters are interesting, complex, and have a human mixture of good and bad intentions. I have lots of questions about the future Earth we're presented with, but they're questions we're intended to have. It's an intriguing and satisfying book.
Strongly recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
Medius, or or "Midders," are middle caste, considered definitely superior to mere Sapiens, and doing most of the interesting jobs that require real education. However, it's worth noting that Sapiens who can afford to do so, or who win the lottery for genetic modifications, can buy three genetic changes to their next baby, and that baby will be Medius, not Sapiens.
The ruling caste are Potior, or "Supes." It would take ten genetic modifications to make your baby a Potior.
Elise is a Sapiens, and she's tired of working the the Production Center. She wants more breadth and depth to her life, and she applies at the Museum of Evolution for the newly open position to the Neanderthal, called Twenty-One.
When she starts her new job, Elise finds many things are different from what she's been taught. The Neanderthal, who tells her his name is Kit, not Twenty-One, takes a while to trust her and open up, but proves to be just as intelligent as she is. Some of the Midders she encounters don't seem to be any smarter than the Sapiens are, and sometimes perhaps a little less. The Potior who is the head of the Museum is impressive, but despite his height, presence, and physical power, he doesn't seem to be all that perceptive about either the Neanderthals, or Sapiens, or even necessarily the Medius.
There are things going on at the Museum that don't necessarily conform to the claimed mission of undoing the damage Sapiens did.
And her weekly visits home make her aware of trouble in the Sapiens community, unrest at the frankly unfair rules they live under.
Meanwhile, Elise has secrets of her own that could undo her hopes of a career at the Museum, and learning more about the world outside their immediate settlement. She does have a few friends at the Museum. Luca, the Sapien companion to the other Neanderthal at the Museum, Seventeen, who is pregnant by artificial insemination. Georgina, the Medius nurse who treats her injured arm after a mistake that could have ended her career on her first day. Samuel, the Medius supervisor of herself and Luca.
Over the next months, she learns a great deal about friendship, secrets, treachery, and the real history of her world.
The characters are interesting, complex, and have a human mixture of good and bad intentions. I have lots of questions about the future Earth we're presented with, but they're questions we're intended to have. It's an intriguing and satisfying book.
Strongly recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
June 29, 2021
I really enjoyed this surprisingly complex story featuring paleontology, social psychology and politics. I liked it so much, I've already added book 2 to my wishlist! I found the elements of social psychology really interesting and am intrigued as to what will happen next. A real page turner!
June 11, 2021
This is without a doubt one of the best YA sci-fi books I've ever read. It's a pretty short book (about 300 pages) and personally I would've loved it to be longer because I was so invested in the story. But it's okay because this is the first book in a series and without a doubt I'll be reading the next three books when they're released.
I found the first few chapters of the book difficult to get into because of the amount of information they contained, but once you get a grasp on the world, the pace quickly picks up.
The group of main characters were brilliant, and they felt like genuine people, with flawed personalities and differing opinions. I loved them so much, while also hating quite a few of the nasty characters.
I was not ready for the emotions the author would put me through while reading this book. There was a sense of dread as the story progressed. I could always feel a darkness lurking in minor details, and I knew everything was building up to something big. So when I finally got to the end, I wasn't surprised at the turn it took. Instead, the anticipation made the excitement even more intense.
Overall, I'm giving this book a solid 5 stars! It had everything a good book needs and more!
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy of this book for review.
I found the first few chapters of the book difficult to get into because of the amount of information they contained, but once you get a grasp on the world, the pace quickly picks up.
The group of main characters were brilliant, and they felt like genuine people, with flawed personalities and differing opinions. I loved them so much, while also hating quite a few of the nasty characters.
I was not ready for the emotions the author would put me through while reading this book. There was a sense of dread as the story progressed. I could always feel a darkness lurking in minor details, and I knew everything was building up to something big. So when I finally got to the end, I wasn't surprised at the turn it took. Instead, the anticipation made the excitement even more intense.
Overall, I'm giving this book a solid 5 stars! It had everything a good book needs and more!
Thank you to the publishers for sending me a copy of this book for review.
February 16, 2018
A frightening glimpse into aspects of today’s society through the eyes of the brave protagonist, Elise. This author has created a dystopian world that provides thought-provoking themes, powerful relationships and a gripping adventure. AE Warren constructed a movie in my mind and left me contemplating the possibilities of the future human race. Privileged to obtain and read a preview copy of this great page turner!
June 21, 2021
I always loved to read scifi books, but I used to read ones that were written long time ago and they mostly contained things that happened now. This book is destroying all the prejudice around scifi by creating a world where there are not many things on the Earth.
We could see how Elise's life is going to change if she accepts a job in the museum, which was her dream for a really long time. In the museum there are lots of animals that went distinct a few thousand or hundred years ago in the story... and we don't only have animals, there are also Neanderthal humans in the collection.
The few main characters are interesting, their personalities are so different and they can work so well together in great harmony. I remember reading a certain chapter which made me sob and it was so emotional.
The story stared a very little bit slowly for me, and I felt like the exposition was a very little bit long for my taste, but when the action started I just couldn't put it down so it was totally worth it. I am way too excited to read the second book of this series, and I really want to get to know the new characters and places that are waiting for us.
The only thing that made this book even better for me, the way how real it felt. I often caught myself reading and thinking that, wow, I just hope that it is not a prediction, but it felt like it could be easily real.
We could see how Elise's life is going to change if she accepts a job in the museum, which was her dream for a really long time. In the museum there are lots of animals that went distinct a few thousand or hundred years ago in the story... and we don't only have animals, there are also Neanderthal humans in the collection.
The few main characters are interesting, their personalities are so different and they can work so well together in great harmony. I remember reading a certain chapter which made me sob and it was so emotional.
The story stared a very little bit slowly for me, and I felt like the exposition was a very little bit long for my taste, but when the action started I just couldn't put it down so it was totally worth it. I am way too excited to read the second book of this series, and I really want to get to know the new characters and places that are waiting for us.
The only thing that made this book even better for me, the way how real it felt. I often caught myself reading and thinking that, wow, I just hope that it is not a prediction, but it felt like it could be easily real.
June 30, 2021
Thank you to the publishers for sending me an ARC of Subject Twenty One.
In a future desecrated by the effects of climate change the human race has used genetic engineering to try and restore the planet for lost ecosystems. Through this, a new class system is born. Priotors, with their near godlike enhancements, are the rulers. Then there’s Medius with enhanced intelligence and disease resistance. And at the bottom of pecking order is the unaltered Sapiens. After all, it was their fault that the world fell to ruin was it not?
Elise is a Sapien and is offered the opportunity of a lifetime to work at the Museum of Evolution as a Companion to Subject Twenty-One, a Neanderthal. But the longer she spends at the Museum the more she realises that little separate her from the exhibit she looks after…
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to sink my teeth into a good dystodystopian science-fiction and I absolutely devoured this book.
The world building is subtle and there was a lot of mystery surrounding how everything came to be. A liked how little droplets of information were sprinkled throughout the story while also leaving a few questions unanswered.
For me the characters were definitely the best thing about this book. I found Elise’s internal struggle really believable and I found that she was a main protagonist that was easy to root for.
Aspects of this book are really heartbreaking and I actually shed a tear at one point. I also think the messages in this book are really important. There is mention of a past pandemic, which obviously is very relevant at the moment; but also how we really need to change our relationship with our planet and take better care of it.
Warren did a perfect job of pulling me in and answering some of my questions, but leaving enough of it unanswered so that I want more…and I definitely do! I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Subject Twenty One comes out in paperback on the 1st July 2021
In a future desecrated by the effects of climate change the human race has used genetic engineering to try and restore the planet for lost ecosystems. Through this, a new class system is born. Priotors, with their near godlike enhancements, are the rulers. Then there’s Medius with enhanced intelligence and disease resistance. And at the bottom of pecking order is the unaltered Sapiens. After all, it was their fault that the world fell to ruin was it not?
Elise is a Sapien and is offered the opportunity of a lifetime to work at the Museum of Evolution as a Companion to Subject Twenty-One, a Neanderthal. But the longer she spends at the Museum the more she realises that little separate her from the exhibit she looks after…
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to sink my teeth into a good dystodystopian science-fiction and I absolutely devoured this book.
The world building is subtle and there was a lot of mystery surrounding how everything came to be. A liked how little droplets of information were sprinkled throughout the story while also leaving a few questions unanswered.
For me the characters were definitely the best thing about this book. I found Elise’s internal struggle really believable and I found that she was a main protagonist that was easy to root for.
Aspects of this book are really heartbreaking and I actually shed a tear at one point. I also think the messages in this book are really important. There is mention of a past pandemic, which obviously is very relevant at the moment; but also how we really need to change our relationship with our planet and take better care of it.
Warren did a perfect job of pulling me in and answering some of my questions, but leaving enough of it unanswered so that I want more…and I definitely do! I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Subject Twenty One comes out in paperback on the 1st July 2021
October 30, 2019
I stumbled upon this extraordinary book quite by chance. I noticed the cover on a post on Instagram and it intrigued me enough to read the blurb, which interested me enough to buy and read the book. It was not what I was expecting, it was better. The premise of the book is simple - it’s the future, mankind has almost destroyed the planet and is having to deal with the consequences. So far, like most other dystopian stories. But what is different is that following some tinkering with our genes, two new “species” of mankind have emerged and taken over as the dominant races. Angry with sapiens for the destruction they’ve caused, a massive resurrection programme has been instigated to rescue species lost to extinction due to sapiens stupidity and greed, and for the first time in a millennium, Neanderthals share the Earth with mankind.
From this startling beginning, the story explodes outward with the story of one young Sapien girl who gets an extraordinary chance to work with one of the few Neanderthals to survive to adulthood. Seemingly just a stupid Sapien, there is something about Elise that must be kept secret at all costs.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were defined and believable and leapt off the page into the mind of the reader. Well written and sharply paced, the story kept up the momentum from the first page to the last and I read it all in just a few days.
I was intrigued by this future world the author had created, especially “The Museum of Second Chances” where all the rescued species were exhibited, which, by the way, is one of the most captivating titles I’ve ever come across. I loved the way Elise tries to connect with the Neanderthal in her care and the way the author has made him different enough for the reader to be vividly aware that he is a different species, yet “human” enough to invoke our sympathies for his plight.
About two-thirds of the way through, the plot picked up the pace even more and from then on it was a race against time, with the characters desperately struggling to find a way out of their predicament and us the reader suffering with them.
The ending was unexpected and has left me wanting more, but luckily book two is already published and I have purchased it ready to read. If you like futuristic books but like me have grown weary of the gun-toting kickass heroine who always seems ready to fight the evil system, then give this book a chance. It’s dystopian, yes, but the setting is more agricultural than cityscape, and the inclusion of lost species from the dawn of mankind give it an almost historical feel which is very refreshing and unique.
From this startling beginning, the story explodes outward with the story of one young Sapien girl who gets an extraordinary chance to work with one of the few Neanderthals to survive to adulthood. Seemingly just a stupid Sapien, there is something about Elise that must be kept secret at all costs.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were defined and believable and leapt off the page into the mind of the reader. Well written and sharply paced, the story kept up the momentum from the first page to the last and I read it all in just a few days.
I was intrigued by this future world the author had created, especially “The Museum of Second Chances” where all the rescued species were exhibited, which, by the way, is one of the most captivating titles I’ve ever come across. I loved the way Elise tries to connect with the Neanderthal in her care and the way the author has made him different enough for the reader to be vividly aware that he is a different species, yet “human” enough to invoke our sympathies for his plight.
About two-thirds of the way through, the plot picked up the pace even more and from then on it was a race against time, with the characters desperately struggling to find a way out of their predicament and us the reader suffering with them.
The ending was unexpected and has left me wanting more, but luckily book two is already published and I have purchased it ready to read. If you like futuristic books but like me have grown weary of the gun-toting kickass heroine who always seems ready to fight the evil system, then give this book a chance. It’s dystopian, yes, but the setting is more agricultural than cityscape, and the inclusion of lost species from the dawn of mankind give it an almost historical feel which is very refreshing and unique.
June 20, 2024
What happens when the future recaptures the past? This question posed by The Museum of Second Chances has story threads that brought to mind Divergent and The Giver. For instance, all three tell of a future gone awry in “perfect worlds” created by the author, power and control as a means to an end and those at the top are more than willing to do anything to maintain that status quo.
I was thrown into this post apocalyptic world immediately in the first few pages. A classic story of the haves holding the have nots with just enough of an economic, social and physical stranglehold for the Potior and Medius to keep the Sapiens in place. This world on Thyman Base had Eyes everywhere, escape was impossible and besides, there was nowhere to go; but underneath there was a force ready to erupt.
It was a pleasant experience to immerse myself into these pages and meet the characters from both sides because they were real, believable and had depth...the good and the bad. This world on Thyman Base was well thought out and portrayed. The very names of the bases were derived from the molecular makeup of DNA, displaying the plants and animals of many millennia ago and a Neanderthal to boot in realistic live pods was the icing on this historical dystopian story of adventure. AE Warren, certainly did her homework and pulled it altogether like a true literary artist. I knew I was going to enjoy this story! The sequel, The Base of Reflections is waiting for me...
PARENTAL NOTE: I would recommend this book for children 13 and up. There are a couple of kissing and sexual innuendo passages; but they were brief, nothing graphic nor explicit. I felt these passages contributed to the depth and confusion of Elise, the main character.
I was thrown into this post apocalyptic world immediately in the first few pages. A classic story of the haves holding the have nots with just enough of an economic, social and physical stranglehold for the Potior and Medius to keep the Sapiens in place. This world on Thyman Base had Eyes everywhere, escape was impossible and besides, there was nowhere to go; but underneath there was a force ready to erupt.
It was a pleasant experience to immerse myself into these pages and meet the characters from both sides because they were real, believable and had depth...the good and the bad. This world on Thyman Base was well thought out and portrayed. The very names of the bases were derived from the molecular makeup of DNA, displaying the plants and animals of many millennia ago and a Neanderthal to boot in realistic live pods was the icing on this historical dystopian story of adventure. AE Warren, certainly did her homework and pulled it altogether like a true literary artist. I knew I was going to enjoy this story! The sequel, The Base of Reflections is waiting for me...
PARENTAL NOTE: I would recommend this book for children 13 and up. There are a couple of kissing and sexual innuendo passages; but they were brief, nothing graphic nor explicit. I felt these passages contributed to the depth and confusion of Elise, the main character.
February 27, 2018
The premise of The Museum of Second Chances is very intriguing. In a future with a much-shrunk population, where Homo sapiens are second class citizens to more advanced humans, a museum recreates Neanderthals. The central character, Elise, a Homo sapiens, is recruited to be a companion to a Neanderthal, taking Elise from a squalid existence outside into the hi tech museum.
The development of the Neanderthals and the fate of the downtrodden Homo sapiens individuals is well done, with an engaging storyline that's solidly written. It's not uncommon for a first time novel that is self-published or very small press to sag in the middle, or simply lack writing skill, but the book was enjoyable and made it easy to identify with the main character.
I was a little worried by some of the science. I know science in science fiction should never get in the way of story, but this wasn't done to develop the storyline. So, for example, we are told that humans evolved from chimpanzees, a big no-no. And the author seems to think that the 'sapiens' in 'Homo sapiens' is plural.
Most of those problems are got out of the way early on, though, and the book was heading for a four star review until I hit the ending. This seemed rushed. It didn't ruin the book, I'm still glad I read it, but it did feel as if there ought to have been some more to round it off.
Overall, though, a well-told story, incorporating some particularly interesting ideas.
The development of the Neanderthals and the fate of the downtrodden Homo sapiens individuals is well done, with an engaging storyline that's solidly written. It's not uncommon for a first time novel that is self-published or very small press to sag in the middle, or simply lack writing skill, but the book was enjoyable and made it easy to identify with the main character.
I was a little worried by some of the science. I know science in science fiction should never get in the way of story, but this wasn't done to develop the storyline. So, for example, we are told that humans evolved from chimpanzees, a big no-no. And the author seems to think that the 'sapiens' in 'Homo sapiens' is plural.
Most of those problems are got out of the way early on, though, and the book was heading for a four star review until I hit the ending. This seemed rushed. It didn't ruin the book, I'm still glad I read it, but it did feel as if there ought to have been some more to round it off.
Overall, though, a well-told story, incorporating some particularly interesting ideas.
September 4, 2022
DNF. I went into this thinking it was for adults, but realised quickly it was YA. No problem - I enjoy YA, and I wanted to like it, but it felt more like a childrens book than YA, even. Just too basic and infantile to really engage me
Read
June 9, 2021I do love dystopian sci-fi, especially when it’s coupled with experimentation and isolation, so as soon as I heard the plot synopsis for this novel I knew it was one that I had to get my hands on.
I felt that Elise was a brilliant protagonist and actually quite refreshing for a novel of this genre. Whilst she is a Sapien in the Outer Circle (the lowest in the social hierarchy) and not entirely happy with the way they are treated, she is happy with her family and wants to learn more about the world rather than change it. This desire to learn more, and to get out of her mundane production job, sees her taking a risk and joining the Museum of Evolution as a Companion for one of their Neanderthal exhibits. I love how she completely threw herself into her job and was always eager to do the best she could for Subject Twenty One, not simply to secure her position at the museum but because she wants to do what she can to improve Subject Twenty One’s wellbeing.
I really enjoyed the range of characters that we were introduced to over the course of the novel. Even though the social hierarchy is incredibly strict and serious (down to how many syllables you can have in your name), I liked how relaxed and funny (some) of the characters were. There are just so many that I liked and who really brought something unique to the novel. Having the novel from Elise’s perspective was especially interesting when it came to character interaction, because we were never entirely sure who she could trust at the museum. She had grown up learning to be suspicious of the higher classes (‘species’), so we can’t help but also be suspicious too.
The way Subject Twenty One was portrayed was brilliant too - I don’t want to say too much about this as it was great to learn more about him as Elise does, but I did love how he isn’t quite what you initially expect. I also really appreciated the inclusion of sign language as the primary source of communication for certain characters in this novel, including Elise’s deaf younger brother, Nathan (who was delightful).
The future that Warren has brought to life is fascinating and one I can’t wait to see develop over the course of these four novels. The idea that the human race is divided into subspecies is already interesting but, to go further and incorporate genetic engineering and how far it could potentially go (eg. genes for IQ, physical build and empathy) is such a unique take on this topic and one that feels very believable, which gives the entire novel an extra depth of an unsettling atmosphere.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and could have easily read it in one sitting had I not been interrupted. It was completely gripping and had me hooked through the characters, the world and the pacing. I highly recommend you check out this first installment of a series that I will be keeping a close eye on!
I felt that Elise was a brilliant protagonist and actually quite refreshing for a novel of this genre. Whilst she is a Sapien in the Outer Circle (the lowest in the social hierarchy) and not entirely happy with the way they are treated, she is happy with her family and wants to learn more about the world rather than change it. This desire to learn more, and to get out of her mundane production job, sees her taking a risk and joining the Museum of Evolution as a Companion for one of their Neanderthal exhibits. I love how she completely threw herself into her job and was always eager to do the best she could for Subject Twenty One, not simply to secure her position at the museum but because she wants to do what she can to improve Subject Twenty One’s wellbeing.
I really enjoyed the range of characters that we were introduced to over the course of the novel. Even though the social hierarchy is incredibly strict and serious (down to how many syllables you can have in your name), I liked how relaxed and funny (some) of the characters were. There are just so many that I liked and who really brought something unique to the novel. Having the novel from Elise’s perspective was especially interesting when it came to character interaction, because we were never entirely sure who she could trust at the museum. She had grown up learning to be suspicious of the higher classes (‘species’), so we can’t help but also be suspicious too.
The way Subject Twenty One was portrayed was brilliant too - I don’t want to say too much about this as it was great to learn more about him as Elise does, but I did love how he isn’t quite what you initially expect. I also really appreciated the inclusion of sign language as the primary source of communication for certain characters in this novel, including Elise’s deaf younger brother, Nathan (who was delightful).
The future that Warren has brought to life is fascinating and one I can’t wait to see develop over the course of these four novels. The idea that the human race is divided into subspecies is already interesting but, to go further and incorporate genetic engineering and how far it could potentially go (eg. genes for IQ, physical build and empathy) is such a unique take on this topic and one that feels very believable, which gives the entire novel an extra depth of an unsettling atmosphere.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and could have easily read it in one sitting had I not been interrupted. It was completely gripping and had me hooked through the characters, the world and the pacing. I highly recommend you check out this first installment of a series that I will be keeping a close eye on!
July 3, 2021
Thank you to @delreyuk & @rachelkennedy90 for sending me this #gifted copy of Subject Twenty One in exchange for an honest review.
This book quickly made its way into my heart as the first book that included sign language throughout. Those who know me well enough know that my maternal grandparents were both deaf and sign language was therefore a staple within my family.
I found myself signing the conversations between Elise and her brother Nathan and of course Twenty One and Seventeen in my head.
The fact that Subject Twenty One’s chosen name is also Kit sealed this book into my heart as my grandmother was nicknamed Kitty and my youngest son’s middle name is Kit for her.
The book quickly lays out the post pandemic life of Elise and her fellow sapiens some unstated hundreds of years in the future. Sapiens are the lowest on the social scale down to the fact that the sapiens of our time are widely discussed as greedy, selfish, destructive beings who brought the earth to its knees.
As such they cannot be trusted to navigate their own future, which includes their day to day food, water and medical needs.
I found this book so intriguing in respect of the role of the companions for the Neanderthals and how the human psyche is impacted so much by solitude. The current pandemic and the resulting isolation for so many across the world was a parallel I drew very early on in the book.
I was honestly could have continued to read it indefinitely, such is the excellent craftsmanship of the story and the pull in the emotions.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment. A story that not only warmed my heart but also gave me so much to think about and compare with my own life.
I feel like this needs to be a series or a film like yesterday 💙💛
This book quickly made its way into my heart as the first book that included sign language throughout. Those who know me well enough know that my maternal grandparents were both deaf and sign language was therefore a staple within my family.
I found myself signing the conversations between Elise and her brother Nathan and of course Twenty One and Seventeen in my head.
The fact that Subject Twenty One’s chosen name is also Kit sealed this book into my heart as my grandmother was nicknamed Kitty and my youngest son’s middle name is Kit for her.
The book quickly lays out the post pandemic life of Elise and her fellow sapiens some unstated hundreds of years in the future. Sapiens are the lowest on the social scale down to the fact that the sapiens of our time are widely discussed as greedy, selfish, destructive beings who brought the earth to its knees.
As such they cannot be trusted to navigate their own future, which includes their day to day food, water and medical needs.
I found this book so intriguing in respect of the role of the companions for the Neanderthals and how the human psyche is impacted so much by solitude. The current pandemic and the resulting isolation for so many across the world was a parallel I drew very early on in the book.
I was honestly could have continued to read it indefinitely, such is the excellent craftsmanship of the story and the pull in the emotions.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment. A story that not only warmed my heart but also gave me so much to think about and compare with my own life.
I feel like this needs to be a series or a film like yesterday 💙💛
June 21, 2021
I love a dystopian-esque novel and with such an interesting futuristic concept of human genetic engineering, I had high hopes for 𝘚𝘶𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘛𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘖𝘯𝘦 and I wasn't left disappointed! Set in a world where three different species of Sapien now co-exist, with the highest ruling the roost and the lowest living a life full of rules and restrictions, the plot is full of clever imaginings that make a thought provoking read.
Our protagonist Elise, secures a job at the Museum of Evolution where extinct species are brought back to life. Think Jurassic Park but alongside animals, Neanderthals (i.e humans) are also put on show. As Companion to one of the Neanderthals, Elise soon opens her eyes to the lies her society is built on, the lack of care from the higher Sapiens and the injustice of keeping Kit (Subject 21) in a cage. Together, with her small group of misfit friends, they come up with a plan to break status quo, free Kit and go on the run!
With a fast paced plot that unravels and reveals so much, I found myself completely gripped by the story and fully immersed in its eerily atmospheric world. The higher Sapiens aren't the nicest and being that it's a strongly character driven novel, you can't help but take sides with Elise.
I'm really looking forward to book two, where I hope to learn more about our small group of breakaways, Kit and Elise in particular and further find out about the world that Warren has created. This was such a brilliant debut, I'm so eager to read on!
🔬🧬
Our protagonist Elise, secures a job at the Museum of Evolution where extinct species are brought back to life. Think Jurassic Park but alongside animals, Neanderthals (i.e humans) are also put on show. As Companion to one of the Neanderthals, Elise soon opens her eyes to the lies her society is built on, the lack of care from the higher Sapiens and the injustice of keeping Kit (Subject 21) in a cage. Together, with her small group of misfit friends, they come up with a plan to break status quo, free Kit and go on the run!
With a fast paced plot that unravels and reveals so much, I found myself completely gripped by the story and fully immersed in its eerily atmospheric world. The higher Sapiens aren't the nicest and being that it's a strongly character driven novel, you can't help but take sides with Elise.
I'm really looking forward to book two, where I hope to learn more about our small group of breakaways, Kit and Elise in particular and further find out about the world that Warren has created. This was such a brilliant debut, I'm so eager to read on!
🔬🧬
January 21, 2020
Oh, gosh. This book was fantastic. I enjoyed every second of it.
The story follows Elise, a Sapien, who lands a job working at the Museum of Second Chances. There, she plays the role of Companion to a Neanderthal known as Twenty-One. At first, Elise is hesitant and nervous, but soon finds herself easing into the job, as well as starting a tentative friendship with another Companion. But all of that just might come crumbling down if Elise isn't careful.
I have to say, this was a really strong debut novel. It has a unique premise that immediately drew me in, and both the character development and world building kept me captivated. I couldn't wait to see how things played out.
I think my favorite character in the story is probably Samuel. He's an interesting guy, and I'm curious to know more about him. I also really liked Elise and Georgina too.
The plot is nicely paced and keeps readers interested. It's definitely a fascinating concept, and I thought it was written quite well and was fleshed out properly.
Overall, not a bad start to a fun, new series. Looking forward to book two.
4.5 stars from me!
The story follows Elise, a Sapien, who lands a job working at the Museum of Second Chances. There, she plays the role of Companion to a Neanderthal known as Twenty-One. At first, Elise is hesitant and nervous, but soon finds herself easing into the job, as well as starting a tentative friendship with another Companion. But all of that just might come crumbling down if Elise isn't careful.
I have to say, this was a really strong debut novel. It has a unique premise that immediately drew me in, and both the character development and world building kept me captivated. I couldn't wait to see how things played out.
I think my favorite character in the story is probably Samuel. He's an interesting guy, and I'm curious to know more about him. I also really liked Elise and Georgina too.
The plot is nicely paced and keeps readers interested. It's definitely a fascinating concept, and I thought it was written quite well and was fleshed out properly.
Overall, not a bad start to a fun, new series. Looking forward to book two.
4.5 stars from me!
July 6, 2021
Originally self-published as The Museum of Second Chances before being re-released by Del Rey, A.E. Warren’s debut novel Subject Twenty One – book one in the Tomorrow’s Ancestors series – is a post-apocalyptic tale of repopulation, genetic engineering and tightly controlled societal structures. Elise is a Sapien, one of the lowest class of humans, condemned to forever be paying reparations for the actions of previous generations in devastating the Earth. Keen to escape a life of tedium, she takes a job at the Museum of Evolution as the companion to Twenty One (otherwise known as Kit), one of a handful of Neanderthals returned from extinction through the marvels of genetic engineering. With her own secrets to keep, Elise has to be careful how she goes, however the more she gets to know Kit, the more she learns about the real history of her world and her place within it.
Both the setting and the story itself are cleverly established and consistently entertaining, brought to life by some excellent characters – not just Elise and Kit, but also her family and some of her fellow Museum workers, including a range of Medius with very different attitudes. There’s a really interesting dynamic established between the Sapiens and Medius, which means it’s a bit of a shame that the Potiors don’t get anything like as much development, and Fintorian – the head of the Museum – comes across as a touch one dimensional. Hopefully there will be more about the Potiors in the next book. With much of the first half taken up establishing the core ideas and characters, the second half sometimes feels a little rushed, but by the time the climactic finale comes around it all comes together nicely, leaving plenty of questions about this world for future books to answer, but providing a satisfying conclusion to this particular story. Pacy, characterful and imaginative, it’s a book that should have good crossover appeal between YA and adult readers, and the start of a series with a lot of promise.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2021/06/...
Both the setting and the story itself are cleverly established and consistently entertaining, brought to life by some excellent characters – not just Elise and Kit, but also her family and some of her fellow Museum workers, including a range of Medius with very different attitudes. There’s a really interesting dynamic established between the Sapiens and Medius, which means it’s a bit of a shame that the Potiors don’t get anything like as much development, and Fintorian – the head of the Museum – comes across as a touch one dimensional. Hopefully there will be more about the Potiors in the next book. With much of the first half taken up establishing the core ideas and characters, the second half sometimes feels a little rushed, but by the time the climactic finale comes around it all comes together nicely, leaving plenty of questions about this world for future books to answer, but providing a satisfying conclusion to this particular story. Pacy, characterful and imaginative, it’s a book that should have good crossover appeal between YA and adult readers, and the start of a series with a lot of promise.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2021/06/...
January 4, 2020
I bought this book by a new author and new publishers purely on the premise of the story, in an imagined future set in a post-apocalyptic world where genetic engineering has humans in three levels. Homo Sapiens are in the bottom category.
Genetic engineering has also been used to bring back to life extinct species, including Neanderthals, and how the top level 'humans' (high heid yins as we call them in Scotland) are corrupt. Power corrupts. Always has, always will.
Elise has been chosen by the so called higher humans to look after one of the Neanderthals and she realises, communicating with sign language, that they are just as human as she is.
Great idea, great story. Now to read the next in the series.
Ray Smillie
Genetic engineering has also been used to bring back to life extinct species, including Neanderthals, and how the top level 'humans' (high heid yins as we call them in Scotland) are corrupt. Power corrupts. Always has, always will.
Elise has been chosen by the so called higher humans to look after one of the Neanderthals and she realises, communicating with sign language, that they are just as human as she is.
Great idea, great story. Now to read the next in the series.
Ray Smillie
Read
November 13, 20244 ⭐️
July 18, 2025
a brilliant futuristic story
June 20, 2021
Fascinating and a completely different take on any post-apocalyptic novel I've ever seen. Neither utopian or dystopian, this was a realistic look at a possible future in which we make oppressors for ourselves out of sheer guilt at what we've done to the planet.
Although I'm not sure the science of bringing back animals and Neanderthals from extinction is realistic, the segregation of homo sapiens from the future super-humans is all too likely.
The ending was a little abrupt and I could definitely see more needing to be said but I really enjoyed the story, the world-building and the characters.
Although I'm not sure the science of bringing back animals and Neanderthals from extinction is realistic, the segregation of homo sapiens from the future super-humans is all too likely.
The ending was a little abrupt and I could definitely see more needing to be said but I really enjoyed the story, the world-building and the characters.
May 10, 2020
I actually bought this book by mistake but read it anyway and I am very glad I did so!
A lovely fluid writing style adds belivability and empathy to the main character's emotional journey and development. The dystopian world of the future as pictured by the author seems entirely possible - indeed, some aspects already exist.
Definitely worth a read for something completely different.
A lovely fluid writing style adds belivability and empathy to the main character's emotional journey and development. The dystopian world of the future as pictured by the author seems entirely possible - indeed, some aspects already exist.
Definitely worth a read for something completely different.
November 6, 2021
https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/book-...
Subject Twenty-One is action packed and fast-paced, I was totally lost in this dystopian story and thought it was an amazing debut. It’s one of the best starts to a series I’ve ever read.
Post pandemic, genetics have superseded Sapiens and created a new race. Potior (the most advanced) have control and Medius are on the next level down with 3 altered traits. The only access Sapiens have to genetic engineering is through the monthly lottery.
Elise’s family are self-reliant and seen as different in the community on Thymine Base. She has a strength that her dad says needs to be kept hidden (although she thinks he over-reacts to everything, but is he?). They’re on the edge. Shunned.
Leaving her menial job to work in the Museum of Evolution gives her the chance to change her life – not in ways she was expecting either! Her induction was truly exciting and sets the foundation for what’s to come.
The use of advanced technology gives us an insight into this world. Enough is shared to make sense of what is happening. I’m intrigued by the world-building and can’t wait to experience other bases.
With fear about the pandemic still very much in evidence, the Potiors have managed to keep a tight rein with their propaganda but in this first story of the the Tomorrow’s Ancestors series, there are cracks appearing.
I loved how invested Elise is and felt her frustration with some of the orders. She has opportunities to learn and to develop her skills under a shroud of secrecy. Exciting!
Conflict comes from an unexpected source which is balanced out by support where you wouldn’t expect it.
The band of travellers is made up from some very interesting characters and I can’t wait to see where they will take us next.
Highly recommended.
Subject Twenty-One is action packed and fast-paced, I was totally lost in this dystopian story and thought it was an amazing debut. It’s one of the best starts to a series I’ve ever read.
Post pandemic, genetics have superseded Sapiens and created a new race. Potior (the most advanced) have control and Medius are on the next level down with 3 altered traits. The only access Sapiens have to genetic engineering is through the monthly lottery.
Elise’s family are self-reliant and seen as different in the community on Thymine Base. She has a strength that her dad says needs to be kept hidden (although she thinks he over-reacts to everything, but is he?). They’re on the edge. Shunned.
Leaving her menial job to work in the Museum of Evolution gives her the chance to change her life – not in ways she was expecting either! Her induction was truly exciting and sets the foundation for what’s to come.
The use of advanced technology gives us an insight into this world. Enough is shared to make sense of what is happening. I’m intrigued by the world-building and can’t wait to experience other bases.
With fear about the pandemic still very much in evidence, the Potiors have managed to keep a tight rein with their propaganda but in this first story of the the Tomorrow’s Ancestors series, there are cracks appearing.
I loved how invested Elise is and felt her frustration with some of the orders. She has opportunities to learn and to develop her skills under a shroud of secrecy. Exciting!
Conflict comes from an unexpected source which is balanced out by support where you wouldn’t expect it.
The band of travellers is made up from some very interesting characters and I can’t wait to see where they will take us next.
Highly recommended.
January 17, 2020
Elise is the lowest form of human, the Sapiens. So when she gets a job working at the Museum of Evolution she is thankful for the chance to bring in extra income for her family. While at the museum she meets a Neanderthal named Twenty-One who lives in the confines of a pod at the museum. He's on display just like all the prehistoric species brought back to life. The more Elise gets to know Twenty-One the more she wants to help him, but helping him could mean exposing her secret that could change her life forever.
This was quite an interesting piece of work. It didn't take long before I was caught up in this post-apocalyptic world. The story is well paced and consistent throughout the book making it easy to stay engaged. The world in which the story is told is well thought out and developed. The details given create a clear picture of this world without going overboard with an information dump.
The characters are well developed individuals and so easy to like. Elise is a great main character. She is well written, likable, smart and just overall well done. It was so easy to feel for these characters throughout certain situations in the book. I'm looking forward to continuing on their journey with them in Book 2 The Base of Reflections.
This was quite an interesting piece of work. It didn't take long before I was caught up in this post-apocalyptic world. The story is well paced and consistent throughout the book making it easy to stay engaged. The world in which the story is told is well thought out and developed. The details given create a clear picture of this world without going overboard with an information dump.
The characters are well developed individuals and so easy to like. Elise is a great main character. She is well written, likable, smart and just overall well done. It was so easy to feel for these characters throughout certain situations in the book. I'm looking forward to continuing on their journey with them in Book 2 The Base of Reflections.
February 10, 2020
I said yes to this book because it sounded like a unique plot and I was right. I haven’t read too many books about Neanderthals, but this was so intriguing. A combination of the past and present with genetic engineering in the mix created one heck of a book!
The plot is based around power, society, and genetics but it does it in such a way that I was hooked. A.E. Warren does a fantastic job making the science understandable while maintaining a realistic and credible plot.
The characters are strong, especially our main character Elise. I really cared about her quickly, which is awesome. Character driven novels are my favorite kind.
I highly, highly recommend checking The Museum of Second Chances out. A unique, fast-paced plot, with characters you’ll love and themes that will make you think.
*I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on the Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
The plot is based around power, society, and genetics but it does it in such a way that I was hooked. A.E. Warren does a fantastic job making the science understandable while maintaining a realistic and credible plot.
The characters are strong, especially our main character Elise. I really cared about her quickly, which is awesome. Character driven novels are my favorite kind.
I highly, highly recommend checking The Museum of Second Chances out. A unique, fast-paced plot, with characters you’ll love and themes that will make you think.
*I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on the Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
October 15, 2021
This book contains the bones of a good story, but the execution left much to be desired. I don't expect purple prose when I read, but I do like a decent level of description. As it is, the world in this book feels barely sketched out; as a result, it feels derivative of every other dystopian novel you've read because there's nothing more to go on. Neither is there anything memorable about any of the characters, physically or personality-wise. The main antagonist felt positively pantomime-ish, and the "revelation" presented to protagonist Elise about Sapiens vs the genetically engineered people was so boring and obvious.
The only reason I read the whole thing was because I felt a spark of care for Kit ("Subject Twenty One"). Hence why two stars. But otherwise, this felt like a young writer's first attempt at a dystopian novel.
The only reason I read the whole thing was because I felt a spark of care for Kit ("Subject Twenty One"). Hence why two stars. But otherwise, this felt like a young writer's first attempt at a dystopian novel.
August 17, 2020
Received as an Xmas gift. Really enjoyed it. Original idea, exceedingly well-executed. Looking forward to book 2 (which I received from the same person for my birthday.)
The premise of Museum of Second Chances is that a more advanced version of humanity determines that Homo Sapiens was the cause of all of history's ills and therefore must be strictly controlled in all aspects of life. One job that some sapiens can do is to act as companions to cloned neanderthals. Our hero, Elise gets this plum job caring for Kit and slowly learns how everything she thought was true about the relationships between the various human species is wrong.
Cleverly written, with a number of engaging characters, many of whom (as in the best fictions) aren't who we initially thought.
The premise of Museum of Second Chances is that a more advanced version of humanity determines that Homo Sapiens was the cause of all of history's ills and therefore must be strictly controlled in all aspects of life. One job that some sapiens can do is to act as companions to cloned neanderthals. Our hero, Elise gets this plum job caring for Kit and slowly learns how everything she thought was true about the relationships between the various human species is wrong.
Cleverly written, with a number of engaging characters, many of whom (as in the best fictions) aren't who we initially thought.
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