Back to the Brink: "Origins Progeny" Delivers Heart-Pounding Sci-Fi and High Stakes

What happens when you think you’ve escaped your past—but it refuses to let you go? In ORIGINS PROGENY by Diana Fedorak, the explosive sequel to the award-winning Children of Alpheios, we follow Alina DeHerte as she’s forced to return to the place she swore she’d left behind forever. Published by Wild Rose Press and clocking in at 402 pages, this futuristic sci-fi drama is packed with heart, high tension, and just the right dose of moral complexity.

From the very first chapters, I was pulled deep into Alina’s story. Even though I haven’t read the first book (yet!), Fedorak does a great job of making Origins Progeny feel accessible without being bogged down in backstory. Still, now I’m seriously tempted to go back and devour Children of Alpheios just to see how it all began.

Thank you to the author for the book and my honest review. Rockstar Book Tours sponsors this book tour. Be sure to read my full review below and enter the giveaway for the book!

---

My Review of "Origins Progeny" by Diana Fedorak

After rescuing her son from the dystopian city of Alpheios, Alina is living in a quiet sanctuary with her new fiancé. Life seems stable—until she gets word her mother is gravely ill. Returning to Alpheios means more than just facing old ghosts. The city is unraveling. Power-hungry leaders are pushing dangerous agendas that threaten the lives of every citizen, and Alina must team up with the man she’s tried to avoid—the father of her child and a Guardian officer with secrets of his own.

It’s a compelling set-up with high emotional stakes and a brewing storm of political and scientific intrigue. Think Divergent meets Gattaca, but with even deeper layers of family, loyalty, and survival.

🌟 What I Loved

The characters are so compelling. Alina isn’t just a survivor—she’s fierce, vulnerable, and deeply relatable. Her inner conflict, torn between her new life and unresolved ties to her past, makes for a rich emotional journey. I especially loved how the story balanced breakneck pacing with those quiet, personal moments that make the stakes feel real.

The world-building is top-notch. Fedorak paints a vivid picture of Eamine’s society, where genetic engineering and authoritarian rule intertwine in chillingly believable ways. And let’s talk about the tension! Whether it’s navigating political minefields, confronting a former lover, or racing against the clock to save her mother, there’s never a dull moment.

Also? The science is legit. Fedorak weaves in themes around DNA manipulation, corporate corruption, and medical ethics that feel incredibly relevant without ever slowing down the story.

📚 Do You Need to Read Book 1 First?

Honestly, no—but you’ll probably want to! While I jumped into book 2 without any confusion, I’m now itching to see how Alina’s story began. The relationships clearly have deep history, and I bet reading Children of Alpheios would only make the emotional payoff even stronger.

🤔 What Didn’t Work for Me

Nothing so far! I’m still early in the book, but the writing, pacing, and characters have hooked me completely. I’ll update this if anything changes, but I’m already considering it one of my favorite sci-fi reads this year.

💬 Final Thoughts

Origins Progeny is everything I want in dystopian sci-fi: strong characters, fast-paced storytelling, emotionally charged decisions, and thought-provoking themes. Whether you’re a fan of speculative fiction, love stories set against the backdrop of political chaos, or just want a book that keeps you glued to the page, this one delivers.

If you haven’t checked out this series yet, now’s the time. I’m giving Origins Progeny a glowing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and heading straight to book one because I need to know everything.

---