Review: Son of The Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Danso has found himself in a unique position. Despite not being High Bassai, he is a novitiate, and while his position in the guild is tenuous, he seems totally unconcerned with decorum. Instead, Danso seeks the truth behind stories, including that of his mother’s past. His fixation has landed him in hot water a few times, much to the ire of his intended, Esheme.

Yet when events beyond Danso’s control force the land of Bassa to close its borders, and for Danso to be expelled from his university, his life changes beyond recognition. But that’s nothing compared to his discovery of a strange warrior from a distant land, with the ability to wield magic, and a price-tag on her head.

Ands it’s that discovery, along with his insane desire to help this exile, that REALLY lands him in trouble, and places his life, and the lives of everyone he loves, in danger. Because it turns out Danso has a secret of his own, which could unsettle the very history upon which the kingdom of Bassa was founded.

African fantasy has just found itself a king in the form of Suyi Davies Okungbowa. I’ve yet to discover another writer who can effortlessly weave African mythology and history with a dazzling display of fantasy to create something new and delicious. Son of the Storm is more into just a foray into the birthplace of humanity (and probably magic). It is a cleverly crafted social narrative that exposes injustices and discrimination while the camouflage of epic fiction. Okungbowa has created a page-turner that is as addictive as it is compelling. He has reintroduced to the world to the power for Africa, and an African story, and I am hooked.

But there’s a downside.

Just as the characters start to feel like real people, and the trek across unknown lands really hits its stride, we are left with an (admittedly very good) cliffhanger, and the torture of waiting for the next instalment. Which means that we have what feels like an eternity to wait before the story continues. I hate that – I want more already, so excuse me while I learn to transform a sulk session into patience. In the meantime, join the party and grab a copy of Son of the Storm before Hollywood finds it first!

Son of the Storm by Suyi Davies Okungbowa is published by Orbit, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Troy by Stephen Fry

Long ago, when gods still roamed the earth and the world was a playground for the egos of important men, the unthinkable happened. Prince Paris of Troy was promised the love and adoration of the most beautiful woman in the world, as seen through a vision given to him by the goddess of love. Unfortunately, this unnatural beauty – who went by the name of Helen – was already married to another man. In response, Paris decided to sail to Sparta and kidnap Helen, under false pretenses. His actions so enrage Helen’s husband that he and his brother immediately launch war against Troy, in order to return Helen to her home. However, what started off as a rescue mission soon became a decade-long stalemate and brutal war that is still recounted thousands of years later.

If you thought you knew about the story of Troy – and particularly of those events involving a certain beautiful lady and a ten-year long war, you’re wrong. Not only has Stephen Fry made this popular myth as relatable and interesting as any film starring Brad Pitt, but he’s improved it with the addition of more context and history than any film could ever hope to represent. Whether you like a good adventure, are a history buff or just enjoy Mr. Fry’s particular skill with a pen, this book will not disappoint.

While this book forms the perfect companion for the other similar works in Mr. Fry’s repertoire – Mythos and Heroes – it is also perfectly suited as a stand-alone work that is every bit as brilliant and entertaining as Homer intended, while being far easier to enjoy. Fry has delved into the tangled mess of history for us, so that we don’t need to struggle and trudge through endless names, facts and events just to get to the juicy parts of one of the most infamous wars of all time. Complete with Fry’s signature wit and sassy humor, Troy takes ancient history, and rebrands it as modern adventure suitable for any audience. The effect is dazzling; not only are we given a beautifully curated and modernized tale, but in so doing, Fry has made Greek mythology (dare I say it?) sexy. If that’s not talent, I give up.  

Troy by Stephen Fry is published by Michael Joseph, a Penguin Random House company.

Review: Gallows Rock by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

When Huldar’s team is called to investigate a suicide within sight of the presidential palace, it seems straight-forward enough. Remove the hanging corpse before any of the political big-wigs can spot the body. However, once they arrive at the scene, it is evident that this hanging was no suicide. As if a murder disguised as a suicide wasn’t bad enough, when the police search the dead man’s apartment, it contains a four-year old boy not related to the victim, with no recollection of how he got there.

As Huldar and Freja team up to find the little boy’s home, it becomes increasingly obvious that the there’s a link between the murder, and the child’s missing family, they just don’t know what it is yet, and time is running out.

Sigurdardottir hasn’t earned the title of the Queen of Nordic Noir for nothing – this fourth installment in the Freja and Huldar series is simply brilliant. Not only does Sigurdardottir have a talent for dark story-telling, but she has created characters they never bore, and are still fresh and interesting after several installments. Add to this her flair for the macabre, and you have all the makings of a great book, that keeps you hooked from the first page.

Gallows Rock is a brilliant commentary on the social ills of class, wealth, and gender-based violence, all while being action-packed and deliciously dark. The author has a definite skill for discussing important themes through a lens that’s dusted with a bit of horror and a dash of the mind-blowing, making her books enjoyable and addictive, and Gallows Rock is no exception. With good writing and a great story line, what more could you want?

Gallows Rock by Yrsa Sigurdardottir is published by Hodder & Stoughton, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid

It’s safe to say that Thorkild Aske has hit rock bottom. The former Internal Affairs investigator not only lost his job, but attempted suicide and ended up in a psychiatric hospital for a while. However, now that he’s served his time for accidental death he caused, it’s time for him to once again join the world. Though he is banned from police work for life, he somehow gets roped into a private investigation into the disappearance of a young Dane. As he delves into the investigation and goes in search of the missing diver, he comes face to face with his past, and memories the spirited woman who was key to his downfall.

I Will Miss You Tomorrow makes superb use of the unreliable narrator. In his near constant drug-addled state, Thorkild spends his days balancing on the edge of a very thin divide between truth and fantasy – between witnesses and hallucinations. Despite this, he seems convinced of the truth, even though the doctors and police have their reservations. With a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Thorkild seeks not only the truth, but the redemption that accompanies it.

An interesting mix of fantasy and gritty dark crime drama, this book is an unexpected treat that seeks to humanize the detective genre, and the stone-hearted people who create the face of the genre. 

Despite his flaws, his dependency on anti-psychotics and pain medication, and his hesitancy to actually investigate, Thorkild proves himself to be an excellent detective, and a decent human being.

I Will Miss You Tomorrow is the first of a series, and while the protagonist seems to lack the staying power we generally associate with series, I can’t help but feel excited to see what happens next. If you like your whodunnits to have as much heart as they do grim reality, this book is for you. An easy read that transports you to the cold and storm north of the world, it’s a great adventure, and worth every second.

I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid is published by Raven Books, a Bloomsbury company, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Return to Zero by Pittacus Lore

The kids at the Earth Garde Academy just can’t catch a break. Just when they return from a dangerous mission, before the grime and blood has even been washed off, there’s a new threat; this time, from within their own ranks. When the Academy’s controlling body attempts to replace the leadership and implant Inhibitor Chips into the brains of all the students, it’s no surprise that there’s an uproar. With factions forming between the students and staff, and the uncertainty of who to trust seem to push the Academy to tipping point, all hope seems lost. Luckily for the Garde, and for the reader, it’s at this moment that John Smith – Number Four himself – arrives to help. With him is something none of the Garde have seen before – a repentant Mogodorian, seeking tot rain among the Academy’s students.

Return to Zero is the third installment of a second series of books by Pittacus Lore. You’d think with so many books before it, there’d be precious little to fill another volume. You’d be wrong. The idea of Legacies (or superpowers, for those not in the know of Lore’s linguistics) adds infinite possibilities to the series’ narrative – each new book features previously unheard-of powers, adding a richness and unpredictability to the world of our teenage heroes. This time round, there’s the idea of a body-snatching religious extremist to content with. Never a dull moment when Lore is involved.

Despite the new characters and situations introduced in this book, it is also the first of the new series to fully bring us back to the characters of the first series, giving it a warm nostalgia and feeling of coming home. Frustratingly, the questions which remained unanswered at the end of the last book, such as the whereabouts of key characters from the first series of books, are still lingering - there are hints that these will be addressed in the next book. Yes, you read that correctly, there’s more waiting to be done! However, that’s not really a problem for those of us with patience – Return to Zero still has enough action and intrigue to keep even the most critical fan entertained.

So if planet-hopping adventures bolstered by aliens, superpowers, and teenage angst are your jam, this book (and the series as a whole) promises to be right up your alley. If you’re not a fan of these various themes and quirks, you’re just difficult to please. Do yourself a favour and read them anyway.

Return to Zero by Pittacus Lore is published by Penguin Random House.

Review: The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman

Nearly a decade has passed since we last saw Lyra Silvertongue. Still at Oxford (now a student and no longer a pixie-like child getting into trouble and haunting the corridors), Lyra’s life has become a blur of books and study. In addition to changing the way she sees the world or expresses her opinions, years of study have made her a more timid version of her younger self. Her burning curiosity seems to have been stoppered by paper. In contrast, Pan yearns to rekindle their imagination; their lust for exploration and discovery. While the two remain at an awkward impasse, the tension reaches breaking point, until Pan – frustrated and worried – leaves Lyra to find a solution. In Lyra’s search to recover him, she is once again thrown into danger and excitement. Travelling across the world in search of her soul mate, Lyra begins to learn about her past, and the importance of believing in the secret commonwealth – the world of all things fantastic and magical.  

Pullman is a master story weaver – many delicate threads from a myriad minor tales merge into a single, glorious tapestry of adventure. His latest offering is also by far the most mature, featuring (for the first time) an entirely adult cast, and with dark overtones and internal struggles that are reflective of adulthood – noticeable from the use of profanity, to the tense situations that are explored and prodded. The Secret Commonwealth demands a mature reader who is not afraid to face the shadowy places in society. Reading this book is like diving into the minds and experiences of Lyra and Pan, who have problems far more pressing yet far less fantastic than their childhood ever featured. The void left by Pullman’s previous offerings of faeries, angels, talking bears, and witches is now filled with the grizzly reality of adulthood – cynicism, politics, existential crises and assaults on the body and mind.

Despite the prolific danger and darkness throughout the pages, there remains an element of hope and beauty characteristic of Pullman’s style. The Secret Commonwealth contains the possibility of forgiveness of sins, the potential for a love story, and small acts of kindness that serve to renew faith in (literary) humanity. In short, this novel covers all the bases, and is an emotional and intellectual triumph.

My only complaint about this book is the ending – it came too soon, and I am already anxious at the idea of a long wait before the next volume. Cliffhanger? Really, Mr Pullman; you’re a tease.  

The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman is published by David Fickling Books, and is available in South Africa from Penguin Random House South Africa.

Review: The Darkest Legacy by Alexandra Bracken

One of the trends followed by most YA series is the happy ending – the reward of sacrifices and trials and the goal and aim of protagonists the (literary) world over. However, few writers seem to address the time after the happy ending. Once the boy gets the girl, or the girl saves the world, or the boy overthrows a corrupt government, or the aliens retreat, what happens? Does everything magically go back to ‘normal’? Do the characters ever think fondly back on their hero days as they plod through a humdrum existence of bills, work, and tax? Yes, that sneaky question of ‘what next’ holds less sway than the events that led to it being safe to ask. Until now.

It’s a great risk to extend a series beyond the accepted happy ending. When another narrative is stitched to the end of an existing one, it can either ruin the entire ensemble, or add a much-needed flair and rounding off. Luckily for me, Alexander Bracken’s newest offering in The Darkest Minds series is the latter. The last book in the series (In the After Light) seemed to be the best place to end our relationship with the young men and women that carried us through this post-apocalyptic world of supernatural abilities and corrupt governments. The girl got the boy, the government was reformed, families were reunited, and the kids no longer had to live in fear. I thought this was the end of my time with Bracken’s characters, but I was wrong. The Darkest Legacy, as the name suggests, takes place after we left the kids to their happy ending – several years later, in fact, and it feels like coming home.

In the opening chapters I was hesitant – was Bracken trying to hard to bring back to life a successful franchise through one of the series’ more minor characters? Was she flogging a dead horse? Luckily, and somewhat surprisingly, the answer is a resounding no. Narrated through a fresh perspective, The Darkest Legacy takes us beyond the happy ending into a world in which nothing comes easily, and all freedoms must be earned. When attacks on Psi children and new, restrictive measures to control the newly redeemed supernatural populace are introduced, Zu and her colleagues refuse to allow their hard work to be reduced to a public relations stunt. Reluctant to go back to war, they sadly have no other choice as plots incriminating Zu explode across the media, putting the young woman back on the run, and desperate to clear her name, and finally bring about lasting change.

Bracken has a talent for emotions and the myriad ways they can be displayed. Hers are books that leave you feeling as enraged or butterfly-tummied as the characters; her writing is enticing and immersive, allowing you to become part of the world she has crafted. In addition, to see real, lasting growth in characters we met in their youth is as rewarding as it is addictive. Any questions we may have had are comprehensively answered, through a more mature perspective, which is in itself a pleasing turn of events. Sometimes, experiencing the upended world through the eyes of preteens can be infuriating and shallow – at last, we get to see the experience this upheaval with maturity, through adult eyes.

This book has many appealing features – excellent writing, likeable characters, budding relationships, intrigue, and a dash of wit and violence. Unfortunately, The Darkest Legacy can’t successfully be read as a stand-alone novel, as its roots are too deeply entrenched in the rest of the series, but don’t let that stop you. Read all four; I insist.

The Darkest Legacy y Alexandra Bracken is published by Quercus Books, an imprint of Hodder & Stoughton, and is available in South Africa from Pan Macmillan Publishers.

Review: Finale by Stephanie Garber

Caraval may have ended, but sisters Donatella and Scarlett need to prepare for games of an entirely different kind. While Legend prepares to tale the throne he claimed, the Fates have started to wake, and with them, an ancient magic that could change the world. In order to prevent the rise of the Fates, and the cruelties that will come with it, Legend must make sacrifices that effect more than just his life. Simultaneously, the sisters must decide who to trust and what path to follow to save their kingdom and themselves. In order to succeed, they need to learn more about their respective pasts, and uncover secrets that could help them restore order, but at what cost? Is there a happily ever after for the two young women?

There are so many things in this book to love, which make it so difficult to read – the closer you get to the final page, the more you wish the chapters would magically multiply, elongating your stay in the world. It seems to be an impossible feat to finally part with the characters and the immense sense of wonder that Garber has created. And yet we must; all good things must come to an end.

While there is nothing strictly formulaic about this book, it nevertheless adheres to the traditional conventions of the fairy tale – trials and tests conclude with a happy and deserved ending, and that makes it all the more appealing and wholesome. Despite the myriad gruesome acts the sisters are witness to, and the trickery that surrounds them, their love for each other and the men in their lives remains a golden, twinkling constant that wraps the reader in such comfort and joy that it would melt the coldest heart.

Garber is a master at portraying love and the beauty which it creates – cemented here as fantastic magic and impossible feats - and I don’t think there is a higher compliment I can pay her. This book had me wanting to literally crawl between the pages and never leave. The world of Caraval is rich, vibrant, and awe-inspiring, much like the characters themselves. This is a faultless narrative that makes the reader believe in the impossible, cherish the important, and stare in wonder at endless possibility. This book, like the world it contains, is nothing short of true magic.

Finale by Stephanie Garber is published by Hodder & Stoughton, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: In the After Light by Alexandra Bracken

Ruby is the key to bringing down the government and finding the cure for the abilities that plague the country’s youth, and she’s not sure she’s ready for it. After forming an alliance with Children’s League’s top agents, Ruby is ready to fight; ready to release the children still in camps, and end this era of oppression. Yet being in a warzone is taking its toll – with the deaths of close friends, crumbling infrastructure, and enemies in plain sight, it’s unclear who she can trust. The only certainties that remain are her feelings for Liam and her desire for liberation – but at what cost?

Bracken has made maturity and rationality the forefront of her young characters – they are capable, determined and passionate young people with an enormous responsibility upon their shoulders. Perhaps that is why this book is all the more heart-breaking. Youths with stolen childhoods are forced into warfare; to grow up before their time and see the darkest aspects of life. As a reader, and as an adult reader specifically, you become so emotionally invested in the characters, hoping that they will get their happy ending – it’s a clever device to ensure engagement with your audience.

Reading a series like this, it’s no surprise that it has been picked up by Hollywood for a film version – the characters are likeable with enormous depth for their limited years, and the plot is exciting, emotional and filled with action and intrigue – there is literally something for everyone (and on that note, the romances and associated warm fuzzies offset some of the heavier aspects of the novel). It is a fun, insightful read that manages to critique elitism and discrimination, while still being thoroughly enjoyable.

In the After Light is a satisfying conclusion to a series full of tension and intrigue, in which the reader is witness to the growth and evolution of fascinating characters. It is a satisfying ending to our heroine’s epic struggle, and leaves you with a pang of nostalgia on its completion.

In the After Light by Alexandra Bracken is published by Pan Macmillan.

Review: Fugitive Six by Pittacus Lore

The Mogodorian invasion may be a thing of the past, but the Lorien and newly legacied human Garde still face other challenges. The Foundation is a shadowy group attempting to sell off those gifted with legacies to the highest bidders, and are behind abductions and disappearances of Garde around the globe. In addition, fear mongering by mainstream media has people afraid of the powers exhibited by the gifted teens now has tempers high and tensions higher. Despite everything, Earth needs saving from itself, and the Fugitive Six are determined to come to the rescue.

Action-packed from the first page, Pittacus Lore wastes no time setting the scene and thrusting the reader into turmoil. Sadly, this quality means that the book would not be as enjoyable as a standalone novel, and really only blooms when read as part of series. However, for those who have been following the Lorien from their initial arrival in I am Number Four, it feels like going home. With a return of characters from previous books, and a hinting at more exciting things to come in the next chapter, the tension is palpable.

There is so much to love about the Lorien series – it is an immensely easy and fun read, with an offering of everything; mystery, intrigue, action, fantasy and romance – I think you will be hard-pressed to find someone who won’t enjoy this series; it was crafted with general appeal in its DNA.

The only major downside to this series is that each book ends with a dramatic cliffhanger, which proves a wreck for one’s nerves, and the wait until the next installment is as frustrating as it is tedious. A well-established series such as this also makes a reader somewhat greedy – I want the rest of the story immediately, and thus have to warn readers that starting this series may increase your levels of sass and grumpiness as you wait for each new offering. So, until we meet again, Mr Lore, I wait impatiently.

Fugitive Six by Pittacus Lore is published by Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Review: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Donatella Dragna may have rescued her sister Scarlett from their overbearing father and an arranged marriage, but she can’t celebrate yet. Despite Scarlett having won Caraval, the sisters are on their way to an unprecedented second game, in honour of the Empress’ birthday. This time, the game is not a means of escaping their father and hum-drum routine. After striking up an unlikely relationship with an anonymous criminal who can help Tella locate her missing mother begs payment, and the friend will accept no less than the true name of the master of Caraval, Legend. Having already promised the payment before the game opened, Tella must win in order to save her mother. However, this time, Caraval is different; the game is real, as are the consequences of playing. Failure to win Caraval will mean that Tella fails to save her mother, yet playing could also mean that she will lose more than just her mother.

Stephanie Garber has cleverly created a world which embodies the concept of magic. Narratives, characters and events are as sly as smoke, shifting effortlessly between the tangible and the imagined. Legendary is the definition of an intricate plot, so carefully cloaked in mystery and sprinkled with the impossible that it feels as though the book should leave glitter on your fingertips with the turning of each page. ‘Beautiful’ lacks the power to describe this story – it should be located among the extraordinary, impossible and marvelous.

It is near-on impossible to fault this book. Every aspect is polished, well thought-out and mesmerizing. The only thing better than the addictive storyline is the poetic prose of which it is comprised; unfailingly amazing and impressive. Garber has created a story which marries romance, adventure, intrigue and fantasy, and reads like literary fiction of the highest form – an impressive skill. Legendary is a love letter to magic, to Caraval, and to the reader who delves into both.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber is published by Hodder and Stoughton, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: The Collector by Fiona Cummins

Brian Howley escaped police custody. While he has vanished, so too has the knowledge of where Clara, a kidnapped 5-year old, has been hidden. DS Fitzroy is more desperate than ever before to catch The Collector, and finally bring him to justice.

Unperturbed by his narrow escape from the police, Howley seeks to begin a new collection, and yet the signature piece remains the skeleton of Jakey, a six-year old with Stone Man Syndrome, and the twisted bones which result from it. After following Jakey’s family across the country to shadow their fresh start, Howley appears to have fate smiling on him, for not only is Jakey within reach, but The Collector has discovered an heir to his dastardly enterprise.

The Collector picks up immediately after the conclusion of Cummins’ first novel, Rattle, but remains a good stand-alone story if you’ve not read the prequel (though I urge you to read both). The continuation of the narrative cements this fictional world of dark deeds into the reader’s mind, which together with moving characters and a bold plot, make the story addictive and easy to read. Usually, one finds that continuations of a series can mean that the integrity of characters and stories erode over time, with each sequel slightly less impressive than its predecessor, but not so in Fiona Cummins’ world. Here, The Collector surpasses Rattle, and yet both are undoubtedly fun and excellent reads. That, in itself, is quite an achievement (and I don’t think I’ve experienced that before). In addition, Cummins’ shows her ability to display characters who have enough weight to be interesting a second time around. Read the books together, or read them apart, but you’ll definitely love every page.

Is escapism is what you’re after, you’ll enjoy this trip down the rabbit hole.

The Collector by Fiona Cummins is published by Pan Macmillan

Review: The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan

Arian, First Oralist and Companion of Hira, has been tasked with an immense responsibility. In a land on the brink of war, with the very existence of the written word being threatened by the warring Talisman, Arian and her fellow Companion Sinnia are tasked with retrieving the Bloodprint; the last vestige of The Claim.

Risking a journey fraught with danger, death and deception, Arian must retrieve the Bloodprint and return it to the Citadel of Hira, to the High Commander, before it falls to the hands of the Talisman. Thus tasked, and fueled by the loss of her sister to Talisman marauders years ago, Arian seeks to return successful, whatever the personal cost.

The Bloodprint is an epic adventure akin to The Lord of the Rings. It is filled with numerous details and intricacies which slow down the action, but are of vital importance to understanding the vast world created by Khan. While it crossed my mind many times that this book could have in fact been broken up into two shorter novels, as the pages remaining to be read decreased, the activity increased, holding me spellbound. It was with despair that I reached the conclusion, “HERE ENDS BOOK ONE OF THE KHORASAN ARCHIVES.” I feel cheated by that single line. I followed Arian through death, loss, discovery and magic only to be forced to have to wait who knows how long to learn of her fate. You are a cruel author, Ausma Zehanat Khan.

The Bloodprint is much more than an easy read – it requires time and dedication. It is a feast to be savoured, and requires the patience to do so. However, the prose is beautiful, the characters arresting, and the world contained within the book’s covers is rich and full of marvelous adventure.

The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan is published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of Hachette Books, and is available in South Africa from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Review: Generation One by Pittacus Lore

The Loric are back, but this time they’re training the next generation of Garde. After the epic battle against the Mogs, and the surprising appearances of Legacies within humans, things are a little different on Earth. An Academy has been established by the UN to train the new Earth Garde in using their powers, in a move that ironically sees the original Loric Garde as the new Cepans. Briefly featuring a few of our much-beloved numeric friends (as introduced in the original series), Generation One focuses on the new Garde, who are still tasked with honing their skills, fighting the bad guys, and protecting the Earth.

An international group of teens form our new heroes, and with them, usual teenage drama – love, angst and anxiety, all the while growing up and bonding as only those with Legacies can. The Mogs may have been eliminated and their plans thwarted, but the Earth Grade nevertheless discover that they still have enemies – closer to home than anyone would have imagined. Pulled into battles, kidnap plots and dastardly deeds, they need to stay together and work as one to overcome their challenges.

I am a huge fan of the Loric series – the books are so fast-paced, easy to read and enjoyable. This, thankfully, goes for the newest addition to the series, too. Often, sequels disappoint, but Pittacus Lore has proven (multiple times) that the Loric are the exception – each book is an addictive serving of something wonderful. Generation One is great and so much fun! It is an exciting start to a new story line, which ends with a definite hint of more to come. So I ask, on behalf of all fans, when the next one will come out? I can’t wait.

Generation One by Pittacus Lore is published by Penguin Random House.