Synopses & Reviews
What if you were fifteen, bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you’d been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival – not love – the issue?
Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth’s collapse, the ship’s crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader’s efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don’t know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them…
Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager – until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he’s the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage – and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.
But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren’t all from the outside.
Glow is the most riveting series debut since The Hunger Games, and promises to thrill and challenge readers of all ages.
Review
"Utterly engrossing. Dinner went uncooked, children were left to fend for themselves, and dog howled all night, because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN." - Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of ttyl and Shine
“Waverly's initiative and intellect ensure that even as a prisoner she is far from a damsel in distress.... Desire to find out which of the proactive characters' bold moves end in disaster will leave readers clamoring for the next installment of this space saga.” - Kirkus
“GLOW has an ingenious, twisty, heart-stopping plot, and characters that are in turns both sympathetic and sinister all the way to the last page - I dont know who I can trust, and I love it!” - Lisa McMann, NYT bestselling author of the WAKE trilogy
"With a compelling plot and complicated characters you love to hate and hate to love, Glow will capture readers." - April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen and Learning to Fly
"GLOW has it all - intrigue, action, suspense and romance set against a jaw-dropping futuristic backdrop. Amy Kathleen Ryan has woven a thought-provoking and compelling novel that readers will be hard-pressed to put down. I couldn't! This is a thrilling read.” - Courtney Summers, author of Fall for Anything and Cracked up to Be
Review
“In outer space, two spaceships are dueling for their own fates as well as the fate of New Earth. Likewise, dual narration brings drama to the adventures of the EMPYREAN and the NEW HORIZON. Matt Brown has excellent pacing in the narration of Kierans point of view…Kadushin is a great fit for the voice of Waverley, a strong, independent thinker who assumes the role of leader as the oldest girl aboard the EMPYREAN.” - AudioFile Magazine
“Kadushin and Brown provide spellbinding narration… Ryans novel translates perfectly to audio with its combination of compelling characters and exciting edge-of-your-seat action scenes. Listeners will be unable to turn off this audiobook - whether they listen in the car, at home, or at work - because they need to find out what happens next.” - Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Hearing it on audio takes it to a new level. The voices, with their timbres and pitches, sensitivity and excitement lend authenticity to the book. A futuristic setting, diverse and compelling characters and a powerful and engaging plot, Glow is fantastic! Aside from the cliffhanger ending, I couldnt listen to it fast enough. I cant wait for the next installment!! Loved it!” - Minding Spot
“Having both a male and female was great for going back and forth between Waverly and Kierans point of views. Both have clear voices, adding distinctions between characters to tell them apart.” - SciFiChick.com
“Our favorite part: You're never quite sure who to trust in this book. Each character has, at the very least, dual motives, which makes for a super-exciting plot... Plus, the mysterious ending left us anxious for the next installment! You'll love it if you love futuristic post-apocalyptic stories, like The Hunger Games!” - Seventeen.com
“No less than the fate of humanity is at stake in Amy Kathleen Ryan's rich and emotional sci-fi tale... an entertaining read featuring hairy action sequences and a female antagonist on par with the literary likes of Nurse Ratched and Dolores Umbridge.” - USA Today
“The opening salvo in a promising series.” - People Magazine
“Told in alternating viewpoints by Waverly and her fiancé, Kieran, this swift-moving epic is filled with plot twists and enigmatic characters… Fans of the Hunger Games series will zip through and clamor for the next installment.” - Booklist
“Ryan has created a fascinating and thrilling story that is sure to captivate teens. The themes of survival, morality, religion, and power are well developed, and the characters are equally complex. The author has also created a unique and vivid outer-space setting that is exciting and easy to imagine. This gripping first installment is difficult to put down, and successfully sets the stage for the rest of the series.” - School Library Journal (starred)
"Utterly engrossing. Dinner went uncooked, children were left to fend for themselves, and dog howled all night, because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN." - Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of ttyl and Shine
“Glow captivated me from start to finish. The action-packed narrative and the characters struggle to survive without losing their humanity make for a compelling read.” - Alexandra Adornetto, New York Times bestselling author of Halo
“Waverly's initiative and intellect ensure that even as a prisoner she is far from a damsel in distress.... Desire to find out which of the proactive characters' bold moves end in disaster will leave readers clamoring for the next installment of this space saga.” - Kirkus Reviews
“GLOW has an ingenious, twisty, heart-stopping plot, and characters that are in turns both sympathetic and sinister all the way to the last page - I dont know who I can trust, and I love it!” - Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of the WAKE trilogy
"With a compelling plot and complicated characters you love to hate and hate to love, Glow will capture readers." - April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen and Learning to Fly
"Glow has it all - intrigue, action, suspense and romance set against a jaw-dropping futuristic backdrop. Amy Kathleen Ryan has woven a thought-provoking and compelling novel that readers will be hard-pressed to put down. I couldn't! This is a thrilling read.” - Courtney Summers, author of Fall for Anything and Cracked up to Be
Review
* A School Library Journal Best Book of 2011 *
Praise for Glow:
"Utterly engrossing. Dinner went uncooked, children were left to fend for themselves, and the dog howled all night, because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN." - Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of Shine
“Glow captivated me from start to finish. The action-packed narrative and the characters struggle to survive without losing their humanity make for a compelling read.” - Alexandra Adornetto, New York Times bestselling author of Halo
“GLOW has an ingenious, twisty, heart-stopping plot, and characters that are in turn both sympathetic and sinister all the way to the last page - I dont know who I can trust, and I love it!” - Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of the Wake trilogy
“Ryan has created a fascinating and thrilling story that is sure to captivate teens... [with] a unique and vivid outer-space setting that is exciting and easy to imagine. This gripping first installment is difficult to put down, and successfully sets the stage for the rest of the series.” - School Library Journal (starred)
“This swift-moving epic is filled with plot twists and enigmatic characters… Fans of the Hunger Games series will zip through and clamor for the next installment.” - Booklist
“By the end, youll be desperate for the sequel. [Ryan] throws together a host of moral issues and then launches them into outer space! Im looking forward to the next book...” - RT Book Reviews
“Our favorite part: You're never quite sure who to trust in this book. Each character has, at the very least, dual motives, which makes for a super-exciting plot...You'll love it if you love futuristic post-apocalyptic stories, like The Hunger Games!” - Seventeen.com
“No less than the fate of humanity is at stake in Amy Kathleen Ryan's rich and emotional sci-fi tale... an entertaining read featuring hairy action sequences and a female antagonist on par with the literary likes of Nurse Ratched and Dolores Umbridge.” - USA Today
“Waverly's self-reliance, determination, and inner strength make her a heroine to remember." - Publishers Weekly
Review
“In outer space, two spaceships are dueling for their own fates as well as the fate of New Earth. Likewise, dual narration brings drama to the adventures of the EMPYREAN and the NEW HORIZON. Matt Brown has excellent pacing in the narration of Kierans point of view…Kadushin is a great fit for the voice of Waverley, a strong, independent thinker who assumes the role of leader as the oldest girl aboard the EMPYREAN.” - AudioFile Magazine
“Kadushin and Brown provide spellbinding narration… Ryans novel translates perfectly to audio with its combination of compelling characters and exciting edge-of-your-seat action scenes. Listeners will be unable to turn off this audiobook - whether they listen in the car, at home, or at work - because they need to find out what happens next.” - Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Hearing it on audio takes it to a new level. The voices, with their timbres and pitches, sensitivity and excitement lend authenticity to the book. A futuristic setting, diverse and compelling characters and a powerful and engaging plot, Glow is fantastic! Aside from the cliffhanger ending, I couldnt listen to it fast enough. I cant wait for the next installment!! Loved it!” - Minding Spot
“Having both a male and female was great for going back and forth between Waverly and Kierans point of views. Both have clear voices, adding distinctions between characters to tell them apart.” - SciFiChick.com
“Our favorite part: You're never quite sure who to trust in this book. Each character has, at the very least, dual motives, which makes for a super-exciting plot... Plus, the mysterious ending left us anxious for the next installment! You'll love it if you love futuristic post-apocalyptic stories, like The Hunger Games!” - Seventeen.com
“No less than the fate of humanity is at stake in Amy Kathleen Ryan's rich and emotional sci-fi tale... an entertaining read featuring hairy action sequences and a female antagonist on par with the literary likes of Nurse Ratched and Dolores Umbridge.” - USA Today
“The opening salvo in a promising series.” - People Magazine
“Told in alternating viewpoints by Waverly and her fiancé, Kieran, this swift-moving epic is filled with plot twists and enigmatic characters… Fans of the Hunger Games series will zip through and clamor for the next installment.” - Booklist
“Ryan has created a fascinating and thrilling story that is sure to captivate teens. The themes of survival, morality, religion, and power are well developed, and the characters are equally complex. The author has also created a unique and vivid outer-space setting that is exciting and easy to imagine. This gripping first installment is difficult to put down, and successfully sets the stage for the rest of the series.” - School Library Journal (starred)
"Utterly engrossing. Dinner went uncooked, children were left to fend for themselves, and dog howled all night, because I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN." - Lauren Myracle, New York Times bestselling author of ttyl and Shine
“Glow captivated me from start to finish. The action-packed narrative and the characters struggle to survive without losing their humanity make for a compelling read.” - Alexandra Adornetto, New York Times bestselling author of Halo
“Waverly's initiative and intellect ensure that even as a prisoner she is far from a damsel in distress.... Desire to find out which of the proactive characters' bold moves end in disaster will leave readers clamoring for the next installment of this space saga.” - Kirkus Reviews
“GLOW has an ingenious, twisty, heart-stopping plot, and characters that are in turns both sympathetic and sinister all the way to the last page - I dont know who I can trust, and I love it!” - Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of the WAKE trilogy
"With a compelling plot and complicated characters you love to hate and hate to love, Glow will capture readers." - April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen and Learning to Fly
"Glow has it all - intrigue, action, suspense and romance set against a jaw-dropping futuristic backdrop. Amy Kathleen Ryan has woven a thought-provoking and compelling novel that readers will be hard-pressed to put down. I couldn't! This is a thrilling read.” - Courtney Summers, author of Fall for Anything and Cracked up to Be
Synopsis
If a violent battle destroyed the only world youve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, theres no turning back…
The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. As members of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. But theres a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage… and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.
Suddenly, Waverlys dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable - a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.
Pulse-pounding and addictive, Glow is the first novel in Amy Kathleen Ryan's riveting Sky Chasers series.
Synopsis
One of School Library Journals Best Fiction Books of 2011
If a violent battle destroyed the only world youve ever known, would you be brave enough to save who was left? Would love be strong enough to survive the fight? Either way, theres no turning back.
The Empyrean is the only home 15-year-old Waverly has ever known. Part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space, she and her boyfriend Kieran will be pioneers of New Earth. Waverly knows she must marry young in order to have children who can carry on the mission, and Kieran, the handsome captain-to-be, has everything Waverly could want in a husband. Everyone is sure hes the best choice. Still, theres a part of Waverly that wants more from life than marriage, and she is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.
Suddenly, Waverlys dreams are interrupted by the inconceivable - a violent betrayal by the Empyrean's sister ship, the New Horizon. The New Horizons leaders are desperate to populate the new planet first, and will do anything to get what they need: young girls. In one pivotal moment, Waverly and Kieran are separated, and find themselves at the helm of dangerous missions, where every move has potentially devastating consequences, and decisions of the heart may lead to disaster.
Pulse-pounding and addictive, GLOW begins the most riveting series since The Hunger Games.
About the Author
Amy Kathleen Ryan grew up in Jackson, Wyoming, reading and adoring books by Madeleine L'Engle, Susan Cooper, and Judy Blume. She studied Anthropology at the University of Wyoming, then moved to Burlington, VT, where she got an MA in English Literature at the University of Vermont. From there she went to the New School Creative Writing for Children Program, where she studied with Tor Seidler, Michele Spirn, Deborah Brodie, and Stephanie Spinner. She is also the author of two widely acclaimed young adult novels, Zen and Xander Undone and Vibes.