Book Review: Regina Shen: Endurance (Book 4) by Lance Erlick

Over the past month, we were able to read and review the Regina Shen series from author Lance Erlick. We just finished reading the 4th book, Endurance. What did we think of Endurance and the Regina Shen series by Lance Erlick?

Quick Summary of Regina Shen: Endurance (Book 4).

Betrayed by her own mother, outcast Regina Shen has been trying to free her sister. Instead, she becomes a pawn in the World Federation’s struggle for power and succession.

Worldwide fertility has collapsed and the World Premier is dying, leading to a crisis of leadership. Battle lines are forming and Regina holds the keys to resolving the fertility crisis with her genome and elevating whoever can capture and control her into positions of power. Using her photographic (eidetic) memory of illegal books, she also holds the key to locating ancient artifacts that could save or destroy the Federation. In holding these keys, Regina should be treated as a queen, but outcasts aren’t even allowed to become citizens.

Having survived the swamps, deserts, and wilderness, Regina continues to try to barter for freedom for her and her sister, but the stakes are too high. Federation agents hound Regina to uncover ancient artifacts and serve herself up as a lab specimen to prevent human extinction. The disgraced Inspector Joanne Demarco pretends to be Regina’s ally to get her to deliver the location of ancient DNA vaults that could change the balance of power. Meanwhile, ruthless rivals are willing to do anything to destroy Demarco and control Regina.

Regina’s new journey will test her endurance, her ability to recognize opportunities, and her knack for avoiding capture. She will also face a tragedy and a strange twist of destiny that will shake her to her core and get her to question everything. Will she be able to overcome adversity or will she descend down an even more dangerous path?

Readers will remain invested the Erlick's characters and storyline. Through every change and challenge, readers watch Regina grow, adapt and develop into her role. While I didn't always agree with Regina's decision making, and her occasional impulsiveness was so maddening to me at times--I loved Regina. She was an intelligent, emotional, strong character--and I was truly interested to following the fates of her and her "supporting cast" throughout the series. Too often I find myself losing interest in a character throughout a series--or finding flaws in their development. Regina Shen was different. Erlick did a wonderful job creating both Regina and the series to keep readers invested in her to the end. 

Is Endurance the last book of the Regina Shen series? Perhaps, I am just not sure if I am ready for the series to end. While the storyline does come to resolution in Endurance--I think I enjoyed the series so much that I feel that I want to learn more and experience more with Regina Shen.

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Would I recommend Endurance by Lance Erlick? I think this is one of my favorite young adult, dystopian series. It says a lot that, after 4 books, my daughter and I would like more. Not because we feel that we are missing things--but, because we enjoyed the characters and their world so much.

Buy the book:   Amazon   

Meet the Author.
He was raised by a roaming aerospace engineer, growing up in various parts of the United States and Europe, as well as traveling through Asia. He took to stories as his anchor, including the works of Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein, and has been writing since age eleven.

In an ideal world, Lance would find time loops where he could step out for a week at a time to read and write. Then he would return to the moment he left, without life getting in the way. Of course, since everyone would have the same ability, he suspects life would still sneak in.

Growing up, he was inspired by his father’s engineering work on cutting-edge aerospace projects to look to the future.

Lance is also the author of short stories and novelettes.

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