Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan (Sky Chasers trilogy book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first two books in the Sky Chasers trilogy, Glow and Spark, Stop! I don't want to ruin the series for you.

Seth rescued and sent Waverly off to the New Horizon alone. Now he hopes to make it on his own to the enemy ship and stay undetected. Then he can try and help Waverly and possibly get back at Anne Mather. Using a One Man, he makes it to the ship but is soon detected. Tired and injured, Seth is still able to make it to the rain forest pod and hide.

Waverly and Sarah pilot the last load of children from the Empyrean to the New Horizon where Anne Mather is waiting for them. She is still holding out hope that her mother is still alive. Mather tries to make amends but in the end, Waverly breaks down and succumbs to defeat. Mather escorts her to an apartment where she will be under house arrest until Waverly's true intentions are revealed. Her mother is waiting for her inside. Their reunion is anything but ideal. Waverly's mother has fallen under Pastor Mather's spell.

Kieran is being kept prisoner in Anne Mather's office. His mother, who has also been brainwashed by Mather, is with him. Mather continues to insist to him that Jacob Pauley and his wife acted alone when they blew up the Empyrean and the nuclear reactor failure was an accident. Mather allows Kieran to see the destroyed spaceship through the porthole and he knows Seth is dead. Even though the two were enemies, Kieran still feels the hurt. Mather gives him a list of the missing, many of them his friends, and lets Kieran know she has people searching the ship for any survivors. He blames himself for letting everyone down. Mather promises the young, former captain of the Empyrean that he can see his crew in the morning; Kieran realizes that she wants something from him but he hasn't figured it out yet.

Just before he can fall asleep in the rain forest, an alarm sounds and an announcement is made to be on the lookout for an unaccompanied young man. Before he can escape and hide elsewhere, guards enter the pod. An older couple working has an argument with a guard over their locality to Mather. The guard walks away and orders more men to join the search. Seth decides to make a run for it but trips and falls. The couple covers for him when the guards come looking. The man fakes his own fall and injuries. They head to the infirmary. The guards are still looking for him when two gunshots ring out. In the ensuing panic, a guard comes to Seth to rescue him before either one of them are found out.

After a trying couple of days with her mother and no answers as to why she is so submissive, Waverly receives a visitor, a handsome man who introduces himself as Jared Carver. They leave her apartment to take her to visit a friend. Housed in an uninhibited part of the ship, Jared tells her that Anne wants to "move forward to a peaceful future for all" or at least that's her story. She is not going to be allowed to see her friends for the time being after what happened the last time and the fact that there is a fugitive aboard the ship. Waverly believes that it is Seth but she tells Jared no when he asks if she has any idea who it could be.

Jared takes her to the administrative level of the ship and into a narrow office lined with books. He introduces her to Dr. Wesley Carver, an older man of an indeterminate age. He has had her brought to his office because she has shown mettle and promise as a leader. Her four minute speech during church services before her escape discredited Anne in the eyes of many of the ship's inhabitants. In Waverly, Dr. Carver sees her as the future leader of the New Horizon. He and the remaining church elders/Central Council want her to help them destroy Anne. She has made them vulnerable to chaos, predictability ensures that order remains. He tells her to name her price for her help. She asks that he look at her mother. He agrees when she doesn't trust the ship's doctors. At first, he finds nothing wrong with her. Upon further questioning he sees that she seems emotionless until he threatens to take Waverly away. Dr. Carver isn't sure what is wrong with her but he will find out if Waverly helps him.

After four days, Mather allows Kieran a breakfast reunion with the children from the Empyrean. Looking out at them, they begin to ask about their parents. Never having informed some off them about their parents' deaths, he wonders what he is going to say to them when Felicity Wiggam walks in. The children are delighted to see her and begin to ask her the same questions. She takes one look at Kieran and knows the truth about her own parents that she had suspected. Soon more children arrive. Waverly is one of the last along with her and Kieran's mothers who act like old friends. Kieran begrudgingly tries to tell the children about their dead parents. Suddenly, the surviving adults from the Empyrean enter the room and chaos erupts over the tearful reunions. Mather and her guards appear at the back of the room. Before he can begin to tell the remaining children that their parents are dead, the surviving adults take the children aside to tell break the devastating news. Kieran looks around the room and sees parents and children alike grieving their lost loved ones. He comes to the realization that all of the sermons he gave were nothing but lies. Kieran breaks down only to be comforted by his mother.

Seth wakes up in a real bed. He is in hiding in Maya's apartment and she fixes him something to eat. They talk a bit before the man who covered for Seth in the rain forest comes into the bedroom. The man turns out to be Dr. Molinelli and he is there to secretly treat Seth's mangled hand. When he asks Maya why she is helping him, she tells him that she and several others don't agree with what Anne Mather did to Waverly and the girls. They consider the girls family now since several of them are now pregnant with their embryos and she has hurt their families. Seth is stunned when Maya announces that she is pregnant with one of Waverly's embryos. He asks to be alone, wishing that he could hold Waverly in his arms.

Soon it seems like battle lines are being drawn not only between the original residents of the New Horizon but hose of the Empyrean as well. Lies from years ago begin to come to life bringing with them devastation. Can Kieran, Waverly and Seth remember who the real enemy is before it is too late? What happens when Anne Mather asks Kieran to help her lead the ship? Can Seth remain hidden or will he be found out? Will Waverly end up with either Seth or Kieran? Who is Dr. Wesley Carver and what does he want with Waverly? Is Jared related to him somehow? What are his intentions? Will she accept the deal Dr. Carver offers her? Have Waverly's mother and the other adults have been brainwashed? Can Kieran get over the feeling of guilt that he carries? Are there any survivors aboard the Empyrean? What happens when the first babies are born? Will there ever be peace aboard the New Horizon? Readers will be left on the edge of their seats to see how this thrilling ride ends.

Visit Amy Kathleen Ryan's website.

The Offering by Kimberly Derting (The Pledge book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't read the first two books in the series, The Pledge and the Essence, Stop! I don't want to ruin Charlie's story for you.

Charlie is trying to settle into her role as Queen Charlania of Ludania. She is desperately trying to pull her country back into the modern age after its former Queen, Sabara, cut off all ties with the neighboring queendoms and forced her citizens into a strict caste system. Charlie also continues her inner struggle with Sabara, whose essence resides with her. She is at almost constant war within herself to keep Sabara pushed down and allow her to make her own decisions. And Max, Sabara's grandson, continues to serve as Charlie's advisor but hopes that their relationship can soon lead to an engagement. He is worried that Charlie is spreading herself too thin. She just wishes that the sweeping changes she wants for her country could happen overnight.

In the midst of peace negotiations with Queen Elena of Astonia, she sends Charlie a brutal message that could lead to war, Xander's hand. He and Nico had gone to negotiate a treaty. What everyone else who saw the box doesn't know is that there was a false bottom in it that only Charlie found. A sealed letter from Elena contains a message for Charlie. In an effort to stop a brewing war, Charlie decides to go to Elena and attempt to work things out. Knowing that she needs help to get to Astonia, Charlie goes to Eden to take her there. Eden decides that it will be the only way to find out what happened to Xander. The two slip out of the palace undetected.

Can Charlie break free from Sabara's essence? Will she be able to lead Ludania into a more prosperous future? Is Xander dead or alive? What did Elena's letter to Charlie say? Can the impending war between Ludania and Astonia be stopped?

Ms. Derting has proved loyal readers with a thrilling and satisfying end to the trilogy.

Visit Kimberly Derting's website.

Defy by Sara Larson

Alexa and her twin brother Marcel were orphaned when Blevonese soldiers attacked their village and a sorcerer killed their parents. King Hector's soldiers arrived too late. Looking very much alike, Alexa had spent years growing out her hair to distinguish herself from her brother. Upon their arrival in the destroyed village, the soldiers would round up the survivors to take them back to the palace. The girls would be sent to the king's breeding house. To protect Alexa, Marcel cut off her long locks so once again she would be mistaken for a boy. Once at the palace, Alexa became Alex and she and Marcel would eventually become members of Prince Damian's personal guard.

Three years after their arrival, Alexa's secret is still safe. Everyone thinks the twins are twenty when in reality they are only seventeen. On duty one night while the Prince is having dinner, a young woman who Alexa hasn't noticed before asks Damian if he is thrilled with the success the army has had in stopping the Blevonese sorcerers. His mother, the Queen, was murdered by them. Damian isn't happy by her words and she knows she has upset him. He excuses himself from the meal. His guards follow. Once out of the room, Prince Damian asks Alex why he hasn't been informed of any news on the war and sends him to find Nolen, his "handler". Marcel lets him know that he is out visiting his sister. Damian sends the twins to get information from Iker, the king's most trusted adviser.

When they arrive at Iker's door, it is slightly ajar and no one answers when they knocked. Deciding to enter rather than go back to Damian empty handed. Iker is bent over something and is furious they have entered without being asked. Alex is suspicious over Iker’s actions, especially since there is the smell of blood in the air. He forces them from the room. He says to tell Damian that he will be informed of any victories at the king's discretion. As for the two of them, the king's guard is short a few men due to illness and their services are required to place the new orphans arriving shortly. Neither is very happy at their predicament.

Unfortunately, the twins are forced to help take the new girls to the breeding house. Alexa is shaken but Marcel tells her that she cannot blow her cover. He tries to keep her calm over the horrors they are about to see. Once inside, Alexa is so repulsed that she breaks rank and flees from her duty. As she is running away, Marcel shouts out a name, his own. Marcel finds Alexa back in their room when he is relieved of duty. Before the two of them can speak, another guard comes for Marcel and they leave. Alexa is left alone to contemplate her mistake. Over an hour later, Marcel comes back to their room. He took a lashing for her actions. When she asks why, he lets her know that her secret would have been discovered when her shirt was removed for the lashing. She bandages her brother's wounds and is grief stricken. He tells her that he was only trying to protect his sister. Alexa is suspicious of Iker and he will never realize how horrific their punishment really was.

The next night, the King is having a lavish dinner party and his guard is in the ballroom. Prince Damian's guard is patrolling the grounds. Alexa walks around while allowing Marcel to rest. She spies Damian inside dancing with a pretty girl and she notices how beautiful the prince really is. It is too bad that she knows what he is really like on the inside. Suddenly, Alexa hears a body fall to the ground. She drops down as an arrow flies by. She sounds the alarm and the King and Prince are whisked to safety. She calls for another of the Prince's guard, Rylan, to come with her. Marcel has already killed the attacker but he wasn't alone. Deron, the Prince's captain, has his men fan out and none of the king's guard comes to help them. Alexa and Marcel go off together into the jungle following their path. She spots an intruder and quickly dispatches him. Marcel comes up beside her and asks if he was the only one. Before he can finish talking or Alexa to tell him to be quiet, he is struck down by an arrow. Alexa strikes down the second assassin but it is too late for her brother. She is now truly alone with her secret.

After spending the night grieving, Alexa gets up the next morning for it to hit her again. She gets cleaned up and dressed just as Rylan knocks on her door. He has brought word that Prince Damian wants to see her. Rylan tries to give his condolences but Alexa thinks she needs to put on a strong front, like a man would. Damian questions her about the previous night before showing her a more compassionate side of him over the mutual loss of their own brothers. The moment is gone when he chastises her for not leaving one of the assassins alive for questioning. The guards’ protection of him will also be increased. She meets Rylan for a sparring match, easily defeating him. Deron pulls her aside afterwards to let her know she has one day to grieve before Marcel is replaced on the guard. She also needs to find another way to take out her grief and aggression than on the other members of the guard. She spars by herself a bit longer while memories of her family fill her mind. She had just finished up when Asher, another of the guard comes rushes to her to say that there had been an attempt on the prince's life.

Alexa rushes to his quarters and finds them in an uproar. The assassin, a girl named Tanoori, knows Alexa and tries to speak even though she is gagged. In a panic, she orders the girl taken to the dungeon before her secret can be revealed. Deron agrees and orders Alex, Rylan and Jude to guard the prince's door. The remaining members leave. Deron has Alex go into the room to check on the Prince. Damian’s guard is down a bit before becoming his usual condescending self. He wants Alex to make sure the assassin receives the full punishment of the law. Then in a sudden switch, he laments on his life and wonders if his father or anyone else would care about his death. Alexa is thrown when Damian asks her if she would cry. Faltering, she shows a bit of concern before recovering. He tells her to go. Outside, Iker is trying to gain admittance to the prince's chamber. Alexa is again suspicious of the king's advisor. The King has ordered that the Prince will be closely guarded at all times. One will guard the outside of his bedroom door and someone will be at his side at all times. Deron says that Alexa, as his best guard, will sleep outside the door at night. Angry at first, Damian seems amused that Alexa will be the one to guard his door. He retires to his chamber. Alex Hollen should have no problem guarding the Prince so closely but Alexa Hollen does.

Alexa goes to the dungeon to interrogate Tanoori. She promises to keep Alexa's secret and tells her that the only way to bring down King Hector is to kill his son and heir. She also says that if she wishes "to help change the course of events, if you wish to do something meaningful, all you have to do is follow the river. The answer lies in the heart of the rivers for those who want to find it." Alexa has no idea what Tanoori is talking about. Leaving the dungeon, she avoids walking past the breeding house and considers Tanoori's words. Now in a war that no longer seems valiant but destroying everything it touches, Alexa questions whether she can find the courage to stop King Hector's atrocities.

Sharing close quarters with the prince, Alex is surprised to find that her opinion of Damian seems to be wrong. Even startling to her is the fact that she is drawn to him and if she isn't careful, her secret will be exposed. On a break from the competition for the guard position, Alexa finds her mind betraying her when her thoughts not only stray to Rylan but Damian as well. On her second to last competitor, she realizes that something is off about. When she finally beats him, her suspicions are raised. Wearing a mask, no one seems to know who he was. Deron asks what is wrong but she says nothing. Alexa is unable to prove that he is a sorcerer. Her thoughts turn towards all of the unanswered questions surrounding her, especially concerning the competitor who called himself Eljin.

When Alexa's suspicions prove correct, it is too late. Prince Damian is kidnapped by the sorcerer and they take Alexa and Rylan along as well. They hope to hold him hostage so that King Hector will put a stop to the war. When they make camp the first night, Alexa's world and secret becomes unraveled. Not only did Rylan know that Alex was a girl (he overheard Marcel call her by her real name, he kept her secret and promised her brother he would keep her safe) but Damian knew as well and for a long time. With her secret out and with her heart struggling between two men, it is going to be a long trip to wherever they are being taken to.

Is there really a sorcerer in the palace and why? Who else knows Alexa's secret? What happens to her when they do? What answers lie at the heart of the rivers? Who is after Prince Damian and why? Is he really the cruel and aloof person he seems or is it an act? Can King Hector's war be stopped? What secrets is Iker keeping? Will the breeding house be closed or does Alexa find herself there? Will Alexa be able to keep her feelings buried or will she be torn between two men?

Fans will be eagerly waiting to see how Alexa's story plays out in book two out in 2015.

Visit Sara Larson’s website.