Are you a fan of the Destined series by Michael D. Brooks? Well, then we have good news for you! Author Brooks has a new addition to the series that you’re not going to want to miss – Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters. While you won’t be reunited with characters you’ve become highly familiar with, you will be introduced to new ones and have secrets and truths revealed.
Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters has a cover that depicts a variety of characters. In the background is an arid landscape with towering landmasses. In the center is a younger looking woman with apparent Asian heritage. She has long red hair flying out behind her, and is in a combat ready stance. To the left behind her is an older woman with grey-ish skin, long blue toned hair, and sitting in a wheelchair. She’s wearing a blue and purple outfit with black pants.
To the farthest left of Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters cover is a tall brown skinned man. He’s wearing a long robe that is giving African vibes with the colors and pattern on the front. He has multiple wooden bead necklaces around his neck, as well as golden bracelets on both wrists and multiple rings on both hands. He stands tall and regal with a walking staff in his hand.
Shifting to the right side of the cover we have a mysterious character almost appearing to be about to dart across the cover. Garbed in a brown cloak and pants you can see some characteristics that read feline, with the definitive curves letting you know this character is a female. Behind her is another character dressed in a camo outfit. They have long auburn hair, but you can’t tell much else about them.
The final character is a tall silver toned man with long black hair with silver white streak through the middle. Wearing a golden cross around his neck, he has a robe hanging off one shoulder, with a golden belt around his middle and matching blue pants with sandals.
These may appear to be just “random” characters, but these characters will be the key players in this addition to the Destined series. They each have been impacted by a tragedy that struck Progensha. When author Brooks begins the story, a major event has happened to forever alter everyone’s life who lives on this planet.
An explosion has reshaped the continent as they know it. Zuri is one of the characters that author Brooks will focus on. Her mother and father, Piper and Lin were the two who died in a massive explosion that reshaped the continent. While she and her great-grandmother mourn, the people of the valley are fearful that the massive explosion will happen again.
Told from the third-person POV, Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters tells Zuri and Martina’s story. The story focuses primarily on these two characters, but it also incorporates many others. With the loss of Zuri’s parents, this leaves a void in the “power structure” that has kept things running, and certain secrets “buried.” Now, decisions must be made if things are going to be kept in a certain order.
In previous books that have been on this particular planet, author Brooks has dropped hints about other groups living in different areas other than the valley. While Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters still focuses on the Uderran people, author Brooks branches out and gives us more. In this installment to the series, we finally get introduced to the people who live in the mountains and the ones who live in the Dark Woods.
The revelation of who is living in these two locations is an exciting element to the story. Since they have previously been highly secretive and reclusive compared to the Uderrans, it’s something to look forward to for fans of the series. While this is a great element to encourage readers to pick this book up, we don’t get the in-depth story that we were really hoping for. Author Brooks allows us to learn a bit about these various groups, but nothing too deep.
One could say that this is to help them keep their air of mystery since they continue to be reclusive. Honestly, if that be the case, then it works to the Dark Woods people’s advantage especially. We can’t really say that we blame them, especially in light of how cruel the Thourons are and their overall mentality.
The majority of this story focuses on Zuri and Martina. Throughout Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters, Zuri learns the truth about her family and where (or should we say when) her parents came from. There is a lot of emotional turmoil for her to work through on more than one level. Especially with her having a child in this book as well. There is some controversy between Zuri and Martina, but it isn’t anything that creates a huge rift between the two women.
While Zuri is learning the truth about her family through hidden archives, Martina is selecting and preparing the ones who will fill the void left by Zuri’s parents. There is some drama between them and some others, but it’s nothing that can’t be worked out and worked through. The drama in this book is pretty downplayed compared to the previous books in the Destined series.
There are some small bursts of drama and action, but nothing overly major. This gives the book a pretty even pacing that keeps you engaged, but overall lacking in excitement. There are some tense moments when Zuri and the other Uderrans are asked to work with and trust Thourons who want change, but if you’re hoping for major scenes of action you’re going to be disappointed.
Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters is more of a revelatory addition to the series. But we think that since this book ends with a lot of unfinished business, it’s just the scene being set for something bigger. With the general introduction of a particular bad guy who has been the spark to the Thourons’ hate it leaves you wondering if he will be making an appearance soon. Only time will tell, and we’re eager to find out what happens next.
If you’ve enjoyed the Destined series and are eager to get back to it, then Aftermath: Buried Secrets, Hidden Truths, Missing Chapters will be a book that you’re going to want to pick up. Just bear in mind that most of the characters you’ve become familiar with are now gone. So, be prepared to meet new ones and follow along with their story. It’ll be interesting to see where things go from here in the Destined series.
Pros:
- A lot of backstory and world building
- Decent introduction of a new collective of characters
- Good steady pacing
- Nice introduction of two groups of people who have only been touched on in previous books
Cons:
- The storyline doesn’t have as much depth as one would expect.
- Would have liked more focus on the Thourons since they are more of the driving force of division.
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