Children’s / Teenage fiction: Thrillers / suspense

Book SynopsisFrom the day he was found in a carrier bag on the steps of Guy's Hospital in London, Andy McNab has led an extraordinary life.As a teenage delinquent, Andy McNab kicked against society. As a young soldier he waged war against the IRA in the streets and fields of South Armagh. As a member of 22 SAS he was at the centre of covert operations for nine years on five continents. During the Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, 'will remain in regimental history for ever'. Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his military career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS.Since then Andy McNab has become one of the world's best-selling writers, drawing on his insider knowledge and experience. As well as several non-fiction bestsellers including Bravo Two Zero, the biggest selling British work of military history, heTrade ReviewMcNab at his best . . . Sean Harker is an excellent addition to the ranks of young adult protagonists and one who can hold his own, with ease, against a strong field * crimereview.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisAiden Thomas is a New York Times bestselling author with an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, Oregon. As a queer, trans Latinx, Aiden advocates strongly for diverse representation in all media. Aiden's special talents include: quoting The Office, winning Jenga, finishing sentences with is my FAVORITE, and killing spiders. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by colour. Aiden is the author of The Cemetery Boys, The Sunbearer Trials and Lost in the Never Woods.

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Book SynopsisLaurie Devore''s YA novel A Better Bad Idea is a searing look at a forgotten girl who has no good choices left, but one better bad idea . . . Evelyn Peters is desperate. Desperate for a way out of McNair Falls, the dying southern town that's held her captive since the day she was born. Desperate to protect her little sister from her mother's terrifying and abusive boyfriend. And desperate to connect with anyone, even fallen golden boy Ashton Harper, longtime boyfriend of the girl Evelyn can never stop thinking about beautiful, volatile, tragically dead Reid Brewer. Until a single night sends Evelyn and Ashton on a collision course that starts something neither of them can stop. With one struck match, their whole world goes up in flames. The only thing left to do is runbut leaving McNair Falls isn't as easy as just putting distance between here and there and some secrets refuse to stay left behind. A reckoning is coming . . . and

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Book SynopsisWilder Girls meets Outer Banks where a group of scuba diving friends stumbles across lost treasure, a legendary cave, and a new type of power... that comes at a price. The deeper you go, the darker you fall. Phoebe ?Phibs? Ray is never more at home than when she?s underwater. On a dive six months ago, she and her four closest friends discovered a handful of ancient gold coins, rocketing them into social media fame. Now, their final summer together after high school, they?re taking one last trip to a distant Australian island to do what they love most ? scuba dive.While diving a local reef, Phibs discovers a spectacular underwater sea cave, rumored to be a lost cave with a buried treasure. But when Phibs and her best friend Gabe surface from the cave, they notice that they''re undergoing strange changes. Oozing gashes that don?t heal. Haunting whispers in their heads... Something has latched onto them, lurking beneath their skin, transforming them from the inside out. When treasure hunters arrive, desperate to find the location of the cave and hold Phibs? group for ransom, she?ll do anything to keep her friends safe. In the process she learns that, of all the dreadful creatures of the sea, she might be the most terrifying of them all.

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Book SynopsisTravelling by night, Zak Nine and Erro are following a shadowy figure until the mysterious stranger disappears into a cave. The boys decide to follow. Inside they find a maze filled with priceless gems, along with a rough band of escaped criminals. Things go from bad to worse when a squad of Alcatraz guards arrives on the scene. When the guards start shooting their laser blasters, suddenly nobody is safe! Will Zak and Erro escape the deadly storm of laser fire, or will they be trapped in the endless dark forever?This special Express edition has a reduced level text of ATOS 2.0 or lower. With exciting illustrations and gripping, page-turning text, it is sure to engross even the most reluctant of readers.

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Book SynopsisThe explosive follow-up to MONSTER and VILLAIN by bestselling author Michael GrantVector may just be the deadliest enemy Dekka and the group will ever face.He is a swarm of disease-bearing insects. His victims are hit with a wide range of supercharged diseases, and are then unable to die, but go on and on in a living hell.With Sam, Astrid and Edilio back to help the them, they form a team known as the Rockborn Gang. The also have a new member: Simone. A blue skinned punk who can fly.But Vector is only just the beginning, and the Rockborn Gang are forced to question if everything they've gone through until now is even real.Perfect for fans of the GONE series, The Darkest Minds and X-Men

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Book SynopsisA thrilling supernatural adventure: dark, funny, with twists at every turn. The sequel to Thirteen Days of Midnight, shortlisted for the Waterstones Children''s Prize 2016.Luke Manchett used to be one of the most popular boys at school.That was before his necromancer father died and left him a host of vengeful ghosts that wanted him dead.Now everyone thinks he''s a freak.To make matters worse, the mysterious new girl at school is actually the daughter of his father''s deadliest enemy...And she''s out for revenge.Trade ReviewFull of fantastical thrills, supernatural spills and wail-out-loud wit, this sublimely plotted sequel to Thirteen Days of Midnight is a riotously riveting read. * lovereading4kids.co.uk *Praise for Thirteen Days of Midnight (book 1): a self-assured debut that's as funny as it is terrifying * Publishers Weekly *Praise for Thirteen Days of Midnight (book 1):An exciting read ... thrilling and spooky * The Week Junior *I'm rendered speechless. I had high hopes for Eight Rivers of Shadow and Leo Hunt has exceeded them in every possible way. * Addicted to Media *Hunt's ear for teen voices is acute - in a sub-genre overwhelmed by twinkly vampires, it is salutary to have a ballsy, convincing adolescent male voice. * The Guardian *This is an awesome book. * Teen Titles - Teen Reviewer, Abigail Strachan *

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Book SynopsisCrazy Rich Asians meets One of Us is Lying in this electrifying YA thriller where students at an elite prep school are forced to confront their secrets when their ex-best friend turns up dead. Nancy Luo is shocked when her former best friend, Jamie Ruan, top-ranked junior at Sinclair Prep, goes missing, and then is found dead. Nancy is even more shocked when word starts to spread that she and her friends - Krystal, Akil, and Alexander - are the prime suspects, thanks to "the Proctor," someone anonymously incriminating them via the school’s social media app. They all used to be Jamie’s closest friends, and she knew each of their deepest, darkest secrets. Now, somehow the Proctor knows them, too. The four must uncover the true killer before The Proctor exposes more than they can bear and costs them more than they can afford, like Nancy’s full scholarship. Soon, Nancy suspects that her friends may be keeping secrets from her, too. Katie Zhao’s YA debut is an edge-of-your-seat drama set in the pressure-cooker world of academics and image at Sinclair Prep, where the past threatens the future these teens have carefully crafted for themselves. How We Fall Apart is the irresistible, addicting, Asian-American recast of Gossip Girl that we’ve all been waiting for.Trade ReviewA delicious shock on every page. Zhao has written a modern Gossip Girl for the BIPOC set that serves up urgent insights on class, race, and the brutality of high school striving. * Stephan Lee, author of K-POP CONFIDENTIAL *Through the eyes of her fierce, determined, and morally grey protagonist, Zhao unflinchingly exposes the pressures of elite high schools. This juicy thriller is steeped in secrets, betrayal, and toxic competitiveness--you won’t be able to put it down. * Diana Urban, author of ALL YOUR TWISTED SECRETS *Dark, deceptive, and deliciously deadly, How We Fall Apart cuts to the core of the Asian American experience through a fast-paced, twisty academia thriller. * Amélie Wen Zhao, author of the Blood Heir trilogy *In this page-turning debut, Zhao weaves an exhilarating tale that shimmers with adventure, love, and loyalty. Readers will be enthralled up to the incredible and absolutely breathless end. * J.C. Cervantes, New York Times bestselling author of THE STORM RUNNER, on THE DRAGON WARRIOR *Dark, thrilling mystery. Readers who love Karen M. McManus will enjoy this fast-paced, dramatic story. * School Library Journal *[The] first-person narration capably drives this fast-paced thriller to its unrelenting close. * Publishers Weekly *This standout prep school murder mystery . . . . [Is] an enticing new treat for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Karen McManus. * Kirkus Reviews *Part thriller, part mystery, Katie Zhao weaves a suspenseful read that will have readers on the edge of their seat. * School Library Connection *. . . this is one that fans of Sara Shepard and Karen McManus will kill to read. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisAll Anna Xu wants to do as she starts freshman year at the local prestigious Brookings University is keep up her stellar academic performance, break out of her shell, be more social ... and investigate the unsolved on-campus murder of her former babysitter six years ago. And if that wasn't difficult enough, it seems that Chris Lu, whose family are the Xu's business rivals, is attending Brookings too. There's no way they can be friends. Until a vandal attacks the Lu's bakery and Anna puts the perpetrator's call sign together with a clue from her investigation into the cold-case murder. When a very specific threat is made to Anna, she is forced to team up with Chris to undertake a dangerous search into the hate crimes happening around campus. Can they root out the current threat or will the town's ugly history take them down?Trade ReviewDark, thrilling mystery. Readers who love Karen M. McManus will enjoy this fast-paced, dramatic story * School Library Journal on HOW WE FALL APART *This standout prep school murder mystery ... [is] an enticing new treat for fans of Pretty Little Liars and Karen McManus * Kirkus Reviews on HOW WE FALL APART *...this is one that fans of Sara Shepard and Karen McManus will kill to read * Booklist on HOW WE FALL APART *

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Book SynopsisA dark psychological thriller about obsession, manipulation, and those friendships which take hold of you and never let you go.Tic tac toe, three girls in a row. Nine years old and inseparable. Friends for life, or so they think.Best friends Syd, Rain and Brie grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in the stifling California desert, desperately wishing for a way out.In the end, each of them will escape, but not in the way they expect. One will do it by dying, another by lying, a third by taking the fall. A deadly fire is set two weeks before the end of their senior year of high school and nothing will ever be the same.With gorgeous, taut prose and shocking twists, All the Best Liars will keep you guessing to the very last page.Trade ReviewA dynamic, suspenseful tale of friendship and betrayal. * Kirkus Reviews *A beautifully twisted and unsparing thriller that will have readers holding their breath until its fiery conclusion. * Courtney Summers *An atmospheric, richly drawn thriller about the complex nature of friendship. Amelia Kahaney unflinchingly captures the obsessive intensity of our earliest relationships, where trust is hard to come by, resentments simmer and burn, and whole friendships can go up in flames—literally. * Kass Morgan, author of The Ravens *A fast-paced, suspenseful, and thoroughly dramatic thriller . . . Older teens and fans of Pretty Little Liars and Riverdale will devour the dark drama. * School Library Journal *This slow burn thriller perfect for fans of We Were Liars will leave readers guessing until the very end. * B&N Reads *

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Book SynopsisThe 3rd volume of the beloved Miss Demeanor series is finally here. Red Nose Fred, a professional clown, has come to town to appear at children’s parties. Unfortunately, he’s also a jewel thief.Celia begins her Forensic II summer class following her successful investigation of The Case of the Crooked Cat. She meets Jimmy, a Native American boy from the Cherokee Nation, vacationing at his sister’s home in Connecticut. A new emotion troubles Celia, something she has not previously experienced.Is it love?

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Book SynopsisAfter her private school is rocked by a gruesome murder, a teen tries to find the real killer and clear her brother’s name in this “creepily potent story of a family legacy that gives terrifying shape to monsters real and imagined” (Kirkus Reviews) perfect for fans of The Taking of Jake Livingston and Ace of Spades.Sunny Behre has four siblings, but only one is a murderer. With the death of Sunny’s mother, matriarch of the wealthy Behre family, Sunny’s once picture-perfect life is thrown into turmoil. Her mother had groomed her to be the family’s next leader, so Sunny is confused when the only instructions her mother leaves is a mysterious note: “Take care of Dom.” The problem is, her youngest brother, Dom, has always been a near-stranger to Sunny…and seemingly a dangerous one, if found guilty of his second-degree murder charge. Still, Sunny is determined to fulfill her mo

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Book SynopsisFor Aiden, Chloe, Ava and Josh, holidays at their grandparents' cottage mean wild beaches, no curfew, Bella the dog, and most of all - adventure!The lead actress in Frost Castle's winter play is sure she's cursed! A break-in, a car accident, and now her precious locket is missing. But the cousins suspect a ruthless thief. With a blizzard raging outside and a legendary ghost in the castle corridors, unmasking this villain will take all their bravery and skill...Fleur Hitchcock is famous for her excellent "thrillers for beginners". This action-packed series takes 7+ readers on fantastic, realistic adventures.Cover illustration by Tom Clohosy Cole.Don't miss the other Clifftoppers adventures!The Arrowhead Moor AdventureThe Thorn Island AdventureThe Fire Bay AdventureLook out for Fleur Hitchcock's stories for older readers:Dear ScarlettSaving SophiaMurder In MidwinterMurder At TwilightThe Boy Who Flew

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Book SynopsisShared family holidays at Creek House have been the backdrop to Millie’s summers since forever. Hanging out with the other kids – Matt, Charlie, Jem and her best friend Kat – has made it her favourite time of the year. But this holiday things are different – the childhood games that once filled their days have lost their appeal to everyone except Millie. It’s not until the final night that the others agree to a game of hide and seek. But in the time it takes Millie to count to twenty, Kat vanishes. One year on, and struggling to come to terms with the events of last summer, Millie persuades the others to return to Creek House. It’s meant to give them closure, but it could be a chance to find out what happened. After all, people don’t just disappear, do they? A tightly plotted thriller, perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, THE GREAT GODDEN and WE WERE LIARS.

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Book SynopsisA Young Adult Mystery Adventure set in Cornwall, by the 2013 winner of The Next Novelist. When fourteen-year-old Holly Champion's father sends her to an exclusive clifftop academy in Cornwall, she must race against time to save the people she loves and expose a chilling plot.

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Book Synopsis From acclaimed writer Dan Smith – author of My Friend the Enemy, Nisha's War and Big Game, now a major motion picture starring Samuel L. Jackson – comes BOY X, a thrilling, no-holds-barred action survival series. Praise for Dan Smith: 'Action, adventure, wolves, snow ... this story has EVERYTHING. I devoured it so quickly I need to read it again.' EMMA CARROLL on She Wolf 'This book grabbed me from page one … highly recommended' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY on My Friend the Enemy Kidnapped and drugged, Ash wakes up on a remote tropical island. His mum – a genetic scientist – has been imprisoned and infected with a deadly virus. Where is he, and what’s he doing there? He sets out to cross the jungle to find out and rescue his mother. Soon he realizes he’s quicker and sharper than before. But there’s something else ... why are theanimals watching him, and how can he use the jungle to his advantage? A real-life survival adventure set on a jungle island. The start of a new no-holds-barred action survival series: Bear Grylls meets The Maze Runner. From the award-winning author of acclaimed WW2 adventure novels My Friend the Enemy and My Brother’s Secret. Dan Smith’s most recent project, Big Game, is the novelisation of the hit movie starring Samuel L. Jackson – sold so far in 23 territories worldwide.

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Book SynopsisTWO WORLDS. ONE VILLAIN AND A RACE AGAINST TIME. Nicodemus Maladain has entered our world from Balthasar, intent on revenge. Can Toby and Tamurlaine, about to be crowned Queen of Balthasar, defeat him? Time is running out and Malladain holds the upper hand in a land of shadows where no one can be trusted.Trade ReviewOBSERVER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 ' Richard Lambert has won many plaudits, his excellent latest The Republic of Dreams returns to the double world of Shadow Town. Over in Balthasar, young queen-to-be Tamurlaine discovers a plot against her life. In our world, her friend Toby must stop the villainous Malladain from recruiting more young Dreamers to that nefarious end.' OBSERVER A thrillingly beautiful fantasy, both epic and intimate, where dreams carry us between worlds, where tree- wolves and half-angels walk at our side, and where the fate of a kingdom hinges on the bonds of family and friends. Deft, delicate, ceaselessly imaginative. Jonathan Stroud

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Book SynopsisOn her first day in Grave's Pass, Raven McKay spotted a pooka horses chasing goblins in a vacant lot, three banshees on a bus, a zombie in ripped jeans staring in the window of a phone shop, a bogeyman walking a labradoodle, a ghost on a ladder cleaning windows, a ghoul sipping coffee at an outdoor cafe. This is Dead Town- this is Raven's new home. But will Raven find her parents who have mysteriously disappeared? And who in Dead Town Can she trust? All her parents have left her is a suit case with a black butterfly and a cryptic note.Trade Review'COMPELLING' Times Best Summer Reads 2023. 'Readers age eleven and up will be enchanted' Literary Review. 'Delicious dark and gorgeously Gothic' Kieran Larwood. ' Brilliant and magical' Zillah Bethell 'Prepare to be thrilled, spooked and enthralled.' IRISH EXAMINER ' Infused with a lyricism and humour that recalls Neil Gaiman's work for young readers. The immediacy of the action keeps the pages turning in this crackerjack fantasy adventure.' IRISH TIMES 'In this startlingly original gothic ghost story, debut children's author Eibhlis Carcione pairs thrills and chills with empathy and emotion with such poetic precision and bold simplicity that I devoured this book in one memorable sitting.' Bluebird Reviews An Irish Independent Book of the Month.

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Book SynopsisA nail-biting page turner written with cinematic sparkle - Jennifer Niven, bestselling author of All The Bright Places Think Serial at Malory Towers - Katie Lowe, author of The FuriesWelcome to the Magpie Society...Tragedy has struck Illumen Hall, a prestigious boarding school of tradition and achievement. The body of student Lola Radcliffe is discovered on the beach, and on her back someone has tattooed an elaborate magpie.For new student Audrey, it''s just another strange and unsettling thing about her new surroundings. For her roommate Ivy, the death of her friend Lola is something she''s desperate to get past - and Audrey''s presence isn''t helping. But the two girls are thrown together when a mysterious podcast airs, with a sinister headline: I KNOW WHO KILLED LOLA. AND ONE OF YOU IS NEXT.This edition includes the spine-chilling first chapter of THE MAGPIE SOCIETY: TWO FOR JOY.

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Book SynopsisAlone in the house one night, four friends make up a ghost story. It''s all fun and games until the messages start to appear. And as the shadows get darker and the ghost looms closer, soon come the accidents...The Ghostly Game is a spine-tingling tale of haunting messages and the possibility that ghosts may be very, very real.Bloomsbury High Low books encourage and support reading practice by providing gripping, age-appropriate stories for struggling and reluctant readers, those with dyslexia, or those with English as an additional language. Printed on tinted paper with a dyslexia friendly font, The Ghostly Game is aimed at readers aged 11+ and has a manageable length (88 pages) and reading age (9+).Produced in association with reading experts at Catch Up, a charity which aims to address underachievement caused by literacy and numeracy difficulties.

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Book SynopsisI Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore - the film tie-in! They killed Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya.John Smith is not your average teenager. He regularly moves from small town to small town. He changes his name and identity. He does not put down roots. He cannot tell anyone who or what he really is. If he stops moving those who hunt him will find and kill him.But you can''t run forever. So when he stops in Paradise, Ohio, John decides to try and settle down. To fit in. And for the first time he makes some real friends. People he cares about - and who care about him. Never in John''s short life has there been space for friendship, or even love.But it''s just a matter of time before John''s secret is revealed.He was once one of nine. Three of them have been killed. John is Number Four. He knows that he is next . . .Praise for Pittacus Lore:

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Book SynopsisYoung Samurai: The Ring of Water is the fifith book in this blockbuster series by Chris BradfordJack Fletcher has been left for dead.Bruised and battered, Jack Fletcher wakes up in a roadside inn wrapped only in a dirty kimono. He has lost everything, including his memory of what happened.Determined to discover the truth, Jack goes on a quest to retrieve his belongings - his precious swords, his friend Akiko''s black pearl and most important of all, his father''s prize possession. Relying on his samurai and ninja training, Jack realises The Ring of Water is the key to his survival.But with only a washed up Ronin - a masterless samurai - for help, what will Jack manage to find? What will he lose? And what will he have to sacrifice?''A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end'' - Eoin Colfer***You can learn more about Chris Bradford and his books at www.youngsamurai.com.***

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Book SynopsisAn epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days - a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope even when all seems lost.

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Book SynopsisA new action-adventure hero is born... Fifteen-year-old Will Drake has made a career of breaking out from high-security prisons. No one except for Drake... After making some escape plans and meeting the first real friends of his life, Drake quickly realises that all is not as it seems on the Rig.

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Book Synopsis The extraordinary sequel to The Balloon Thief: an epic journey into a world of shadows and trickery where the stakes are even higher ... After the epic battle of The Balloon Thief, Khadija, Jacob and Darian are heroes. But then Khadija learns that her sister, Talia, has been kidnapped and taken to the jinn realm of Al-Ghaib. Khadija and Darian go to her rescue. But Darian is strangely changed since the battle that cost him his heart. Khadija will need all her wits about her if she's to outfox her sister's captor - and perhaps, save the boy she loves . . . The fiery sequel to the celebrated YA fantasy romance The Balloon Thief A dual narrative split between Khadija’s magical quest to rescue her sister, and Jacob’s embroilment in a political mystery Full of ancient djinn, epic adventure and heartrending romance Explores love, politics, equality and racism in a highly original South Asian-inspired fantasy world PRAISE FOR THE BALLOON THIEF: 'An exhilarating adventure' OBSERVER 'Highly relevant yet utterly original' LAUREN JAMES 'A thrilling fantasy' IRISH EXAMINER

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Book SynopsisFrom Brendan Reichs, co-author of the Virals series with Kathy Reichs, comes Chrysalis, the nail-biting conclusion to the Project Nemesis series – a fast-paced, high concept thriller perfect for fans of The 100 and The Maze Runner.'Twisty and unpredictable to the very last page. I loved this series.' Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar ChildrenThe sixty-four members of Fire Lake's sophomore class have managed to survive the first two phases of the Program – and each other. Now, they alone have emerged into the dawn of a new era on Earth, into a Fire Lake valley that's full of otherworldly dangers and challenges. Although staying alive in this broken world should force Min, Noah, Tack and the others to form new alliances, old feuds die hard, and the brutality of the earlier Program phases cannot be forgotten. But being a team isn't easy for the sophomores, and when they discover that they may not be alone on the planet after all, they'll have to decide if they're going to work together . . . or die together.Trade ReviewTwisty and unpredictable to the very last page. I loved this series. -- Ransom Riggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, on NemesisThis thriller blew my mind—full of breakneck adventure, gasp-inducing plot twists, and a deliciously chilling sci-fi edge -- Kass Morgan, New York Times bestselling author of The 100Addictive as a puzzle, moving with breakneck speed, Nemesis had me guessing until the very end. Try to predict what Nemesis is. I dare you. -- Victoria Aveyard, New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen, on NemesisReichs builds plots like the Swiss build watches. Nemesis is a fascinating, twisty page-turner that will keep surprising you until its final page. I loved it. -- Ransom Riggs, New York Times bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, on NemesisA twisted web of conspiracy and apocalyptic mayhem that kept me reading all night -- Jay Kristoff, New York Times bestselling author of IlluminaeReichs knows exactly how to mix action, suspense, and characters into a breathless read. This is one thriller that will keep you up into the night. -- Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Warcross on GenesisEqual parts adventure, mystery, and heart, Genesis is a gripping, mind-blowing story that leaves you begging for more. I loved it! -- Danielle Paige, New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die on GenesisFans of The Hunger Games novels and the CW series The 100 will discover much to enjoy here. . . . A cracking good yarn and excellent sequel. * Kirkus, on Genesis *An exciting sequel that will delight young science fiction readers with its video game–esque story line. * Booklist, on Genesis *

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Book SynopsisGenetically-modified teens try to bring down the organisation that made them, in this second action-packed installment in the 21% Monster series. The girl put her hands on her hips, cocked her head and answered: 'My name is Aurora María Ash-Valero and I'm here to kick your butt! Since Darren Devlin and Marek Masters joined forces, there has only been one thing on their minds - taking down XSP, the secret organisation that transformed them into genetically-modified superhumans. Even with 21% monster Darren's incredible strength, and 19% alien Marek's super intelligence, XSP is more than a match for them. But what if there was another survivor of XSP's experiments? A tall, tough, athletic teen girl able to withstand sub-zero temperatures and track potential predators? A girl who's 17% sabre-tooth polar bear, and out for revenge. Two's company, but Three IS UNSTOPPABLE in this high-octane adventure, 21% Monster: Ice Giant.

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Book Synopsis New York Times bestselling authors Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller transport you back to the world Buzzfeed compared to Ready Player One in the second book in a new trilogy perfect for fans of HBO’s Westworld. Simon saved his best friend, Kat, from the clutches of the Company and their high-tech VR gaming experience, Otherworld. But it was at a steep price. Now he, Kat, and their friend Busara are on the run. They know too much. About the Company’s dark secrets. About the real-life consequences of playing Otherworld. And about Kat’s stepfather’s involvement in everything. The group is headed to New Mexico to find Simon’s old roommate, who is a tech genius and possibly the only person who can help them reveal the truth about the Company before it’s too late and the line between what’s real and what’s fantasy is erased…forever. Trade ReviewIn praise of Otherworld: 'Full of high stakes, thrillers, and fantastic twists and turns, fans of Ready Player One are sure to love this addictive read.' Buzzfeed

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Book SynopsisHe was supposed to be having fun with his friends, not playing detective and stalking a serial killer.Theodore Boone - teenage lawyer and courtroom hero - is on a class trip seeing the sights of the capital city. But he hadn''t counted on seeing the most wanted man in the history of his home town, Strattenberg.Suddenly Theo is caught in the hunt for an accused murderer, alongside the FBI. Theo knows he''s getting in deep - and things could become even more dangerous. Because if this case goes back to court, it will be down to him. Will justice finally be done . . . or will the killer''s criminal allies be out for revenge? ******************What readers are saying about THEODORE BOONE: THE FUGITIVE''Suspense, curiosity and, bravery, this book is packed with them'' - 5 stars''Loved this book'' - 5 stars''A great read for all ages'' - 5 starsTrade ReviewIf you aspire to turn your children into lawyers who will keep you in your old age, John Grisham's Theodore Boone, his first novel for young people, might be for you. * Sunday Times *Nobody does legal fiction better. * Daily Express *Not since Nancy Drew has a nosy, crime-obsessed kid been so hard to resist. * The New York Times *Gripping... I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery. I think everyone will be enthralled by Theodore Boone. * Scholastic News *A master of his craft. * The Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'Twisty and unnerving' – Holly Jackson, author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.From the author of the bestselling Wilder Girls comes a twisty thriller about a girl whose past has always been a mystery – until she decides to return to her mother's hometown, where history has a tendency to repeat itself . . .Ever since Margot was born, it's been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot's questions. No history to hold on to. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along.But that's not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And when she finds a photograph pointing her to a town called Phalene, she leaves. But when Margot gets there, it's not what she bargained for.Margot's mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what's still there?Burn Our Bodies Down is a blistering horror-thriller from Rory Power that will grip you from its very first page, and won't let you go until long after you've put it down . . .Trade ReviewWow this was amazing. Rory Power does it again! Burn Our Bodies Down is a masterpiece: an incredible and unnerving mystery that will creep up on you, twisty and labyrinthine, like the eerie cornfields of its setting. -- Holly Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to MurderRory Power’s prose hits like a lightning strike in this deliriously creepy tale, the kind of slow-crawling horror that’ll keep your nightmares up at night. -- Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel WoodWith this bloodcurdling blend of agriculture, advanced genetics, and interpersonal turmoil, Rory Power reminds us that seemingly disparate things in life can come together in horrifying ways. I will keep a candle lit after this one. -- Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear MartinGritty and strange . . . utterly compelling. * Booklist, starred review *Creates a vivid world with a gothic horror–like setting . . . A riveting, often frightening read. * Publishers Weekly, starred review *

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Book SynopsisLiam O''Connor should have died at sea in 1912.Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.But all three have been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no one knows exists.Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history . . .Project Exodus - a mission to transport 300 Americans from 2070 to 54AD to overthrow the Roman Empire - has gone catastrophically wrong. Half have arrived seventeen years earlier, during the reign of Caligula.Liam goes to investigate, but when Maddy and Sal attempt to flee a kill-squad sent to hunt down their field office, all of the TimeRiders become trapped in the Roman past. Armed with knowledge of the future, Caligula is now more powerful than ever. But with the office unmanned - and under threat - how will the TimeRiders make it back to 2001 and put history right? ** Book five in the bestselling TimeRiders series by Alex Trade ReviewA thriller full of spectacular effects * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisLiam O''Connor should have died at sea in 1912.Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010.Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2026.But all three have been given a second chance - to work for an agency that no one knows exists. Its purpose: to prevent time travel destroying history . . . Relocated to Victorian London, the TimeRiders joy-ride back to 1666 to witness the Great Fire of London. In the ensuing chaos, Liam and their newest recruit, Rashim, find themselves trapped between the fire and the Thames. They escape onboard a river boat, only to be confronted by an unscrupulous captain with his heart set on treasures of the high seas . . . Back in 1888, Maddy and the rest of the team are frantically trying to track them down. But with limited resources at their new base, can Liam and Rashim survive the bloodthirsty and barbaric age of piracy long enough to be rescued?** Book seven in the bestselling TimeRiders series Trade ReviewA thriller full of spectacular effects * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'Addictive as a puzzle, moving with breakneck speed, Nemesis had me guessing until the very end. Try to predict what Nemesis is. I dare you.' - Victoria Aveyard, #1 NYT Bestselling author of Red QueenEverything changes in an eye blink . . .It’s been happening since Min was eight. Every two years, on her birthday, the same man finds her and murders her in cold blood. But hours later she wakes up in a clearing just outside her hometown – alone, unhurt, and with all evidence of the crime erased.Across the valley, Noah just wants to be like everyone else. But he’s not. Nightmares of murder and death plague him too, though he does his best to hide the signs. As the world around them begins to spiral towards panic and destruction, the two troubled teens discover that people have been lying to them their whole lives . . .From Brendan Reichs, co-author of the Virals series with Kathy Reichs, comes Nemesis - a fast-paced, high concept thriller perfect for fans of The 100 and The Maze Runner.Trade ReviewAddictive as a puzzle, moving with breakneck speed, Nemesis had me guessing until the very end. Try to predict what Nemesis is. I dare you. * Victoria Aveyard, #1 NYT Bestselling author of RED QUEEN *Reichs builds plots like the Swiss build watches. Nemesis is a fascinating, twisty page-turner that will keep surprising you until its final page. I loved it. * Ransom Riggs, #1 NYT bestselling author of MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN *A twisted web of conspiracy and apocalyptic mayhem that kept me reading all night * Jay Kristoff, NYT bestselling author of ILLUMINAE *Hooked readers will be tapping their fingers waiting for the sequel. * Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review *

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Book SynopsisAn addictive thriller crossed with the darkest of fairytales that''s guaranteed to keep you up all night...THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SEQUEL TO INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING NOVEL THE HAZEL WOOD Alice has fought hard for a normal life. Having escaped the Hinterland - the strange, pitch-dark world she was born into - she has washed up in New York City, determined to build a new future for herself. But when her fellow survivors start being brutally murdered, Alice must face the fact that the Hinterland cannot be so easily escaped. And that, from the shadows of her past something - or someone - is coming for her...Praise for Melissa Albert: ''Magical, mesmerising and inventive'' Karen McManus, bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying ''This book will be your next obsession'' Stephanie Garber, bestselling author of Caravel ''Insidiously beautiful'' GuardianTrade ReviewA lush and enchanting tale. Albert effortlessly draws on a wide range of literary references and builds a world where magic really does emerge from pages and where books are not just figurative but literal doors. Dreamy and disturbing in equal measure, it's the perfect antidote to a grey winter's day. -- Irish TimesAlbert's legion of fans will relish her return to the bloody, terrifying, seductive world of her debut and the inventive brilliance of her storytelling. -- GuardianDarker, bloodier and even stranger than THE HAZEL WOOD, THE NIGHT COUNTRY invites the wolf from the forest inside your home. A sinister jewel of a novel, like splitting a pomegranate and finding the inside filled with blood and rubies, every sentence of this book thrilled and chilled me to the bone. -- Melinda Salisbury, bestselling author of The Sin Eater's DaughterA charming, mysterious fable that unpacks what it means to be a story and whether we are all simply the stories we hear and tell. -- Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments seriesWhat Albert renders on the page is audacious: with resounding success, she keeps a firm grip on her characters and their stories, and her prose weaves a magic of its own, animating the ever-expanding fantastical premise through lyrical language, striking metaphor, and a mastery of tone that forces readers to feel the magic along with the underlying emotional stakes. -- BooklistMelissa Albert deftly weaves her magic once again between our world and the fairy tale realm of the Hinterland. The Night Country is a new modern classic filled with wondrous delights and daring forays into the dark. Not to be missed! -- Kim Liggett, author of The Grace YearThe Night Country is so deliciously creepy?the kind of puzzle box nightmare you have to see through to the end. One of the most unputdownable books I've read in a long time. -- Emily X. R. Pan, author of The Astonishing Color of AfterPraise for The Hazel WoodThis eerie debut YA novel puts such a terrifying twist on classic bedtime stories, you'll not sleep a wink * Heat Magazine *Simultaneously enticing and fearsome, much like the Hazel Wood of the title ... insidiously beautiful * Guardian *A bewitching, elegant blend of contemporary thriller and dark fantasy * Observer *MAGICAL, MESMERISING AND INVENTIVETHE HAZEL WOOD KEPT ME UP ALL NIGHT . . . as I fell completely into the dark and beautiful world within its pages. Terrifying, magical, and surprisingly funny, it's one of the very best books I've read in yearsA WINDING, CREEPY, INSIDIOUSLY DELICIOUS NOVEL. UTTERLY SPECTACULAR - I read it in one sittingTHIS BOOK WILL BE YOUR NEXT OBSESSION. Welcome to the Hazel Wood, where bad luck is a living thing, princesses are doomed, and every page contains a wondrously terrible adventure - it's not safe inside these pages, but once you enter, you may never want to leave.Darker, bloodier and even stranger than THE HAZEL WOOD, THE NIGHT COUNTRY invites the wolf from the forest inside your home. A sinister jewel of a novel, like splitting a pomegranate and finding the inside filled with blood and rubies, every sentence of this book thrilled and chilled me to the bone. -- Melinda Salisbury, bestselling author of The Sin Eater’s Daughter

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Book SynopsisA hilarious fantasy adventure set in modern day London.An exciting subterranean London adventure, the first in a middle-grade trilogy. Hyacinth Hayward has recently arrived from America and is having difficulty adjusting to her new surroundings, especially being in the sole company of her eccentric mother. Everything feels strange. Very strange. And it gets stranger the day she accidentally unleashes the power of a secret river running through London. To prevent a second Great Fire, Hyacinth needs to retrieve a single, magically charged drop of water from somewhere in the city sewer system. Along the way she encounters an eclectic cast of characters the shambling, monstrous Saltpetre Men who kidnap her mother, the Toshers who battle for control of magical artefacts and a giant pig with whom she has a tea party. The clock is ticking will she figure out who to trust?Trade Review"Readers must willingly suspend belief to follow Weinstein's engaging, fast-paced fantasy,but he makes it worth their while. It's a wild ride that's fun, freaky, outlandish, and suspenseful. Readerswill beg for another installment." * Booklist * "This setup can't help leading to a rollicking adventure with a lulu of an ending that comes with the promise of a sequel. Middle graders will adore clever Hyacinth and enjoy the other humorous characters, the puns (Oaroboarus, indeed), and the suspenseful narrative." * Kirkus Reviews * With plot twists and potty humor galore, this is an entertaining read-aloud that should keep even reluctant readers engaged. VERDICT Fans of Suzanne Collins's "The Underland Chronicles" and Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams's "Tunnels" series will enjoy this fantastic, funny adventure. * School Library Journal * "[...] a stonking, rollicking delight [...] the prose sings with effervescence." * The Literary Review * "I'd also thoroughly recommend Jacob Sager Weinstein's brilliantly funny The City of Secret Rivers" * Books for Keeps *

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Book SynopsisThe third gripping installment in bestselling children's author Sophie McKenzie's MEDUSA PROJECT series – back with a bold new cover look! Fourteen years ago, four babies were implanted with the Medusa gene– a gene for psychic abilities. Now teenagers, Nico, Ketty, Ed and Dylan have been brought together by government agents to create a secret crime-fighting force: The Medusa Project. Since their existence became known to members of the criminal underworld, they have been hidden away in a secluded training camp in Spain, where their identities are being kept secret. Life in camp is hard enough, but then things take a turn for the worse. Ed is blackmailed into using his mind-reading powers – and in doing so he threatens to endanger the whole Medusa Project . . .

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Book SynopsisTristan and Dylan have escaped death and conquered destiny. Finally, there is nothing to stop them from being together.But every action has a consequence, and their escape to the real world has caused an imbalance in the afterlife. It's owed two souls -- and it wants them back. When the world of the dead claims Dylan's parents to restore the balance, Dylan and Tristan are offered a terrible bargain: stay together and condemn innocent souls to death, or return to the wasteland to take their place and face separation. Forever. With no place left for them in the world of the living or the dead, will Dylan and Tristan make a heartrending sacrifice?The stunning final instalment of Dylan and Tristan's epic love story, Outcasts is the much-anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Ferryman, and heart-pounding sequel Trespassers. With more than two million copies sold worldwide, Ferryman is a cult sensation in China, staying in the top 10 bestseller chart for three years before securing a Hollywood movie deal in early 2018. Language rights to the Ferryman trilogy have been sold in 14 territories.

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Book SynopsisLucy Bussell is the last person Jennifer expects any sympathy from, but she's also the last person she has left. FINDING JENNIFER JONES is the powerful sequel to the highly acclaimed, Carnegie Medal nominated LOOKING FOR JJ.Trade ReviewA powerful story and it challenges the reader to consider what they think about punishment and rehabilitation. How much do any of us really believe in forgiveness? -- Martin Chilton * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisNothing is more unsettling in this world than a kid with a gun . . Like most kids of their age, Shorty and Alberto work for their local cartel. They run cigarettes, offer protection . . . A gangster's life is cheap, and when revenge can be bought for only a few pesos, everyone has their price . .

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Book SynopsisIt is the time of the Cold War. Soviet spies are feared, and secrets are traded. People disappear.Thirteen-year-old Alasdair, living in London, knows nothing of this world. He can't wait to start his long summer holiday on the Isle of Skye, away from his mother and aunt. But things don't go quite as planned. On the journey, a stranger gives him a mysterious note before jumping from the train. Worse still, he instantly mistrusts sinister Murdo Beaton, with whom he's staying. Gradually adjusting to crofting life, Alasdair is not prepared for the web of danger and espionage that unfolds around him. Can he trust anyone?Trade Review'Allan Campbell McLean's classic thriller is as exciting today as it was fifty years ago.'-- Jane Sandell, The Scotsman'This is a boy's adventure book. It is set on Skye in Scotland and brilliantly brings to life the islands, countryside and people. It is nicely paced and the adventures in it are a cross between Enid Blyton and a young Bond.'-- Sophie, age 13, Education Otherwise, June 2006'Allan Campbell McLean set a standard for thrillers for young readers and The Hill of the Red Fox has stood the test of time remarkably well.'-- School Librarian, Summer 2006'A magnificent adventure story. It recalls Stevenson and Buchan ... The reader should be swept away by the swift narrative, the splendid vision and the magical atmosphere of Skye which pervades the story."-- Times Literary Supplement'It is an espionage thriller strongly influenced by The Thirty-Nine Steps ... The crofting environment is integral to the action, with sympathetic descriptions of communal activities such as peat gathering, mackerel fishing and sheep shearing.'-- Treasure Islands: A guide to Scottish fiction for young readers aged 10-14, Summer 2003'One of my favourite childhood books ... This is an altogether superior spy story.'-- Allan Campbell

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Book SynopsisAt Grimrose Académie, the fairy-tale deaths continue. And unless the curse is broken, one of the girls could be next.Nani, Yuki, Ella, and Rory have discovered the truth about the curse that's left a trail of dead bodies at Grimrose. But the four still know nothing of its origins, or how to stop the cycle of doomed fates.And each girl harbors her own secret. One is learning why she was brought to the school. One struggles to keep her new and deadly power under control. One knows exactly how much time she has left.And one, trying to escape her dark destiny, will come even closer to fulfilling it.Can the girls change their own stories and break the curse? Or must one of them die to end it forever?

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Book SynopsisA suspenseful and atmospheric horror perfect for younger fans of Stranger Things and Neil Gaiman, from New York Times bestselling author and the Decemberists’ lead singer/songwriter Colin Meloy.Maybe Archie Coomes has been watching too many horror movies.All of a sudden, the most ordinary things have taken on a sinister edge: a penny on a doormat. A man in a brown suit under a streetlamp. The persistent sound of an axe chopping in the middle of the night.He keeps telling himself that this is Seaham, a sleepy seaside town where nothing ever happens. Or at least nothing did, until his dad’s construction company opened up the cliff beneath the old – some say cursed – Langdon place.Soon, though, he and his friends can’t deny it: more and more of the adults in town are acting strangely. An ancient, long-buried evil has been unleashed upon the community, and it’s up to the kids to stop it before it’s too late . . .Trade ReviewMeloy expertly teases out the suspense to foster an atmosphere of otherworldly mystery, while concretely establishing the story’s sense of time and place. Delectable details stud the narrative. . . Meloy delivers a solid middle-grade horror story with authentic chills and splashes of gore. The friendship between the four main characters drives it all, much like in Stranger Things and Stand by Me, ensuring readers’ hearts are engaged as much as their adrenaline. * Booklist - Starred Review *Aesthetically eerie. . . Evoking 1980s adventures such as The Goonies. . . a nostalgic summertime adventure involving cinematic chase sequences, uncanny occurrences, and psychological unease. * Publishers Weekly *A splendidly atmospheric and spooky story about the re-emergence of an ancient evil, that will delight young readers (12+) who enjoy a bit of a fright. * The Letterpress Project *Some of this gave me the feeling a horror movie was unfolding before my eyes, so creepy are the happenings. * Red Reading Hub *

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Book SynopsisCollins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available.Fatima thinks the stories about the weird and wonderful Mysterious Museum are all nonsense exhibits don't come to life! But then her best friend Florence disappears inside the museum and Fatima must follow the riddles to find her, even if it means risking her own life Sapphire/Band 16 books offer longer reads to develop children''s sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically.Text type: An adventure storyIdeas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.Aisha Bushby was born in Bahrain and has lived in Kuwait, England and Canada. Now she mostly lives in the worlds of her childre

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Book Synopsis**The first book in the new fantasy series from the author of Half Bad**This is the perfect story for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Laini Taylor. -------------A princess, a traitor, a soldier, a hunter and a thief.Five teenagers with the fate of the world in their hands.Five nations destined for conflict.In Brigant, Princess Catherine prepares for a political marriage arranged by her brutal and ambitious father, while her true love, Ambrose, faces the executioner''s block.In Calidor, downtrodden servant March seeks revenge on the prince who betrayed his people. In Pitoria, feckless Edyon steals cheap baubles for cheaper thrills as he drifts from town to town.And in the barren northern territories, thirteen-year-old Tash is running for her life as she plays bait for the gruff demon hunter Gravell.As alliances shift and shatter, and old ceTrade ReviewAn excellent read * The Bookbag *Catherine is a fully fleshed heroine whose storyline advocates self-empowerment and independent thought * Publishers Weekly *As the Half Bad trilogy proved, Green is adept at writing a propulsive narrative * Financial Times *A rewarding read worth smoking out * The Times *This has elevated Sally Green's work to the next level... this series is going to be awesome * Clumsiness is a Curse *A gripping piece of fantasy * Parabatai Reviews *Bloody, fast paced and adventurous * She Loves to Read *It snares your attention, and keeps it * Faerie on the Shelf *Sally Green has fully captured me with this new series * This Booky Place *

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Book SynopsisWhere can you hide if you''re running from yourself?In bunkers and strongholds across the world, people are celebrating. There''s a vaccine to the virus that has ravaged the planet for years.But the celebrations won''t last for long.The vaccine isn''t working. The virus is evolving. Catarina - genehacker, reluctant warrior - must find the one person who can help her. A man who is guilty of unimaginable crimes.Time is ticking, she only has three days before shadowy gentech corporation Cartaxus will use lethal code to wipe out every person on the planet''s surface.Kill the hosts, kill the virus.Forced to question everything she knows and everyone she trusts, Cat discovers that the biggest threat of all may be buried in her own mind.The end of the world is approaching. Can she stop it? __________''With a backdrop of amazing science and technology, This Mortal Coil is a smart, page-turning thriller that gave me chills. I couldn''t put this book down.'' - Laini Taylor, bestselling author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone.''I can''t remember the last time I was so hooked by a book. Relentlessly paced, expertly plotted, and with a romance as tense and as captivating as her wicked twists, Emily Suvada has crafted an unputdownable story. I loved every terrifying page.'' - Stephanie Garber, bestselling author of Caraval.''This Mortal Coil redefines unputdownable. A thrilling, exhilarating read that''s crackling with intelligence. Compelling characters and and incredible twists come together perfectly - I loved this book.'' - Amie Kaufman, bestselling author of Illuminae.

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Book SynopsisThe new gripping YA thriller from online sensation Savannah Brown, author of The Truth About Keeping Secrets, Graffiti, and Sweetdark. Perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson''s A Good Girl''s Guide to Murder and E. Lockhart''s We Were Liars.When fledgling singer Roxy Raines vanishes from the tiny resort of Sandown, the island''s locals refuse to talk about it to any outsiders, dismissing Roxy as a teenage runaway. Thirty years later, seventeen-year-old Mona Perry is convinced there''s something more sinister at play. Armed with a suitcase and a microphone - to record her findings for her podcast''s listeners - the troubled teen is on a deadline: one hot summer is all she has to get to the bottom of Roxy''s story. But as Mona gets drawn into the strange goings on of this isolated community, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems. Least of all Mona''s own past, and the disappearance of someone elTrade ReviewA beautifully written mystery with a host of fascinating characters, Savannah Brown's new book explores loss - on both the people and the places left behind - and comments on our fascination with true crime in a fresh and thought-provoking way. * Vincent Ralph, author of Are You Watching? *A propulsive mystery driven by beautifully raw narration, The Things We Don't See is an honest look at the cost of moving on. Brown's prose reads like a live wire. * Rory Power, author of Wilder Girls *Fast- paced, character-driven and completely addictive. The perfect YA mystery. * Dubray Books *

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