Synopses & Reviews
A lost colony is reborn in this heart-pounding fantasy adventure set in the near future. Enter the world of the Elementals, which James Dashner called completely gripping and full of intrigue, revelation, mystery, and suspense.”
Sixteen-year-old Thomas has always been an outsider. The first child born without the power of an elementearth, water, wind, or firehe has little to offer his tiny, remote Outer Banks colony. Or so the Guardians would have him believe.
In the wake of an unforeseen storm, desperate pirates kidnap the Guardians, intent on claiming the island as their own. Caught between the Plague-ridden mainland and the advancing pirates, Thomas and his friends fight for survival in the battered remains of a mysterious abandoned settlement. But the secrets they unearth will turn Thomass world upside-down, and bring to light not only a treacherous past but also a future more dangerous than he can possibly imagine.
Written by an award-winning author, this dynamic series is perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers like James Dashners The Maze Runner and Marie Lus Legend.
Plenty of action for readers who enjoy survival stories with a twist of the supernatural and a hint of romance.” School Library Journal
The novels captivating storyline, rapid pace, and cliffhanger ending are sure to leave fans of novels like Grants Gone series absorbed with the action and anxious for a sequel.” Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Engaging characters and plenty of mystery, adventure, and action." -Publishers Weekly
Review
Praise for
Elemental:
"Engaging characters and plenty of mystery, adventure, and action." –Publishers Weekly
Review
“Terrys world is remarkably like todays. . . . The romance and politics keep suspense ratcheted up. Intriguing—readers will be on tenterhooks for the next one.”
Review
Praise for
Elemental:
"Engaging characters and plenty of mystery, adventure, and action." -Publishers Weekly
“Plenty of action for readers who enjoy survival stories with a twist of the supernatural and a hint of romance.” -School Library Journal
“The novels captivating storyline, rapid pace, and cliffhanger ending are sure to leave fans of novels like Grants Gone series absorbed with the action and anxious for a sequel.” -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Review
"Miller pens an enjoyable, fast-paced action novel that's full of danger, mystery, humor and violence, with lots of gross-out scenes and plenty of hairpin-turn plot twists that will keep readers guessing. An enigmatic page turner full of intrigue." -
Kirkus
"This will grab teen readers just as Miller's Kiki Strike books grabbed middle-grade students. A thick, satisfying read that ought to keep readers up late." -Booklist
"Miller keeps every character grounded and believable, giving the story's horrors substantial impact. The resulting book often belies its cute title, in ways that will have readers racing to the end." -PW
"Miller has created a fantastic devil's snare, wherein the typical plotline of teens taking on a corrupt regime is given a new and exhilarating spin." -VOYA (starred review)
Review
“Terrys debut is a suspenseful page-turner with a highly sympathetic and strong female protagonist. A perverse sense of claustrophobic dread grows throughout the novel. . . . Will have readers waiting eagerly for a sequel.”
Review
“Debut author Terrys . . . treatment of medically induced amnesia is intriguing.”
Review
“Building on an intriguing concept, this novel offers readers a chance to consider the power of memory and the inescapable influence of one's past. . . . [Kylas] instincts and innate curiosity make for a refreshing change from the often overly naïve heroines of recent YA science fiction, and readers will enjoy watching her learn to be crafty in the face of danger and adult deception. What truly makes this novel stand out from the dystopian pack, though, is the well-crafted suspense. Layers of mystery . . . the shifting blend of half-truths, misdirection, and obfuscation heightens the suspense. . . . Readers will anxiously await sequels to come.”
Review
“A wonderful, fast-paced tale. It has a fascinating premise: treat juvenile offenders humanely by removing all thoughts that caused their misbehavior; but at what cost does that humane treatment come? This could definitely continue as a series.”
Review
"A high-octane thriller...the cinematic approach and constant action make this a satisfying page-turner."—Publishers Weekly
Review
"A thriller at its core... Massive explosions, deadly shoot-outs, and harrowing escapes make this an exciting read for boys."—VOYA
Review
"Car chases, explosions and action galore—awesome."—Kirkus Reviews
Review
"The cliff-hanger ending will have readers clamoring for the next installment in this exciting series."—Booklist
Review
"A sci-fi book that reads as fast as a locomotive—and the action is just as nonstop. Be forewarned before you begin to read—you wont be able to put it down until the very last page.”—Examiner.com
Review
"This novel demands a sequel... a good choice for teen readers seeking action and thrills."—Library Media Connection
Review
Praise for FROZEN:
From MARGARET STOHL, New York Times bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures trilogy:
“De la Cruz and Johnstons FROZEN is as fearless as a futuristic Game of Thrones for YA readers - and equally addictive. This epic new take on classic sci-fi and fantasy is equal parts wild and wildly romantic. More dragons please!”
From ALYSON NOEL, New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals and Soul Seekers series:
“Like Lord of the Rings in reverse, with a dash of Ridley Scott's hard-boiled military fun, this swoon-worthy adventure is an original and thrilling escape that will break your heart and make it soar at the same time.”
From JAMES DASHNER, New York Times bestselling author of Maze Runner:
“FROZEN is the perfect mixture of everything I love in a book. It's hard to find the right words to describe how unique, and how fun, it was to read it. Humor, suspense, twists, and above all, originality. I was lost in the fascinating world of Nat and Wes. Highly recommended.”
FROM SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:
“Fans of The Hunger Games will no doubt enjoy sinking their teeth into this exciting book.”
FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS:
“De la Cruz and Johnston score a hit. The action soon accelerates and readers will find themselves completely immersed in the authors dangerous world. Lots of fun.”
FROM BOOKLIST:
“Their imaginative vision of the Remaining States of America (RSA) includes polluted oceans that have swallowed entire coasts, ruthless mercenaries, rigid class systems and magic. A dashing young mercenary guides Nat on a journey filled with gangsters, unethical government officials, and danger from every possible source. (For) the writers' many fans or those hungry for yet another post-apocalyptic future.”
FROM SEVENTEEN.COM:
“The mix of adventure and fantasy will have you addicted!”
FROM ROMANTIC TIMES:
“A one-sitting read. The world-building in Frozen is absolutely addictive. You'll really feel like you're traveling through this frozen, post-apocalyptic country (with) the setting, the realistic characters and the fast pace.”
FROM NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS:
“The well-paced action is taut, the characters diverse and finely drawn. And while this is a multiple book series, the ending of this first story is fully satisfying and doesnt leave the reader dangling until the sequel comes out.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An essay from Melissa de la Cruz:
Our Shared Homeland is Arrakis
The cab driver in San Antonio looks us up and down. With a smirk, he drawls, "You Army?" to my husband. "That how you met?"
I laugh, but inside I am furious at the Miss Saigon stereotype, that we had been mistaken for an American G.I. and his Asian bride. I write novels for teenagers, and we are in town for a library convention. "No," my husband, a bookish architect, answers. "We met in New York."
Truly, we never thought of ourselves as a "mixed race" couple. There were so many couples of similar diversity within our social circle that we had long ago stopped thinking of ourselves as different from each other. We both attended Columbia (he for graduate school, I as an undergraduate), we both thought the perfect Thursday evening was one spent at the "free admission" night at the Met or the Guggenheim, and most importantly, we both loved science fiction and fantasy novels.
As a teenager I devoured all six original "Dune" novels by Frank Herbert, a triumph even among science fiction aficionados, as the books get progressively dense and obscure after the first one. Mike had done the same, and did me one better: he had written a fan letter to the author. He had even received a reply from Random House. It read, "Your author is A) no longer at this publishing house B) unable to return fan mail C) deceased." "Deceased" was circled as Herbert had passed away in 1986, several years before Mike had written him.
Whatever differences we had seemed exotic and only made us more interesting to the other. Mike was from a blue-collar family from Kirtland, Ohio, a rural suburb of Cleveland, where his parents sent all four boys through the local public schools and rarely went on vacation. I had grown up in Manila, where my family had lived luxuriously, with a houseful of servants, chauffeurs and three-month-long European holidays. While my teenage years as an immigrant in San Francisco were distinctly more humble, I clung to the memories of my rarified childhood.
Mike grew up in a house that never locked its doors. I grew up in a house surrounded by armed guards and barbed wire. Weekends meant helping his dad around the house, whereas I only saw my dad on Sundays before his tennis game. His parents never went out to dinner as his mother cooked every meal. My parents owned several restaurants and even at home, had a private chef. His mother made pies from scratch. My mother taught me to plan catering menus.
It didn't seem like it would be a problem when we met. After all, we agreed on all the important things--that Robert Heinlen's "Starship Troopers" was a work of genius, that Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" was the best series ever written, that Piers Anthony's "Xanth" novels went deeper than their shallow light-heartedness. We were fond of both the "Stars Trek" and "Wars." The only point of contention concerned Tolkien's trilogy. I was a staunch resident of Middle-Earth while Mike preferred the "Dragonlance" series, a cheap knockoff in my opinion.
Then, we moved to Los Angeles, bought a house, had a baby, and we no longer agreed on anything. I planned to hire a nanny since my mother had done the same. Mike thought it was scandalous and indulgent as no one in his family had ever hired a caretaker for their children. I was adamant about stretching our housing budget to the limit, as my dad the former financier had taught me the most important part of one's financial arsenal was a solid credit line. "There's no such thing as cash, only leverage." But Mike's parents didn't use credit cards and the thought of carrying such a heavy mortgage caused him many sleepless nights. I reveled in hosting massive parties. Mike preferred a quiet house. I liked to spend; he needed to save.
Our differences, once so innocuous, became a wedge between us. My parents and sister's family had moved to Los Angeles, and as a dutiful Filipino daughter, I assumed we would spend every weekend with my family. Mike felt claustrophobic at the idea and spent Saturdays sitting sullenly in my parents' living room, his annoyance obvious to everyone but me. We hired my father to sell our apartment. We fired my father after he failed to sell it. Then we hired him again after our new real-estate broker tried to talk us into a fraudulent sale wherein the buyer would fix the price in order to scam money from the lender, and give us a kickback. My father finally sold the apartment, but not before feeling wounded at our disloyalty.
It was bruising to realize how truly different we were--in outlook, background, and philosophy. We landed on a therapist's couch two years ago after more than a decade's worth of bickering and resentment. We were convinced we had nothing in common other than our love for our child. Was there anything left to our relationship? There had been so many fights and insults hurled over the years that we could not remember what had drawn us to each other in the first place. We were strangers to each other, firmly entrenched in our separate camps, in the worlds that defined us before we had moved to New York to shed these very identities in the first place.
Therapy helped but it was through writing our fantasy novel that we found our common ground once more. It was a surprise to discover it was easy to talk to each other again, as we adopted a shorthand lingo crafted from our shared knowledge of classic science-fiction and fantasy: "That's sort of Bene Gesserit, isn't it? Maybe our wizard should be more like an Aes Sedai?" or "She's less like a Daenerys and more like an Irulan." or "So it's like the spice mélange, except it doesn't fold time and space." We could crack each other up by just uttering the word "KHAN!" at any given moment.
From there, we began to agree on other things--that maybe it was okay if we didn't visit my family every weekend, and that it was probably a good idea to put aside some money for retirement. That we were lucky to find such a loving caregiver for our daughter, whose employment in our household allowed us both to work.
Some things never change though. He's still trying to get me to read those Dragonlance books. Maybe I should. He might have a point. —From The Huffington Post
Review
"Ducie skillfully builds tension and smears it with a liberal coat of blood and grime. Will's lurking suspicion that the Rig is hiding something leads to a supernatural reveal that will please dystopia and sci-fi lovers, ramping up the story's danger an excitement."
—Booklist
Synopsis
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade — a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up — the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Synopsis
Book one in the blockbuster Maze Runner series that spawned a movie franchise and ushered in a worldwide phenomenon And don t miss The Fever Code, the highly-anticipated series conclusion that finally reveals the story of how the maze was built
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He s surrounded by strangers boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It s the only way out and no one s ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying: Remember. Survive. Run.
The Maze Runner and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials are now major motion pictures featuring the star of MTV'sTeen Wolf, Dylan O Brien; Kaya Scodelario; Aml Ameen; Will Poulter; and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. The third movie, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, will hit screens in 2018.
Also look for James Dashner s edge-of-your-seat MORTALITY DOCTRINE series
Praise for the Maze Runner series:
A #1New York TimesBestselling Series
AUSA TodayBestseller
AKirkus ReviewsBest Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick
A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe asa fusion ofLord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, andLost. EW.com
Wonderful action writing fast-paced but smart and well observed. Newsday
A]nail-bitingmust-read. Seventeen.com
Breathless, cinematic action. Publishers Weekly
Heart poundingto the very last moment. Kirkus Reviews
Exclamation-worthy. Romantic Times
James Dashner s illuminating prequel The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner series] and prove just asexciting for readersnew to the series. Shelf Awareness, Starred
Take a deep breath before you startany James Dashner book. Deseret News"
Synopsis
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING MAZE RUNNER SERIES - A teenager with no memory must navigate a deadly maze to survive in book one of this post-apocalyptic phenomenon. " A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies and] The Hunger Games" (Entertainment Weekly)
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround them is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying: Remember. Survive. Run.
Look for more books in the blockbuster Maze Runner series:
THE MAZE RUNNER - THE SCORCH TRIALS - THE DEATH CURE - THE KILL ORDER - THE FEVER CODE
Synopsis
A mysterious and powerful fantasy adventure from a Schneider Award winner
In the near future, most of the population of the United States has been destroyed by the plague. The few remaining survivors live in colonies on the barrier islands off the East Coast. In one colony near Cape Hatteras, almost all the members have elemental powers and can control wind, water, earth, and fire. All but sixteen-year-old Thomas. When the Guardians, the powerful adult leaders, are kidnapped by pirates seeking to take over their colony, it is up to Thomas and a small group of teens to save them and preserve the mysteries of the island.
Fast action, strategy, and mystery churn together into a bold and fresh fantasy from an award-winning author.
Synopsis
A Meth Dealer. A Prostitute. A Serial Killer.
Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called
prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young
criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to
graduate. The rest disappear.
Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel
recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame.
They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will
they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?
Synopsis
Debut author Teri Terry has written a brilliantly compelling, original and thought-provoking novel about an uncomfortably plausible future.
Kyla has been Slatedher memory and personality erased as punishment for committing a crime she cant remember. The government has taught her how to walk and talk again, given her a new identity and a new family, and told her to be grateful for this second chance that she doesnt deserve. Its also her last chancebecause theyll be watching to make sure she plays by their rules.
As Kyla adjusts to her new life, shes plagued by fear. Who is she, really? And if only criminals are slated, why are so many innocent people disappearing? Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self-preservation. She knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she cant let anyone see her make the wrong move . . . but who can she trust when everyone is a stranger?
Synopsis
The first book in the
New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—
The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of
The Hunger Games and
Divergent.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Synopsis
Debut author Teri Terry has written a brilliantly compelling, original and thought-provoking novel about an uncomfortably plausible future.
Kyla has been Slatedher memory and personality erased as punishment for committing a crime she cant remember. The government has taught her how to walk and talk again, given her a new identity and a new family, and told her to be grateful for this second chance that she doesnt deserve. Its also her last chancebecause theyll be watching to make sure she plays by their rules.
As Kyla adjusts to her new life, shes plagued by fear. Who is she, really? And if only criminals are slated, why are so many innocent people disappearing? Kyla is torn between the need to know more and her instinct for self-preservation. She knows a dangerous game is being played with her life, and she cant let anyone see her make the wrong move . . . but who can she trust when everyone is a stranger?
Synopsis
As fearless as a futuristic
Game of Thrones.” MARGARET STOHL,
New York Times bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures trilogy
From Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston, the New York Times bestselling authors of the Blue Bloods and Witches of East End series.
Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperaturefreezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.
At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called the Blue.” They say its a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, its a place where Nat wont be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.
But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all. This is a remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.
Synopsis
Tate and his father dont exactly get along. As Tate sees it, his father has unreasonably high expectations for Tate to be the bestat everything. Tate finally learns what hes being prepared for when he steals one of his dads odd tech inventions and mercenaries ambush his school, killing his father and sending Tate on the run from aliens who look just like humans.
All Tate knowslike how to make weapons out of oranges and lighter fluidmay not be enough to save him as hes plunged into a secret interspecies conflict thats been going on for centuries. Aided only by his girlfriend and his estranged mother, with powerful enemies closing in on all sides, Tate races to puzzle out the secret behind his fathers invention and why so many are willing to kill for it.
A riveting, fast-paced adventure, Scan is a clever alien thriller with muscle and heart.
Synopsis
In the vein of great box-office blockbusters, the high-stakes romance here sizzles within this page-turning thriller that will leave readers feeling like they are flying through the streets of New York. Cam has come to accept the rhythm of his life as a bike messenger: racing up and down the streets of New York City from one run to the next. With no family to rely on and a mountain of debts, at least its an honest way to help pay off his dangerous debtors. Cams whole world comes crashing down on him one day when he runs into a beautiful stranger. After falling out of the sky and wiping out Cam and his bike, she disappears before he can find out anything about her. When he starts to see her around town, he quickly realizes that she is part of an underground group of teens who have turned NYC into their own parkour playgroundrunning, jumping, seemingly flying through the city like its an obstacle course. Cam becomes fascinated with the sportand the beautiful stranger, Nikki. He falls in with the group, and they offer him the chance to make some extra money. But when the stakes become life or death, Cam is torn between following his heart and sacrificing everything to pay off his debts.
Synopsis
In this action-packed fantastically-imagined thriller, fifteen-year-old Will Drake has made a career of breaking out from high-security prisons. His talents have landed him at the Rig, a specialist juvenile holding facility in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. No one can escape from the Rig. But Will Drake likes a challenge . . .
Synopsis
Fifteen-year-old Will Drake has made a career of breaking out from high-security prisons. His talents have landed him at the Rig, a special juvenile holding facility in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. No one can escape from the Rig. After hatching some escape plans—and making the first real friends of his life—Drake quickly realizes that all is not as it seems on the Rig. The warden is obsessed with the mysterious Crystal-X, a blue glowing substance that appears to give superpowers to the teens exposed to it. Drake, Tristan, and Irene are banking on a bid for freedom—but can they survive long enough to make it?
Video
About the Author
James Dashner is also the author of the 13th Reality series. James was born and raised in Georgia, but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his family. After several years working in finance, he is now a full-time writer.