Based on the Greek myth and the play Antigone, by Sophocles, Veronica Roth put's a futuristic twist on this much loved story of old. From the blurb; 'Outside the last city on Earth, the planet is a wasteland. Without the Archive, where the genes of the dead are stored, humanity will end. 'Antigone's parents - Oedipus and Jocasta - are dead. Passing into the Archive should be cause for celebration, but with her militant uncle Kreon rising to claim her father's vacant throne, all Antigone feels is rage. 'When he welcomes her and her siblings into his mansion, Antigone sees it for what it really is: a gilded cage, where she is a captive as well as a guest. 'But her uncle will soon learn that no cage in unbreakable. And neither is he.' Roth provides no preamble, or explanation, before throwing us into this dust chocked world, her characters already in motion, the stage already set, leaving us nothing to do but try desperately to catch up and untangle the mysteries of the scene before us. For those who know the myth, or the play, Arch-Conspirator will provide a new twist and view of this classic story, matching the play pace for pace in Roth's dystopian setting. For those who have no knowledge of the story which inspired this short novel the book remains captivating, carrying us into the murky depths of a devious, sexist and desperate future with no where to run and no one to run too. Arch-Conspirator is a light-weight, short, novel. Swift to the point and hard to put down, this story jumps quickly from one arc to the next, forcing us to fill in the blanks on our own. Though enjoyable there is argument to be had that Roth could have fleshed this story out more. Added greater detail to the myth that preceded it, and treated the reader to a less jarringly rushed tale. Through a switching of character perspectives, though the main character resolutely remains Antigone, Roth shows us glimpses into the thoughts, perspectives, views and pasts of the entire cast. Giving this short novel a greater depth than it would have had if it remained as souly Antigone's perspective. A tragedy from beginning to end, set against the back drop of intricate world-building, and fueled by well written and beautifully realised characters, Arch-Conspirator will ignite into the reader an emotional response, as powerful as any live stage performance. We give Arch-Conspirator Four Stars. ISBN - 9781803363578 Hardback Cover Price - £12.99 eBook Available Published by Titan Books February 2023

A book you won't want to put down for even a second. Jennifer Lynn Barnes takes us on one last, edge of your seat, adventure in this eye-opening final installment to the Inheritance Games series. From the blurb; 'One last game. 'Against all odds, Avery has survived nearly a year of secrets, schemes and love lost and found at Hawthorne House. She's weeks away from fulfilling the terms of Tobias Hawthorne's will and inheriting his billions. 'One more player. 'Avery thinks she knows all the family secrets, but when a familiar face arrives with shocking news and a plea for help, it's clear there is one last puzzle to solve. 'One final twist. 'Soon, Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a last deadly game against an unknown and powerful opponent.' The power of The Final Gambit comes not from the story itself, or the growth experienced by each of the main characters shown throughout the novel, nor from the solidifying romance between Avery and her Hawthorne boy, but, as with all the Inheritance Games books, from the questions and puzzles that fuel this story along. Barnes has proven herself to be an expert at writing puzzles into her stories in this captivating series. The kind of puzzles we, as readers, must know the answers to before we can possibly bare to put her books down. While the story-line itself remains simple enough, the characters making no great change in their attributes as to be astonishingly surprising to anyone who has enjoyed the books up to this point, it is the mystery that lies under their feet, the story-thread they are all chasing, that keeps us turning the pages. The Final Gambit squarely brings Avery's arc to an end, though leaves us sufficiently fulfilled with just enough room left to make us crave a bit more of this world, it is a fitting final game for these main characters to play. The fast paced nature of this story, complimented by it's short chapters and firm grasp of the important returning cast of characters, ensures that it is possible to gobble this book down whole in a matter of hours without feeling like you missed any key elements. Barnes gifts her readers with a sensation of wonder, and also of pride, as we fight to solve the puzzles laid out before us in step with Avery and her Hawthorne accomplices. While the twists and turns of this story may take us off guard, Avery's firm sense of self, fought for and painstakingly developed in the prior two books, keeps the reader, and our characters, grounded through each sudden and jarring course change. The lavish world in which Barnes imagines the super rich live is enticing till the end, offering us a glimpse into all the things many long to have or experience, and all the good, and bad, that that kind of wealth can bring and do to the world. The end of this novel see's Avery do something with that power that, for many readers out there, is the shinning light of what the wealthy should be doing. This novel is a statement to all the rich and powerful within the real world. A message to the youth of the day. A line drawn in the sand, as Barnes crunches the numbers and shines a light on the greed of capitalist culture and all those who dwell within the riches that abound them. A fantastic end to a breath taking series, we give The Final Gambit Five Stars. ISBN - 978-0-241-57363-1 Cover Price - £7.99 eBook Available First published in the USA by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group 2022

The explosive finale novel in the phenomenal Red Queen series from Victoria Aveyard will leave fans blown away. From the blurb; 'Victory comes at a price. 'Mare Barrow learned this all too well when Cal's betrayal nearly destroyed her. Now determined to protect her heart - and secure freedom for Reds and newbloods like her - Mare resolves to overthrow the kingdom of Norta once and for all... starting with the crown on Maven's head. 'But no battle is won alone, and before the Reds may rise as one, Mare must side with the boy who broke her heart in order to destroy the boy who almost broke her. Val's powerful Silver allies, alongside Mare and the Scarlet Guard, prove a formidable force. But Maven is driven by an obsession so deep, he will stop at nothing to have Mare his own again, even if it means destroying everything - and everyone - in his path. 'War is coming, and all Mare has fought for hangs in the balance. Will victory be enough to topple the Silver Kingdoms? Or will the little lightening girl be forever silenced.' Victoria Aveyard takes no prisoners in this fantastic final novel in the red queen series. Fan's of the first three books will be left shocked, breathless and surprised by this immense final installment as alliances once thought impossible are struck and promises once considered unbreakable are broken. Can Mare survive all that the Silver Court has left to throw at her and her rag tag army? With each loss a new scar is laid upon Mares heart, and as the reader we feel each and every cut that is suffered along the way, as this cast of characters who we have fallen in love with is knocked and beaten in their struggle to find the salvation they all deserve. Beautifully written, carefully considered, and explosively exciting War Storm is another tome from Aveyard readers will not want to put down, and will return to again and again. While brutal in her final exploration of this strange and power hungry world Aveyard gifts the fans with an ending that is, if nothing else, fitting for who Mare truly is and all that she truly fights for. We give War Storm Five Stars ISBN - 978-1-4091-7598-8 Hardback Cover Price - £12.99 First published in Great Britain in 2018 by Orion Books

This third installment in the Red Queen series is a tome of a novel, packed with heart racing adventure, betrayal, surprise and power. From the blurb; 'Who will light the way for the rebellion? 'Mare Barrow is a prisoner, powerless without her lightening, tormented by her mistakes. She lives at the mercy of a boy she once loved, a boy made of lies and betrayal. 'Now a king, Maven continues weaving his web in an attempt to maintain control over his country - and his prisoner. 'While Mare remains trapped in the palace, the remnants of the Red Rebellion continue organizing and expanding. As they prepare for war, no longer able to linger in the shadows, Cal - the exiled prince with his own claim on Mare's heart - will stop at nothing to bring her back' Love and hatred become tangled in this fast paced, action packed, third novel as Mare continues to fight towards a better world for her people and her loved ones. Once more back in the setting of the Silver Court Victoria Aveyard takes the opportunity to give fans of the series insight into the chaos that has taken over the ruling classes. While entrapped there, dancing to the tune of a lonely and mad boy-king, Mare absorbs all that she can and we begin to see the opportunities and pitfalls which await the rebellion brewing behind Mare. Aveyard continues to grow and complicate not only her characters but also the background and foundation of this crumbling society throughout this expansive novel. While we answer old questions we find ourselves with twice as many new ones to ponder, leading us into the final installment of this series with baited breath. While a weighty novel of 507 pages readers will find themselves inhaling King's Cage, enraptured in the growing storm that is Mare's power and her destiny. We give King's Cage Five Stars. ISBN - 978-1-4091-5119-7 Cover Price - £10.99 First published in Great Britain in 2017 by Orion Books

Return to the captivating world of the Red Queen series as a fugitive and join Mare as she hatches a plan which will set this world aflame. From the blurb; 'Is there's one thing Mare Barrow knows, it's that she's different. 'Mare's blood is red, but her unique Silver ability - the power to control lightening - has turned her into a weapon that the Silver court will do anything to control. 'As Mare escapes the clutches of Maven, the prince - and friend - who betrayed her, she discovers something shocking: she is not the only one of her kind. 'Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive kind, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters. 'But Mare is treading a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her for ever?' As we delve deeper into the secrets of this world, and the power that lies in red blood that can outweigh the strength of the Silver overlords of the society, Mare's mind is driven to the more personal relationships which are effecting the lives of all those around her. Can she keep Cal alive? Can she accept the reality of who Maven is? And in that respect does she know who the people who have saved her truly are or what motivates them behind the scenes? Fighting against her goals, her desires and her distrust Mare must navigate a world very different from the one she grew up in or the one she was held captive in within the Silver court. Once again Aveyard teases us with hints to a greater history within this world and leaves us longing to find out what comes next. We give Glass Sword Five Stars ISBN - 978-1-4091-5935-3 Cover Price - £10.99 eBook Available First published in the United States in 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers

In a society ruled by a powerful upper class of silver blooded super-humans there's little hope for those of common red blood with mere mortal strengths. Victoria Aveyard bursts onto the scene with this explosive novel encased in an all consuming fantasy world which has been crafted with immense delicacy and consideration to every minute detail. From the blurb; 'This is a world divided by blood - red or silver. 'The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to seventeen-year-old Mare, a Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change. 'But Mare possesses a deadly power of her won. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power. 'Fearful of her potential, the Silvers hide Mare in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess. Knowing that one false move will mean her death, Mare must use her new position to bring down the regime - from the inside. 'Now Mare has entered a game of betrayal and lies. 'This is Red against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.' Red Queen made Victoria Aveyard a household name for good reason. It's incredibly impactful story and brilliantly designed characters hook the reader in from the first chapter. We turn the pages eager to know more about the complex magical and political natures of this world. Desperate to see if Mare will survive the next daring arc of her story. Curious whether those who seem trustworthy are what they say they are. Aveyard disguises monsters in finery and behind gleaming smiles while highlighting the worlds inequalities in brutal detail. All while making us believe full heartdly in the magic of Silver blood and the long history that defines it's position in this strange new world. Aveyard has taken every consideration in crafting this novel, offering us sneak peaks of the long history she has designed behind the scenes, and the plot lines that live within that past that still effect the nature of the current climate. Red Queen leaves us longing for more and is an explosive introduction to the artful writing of Victoria Aveyard. We give Red Queen Five Stars ISBN - 978-1-4091-5072-5 Cover Price - £7.99 eBook Available First published in Great Britain in 2015 by Orion Books

The third and final installment in the all consuming Lone City Trilogy by Amy Ewing will leave fans of the series breathless, surprised and delighted. A short novel packed full of twists and turns The Black Key will not disappoint. Ewing's carefully crafted, dark, world is bought to life by it's cast of beautifully rendered characters who readers will swiftly grow to adore and, in this final installment, cheer on as they take their futures into their own hands. From the blurb; 'Fighting for freedom. 'Torn between conflicting loyalties. 'Desperate to save her sister. 'Violet and the Society of the Black Key are launching an attack on the royalty, and Violet has a crucial role to play. She must lead the surrogates as they infiltrate the Auction and change the Lone City forever. 'But Violet's sister, Hazel, is imprisoned in the palace of the Lake. Should Violet abandon her cause and return to the Jewel in order to save her sister?' As Violet struggles to balance the greater cause against the present threat to her family we run along at her side carried by Amy Ewing's careful crafting of the stories plot and brilliant deceptions whose revelations bring masterful surprises to the story throughout. While the complex nature of the Black Key's crescendo story-line mixed against it's fast paced writing, can cause the novel in places to jar the reader, the overall impact of this novel is a positive conclusion to this fantastic debut series that will leave readers just discovering Ewing excited for everything else she has to bring to the literary world. We Give The Black Key Four Stars ISBN - 978-1-4063-4759-3 Cover Price - £7.99 eBook available First published in 2016 by Walker Books Ltd

The third novel in this explosive series, Ungodly stands as the crescendo to these characters arcs, and Kendare Blake makes sure it is explosive. From the blurb; 'For the Goddess of wisdom, what Athena didn't know could fill a book. That's what her opponents said. 'So she was wrong about some things. So her carefully planned assault on Olympus left her team beaten and scattered and possibly dead. So they have to fight the Fates themselves, who, it turns out, are the source of the gods' illness. And, yes, Athena is stuck in the underworld, holding the body of the only hero she has ever loved. 'But all is not lost. Hermes is still topside, trying to power up Andie and Henry before he runs out of time and submits to his death, or the Fates arrive to speed it along. 'And Cassandra is up there somewhere, too, on a quest for death... with the god of death himself. 'Just because things haven't gone exactly according to plan, it doesn't mean they've lost. They've only mostly lost. And there's a big difference.' Any lover of Greek mythology will clutch to this creative envisioning of the gods, and will find themselves at the edge of their seats as this final novel takes them on a roller coaster ride of emotions and plot twists. We Give Ungodly Three Stars ISBN - 978-0-7653-3445-9 Hardback Cover Price US - $17.99 Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC 2015

It is hard to put into words the power of Maria Turtschaninoff's writing as she crafts a spellbinding world in which secrets, magic and power wrestle. From the blurb; 'A world where girls live in fear. A safe haven far away. But is it far enough? 'This is Maresi's story. 'Maresi came to the Red Abbey several years ago, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumors of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe. 'Then one day Jai - tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back - arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her. Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that want to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest, fears.' Filled with turmoil this novel strikes the bone of what it is to feel fear as a woman. Turtschaninoff does not shy away from the darker elements of her story, or the emotional weight of their implications. Her characters, a cast of strong females who have survived a world set against them, stand tall and scarred in the face of universal cruelty. As we route for them, enjoy their peace, cry with their pain and strive for a better world at their sides we cannot help but recognize the real-world instances that Turtschaninoff is drawing from, both historical and present. Not for the faint of hearted Maresi is a captivating novel which will suck you in, chew you up and stay living and breathing in your mind long after finishing. We Give Maresi Five Stars ISBN - 978-1-78269-091-7 Hardback Cover Price - £10.99 This translation first published by Pushkin Children's Books in 2016

By now most people will have seen the incredible movie adaptation of this transformative novel by Andy Weir, and although the big-screen adaptation was a brilliant recreation, nothing can truly stand to the power of this survival novel set on Mars. Written in a series of log entries and narrative chapters this novel intelligently captures the readers imagination, swiftly carrying us away from a sense of fiction and creating a novel which reads like a true account. From the blurb; 'I'm stranded on Mars. 'I have no way to communicate with Earth. 'If the Oxygenator breaks down, I'll suffocate. If the Water Reclaimer breaks down, I'll die of thirst. 'If the Habitat breaches, I'll just kind of explode. 'If none of those things happen, I'll eventually run out of food and starve to death. 'I'm screwed.' Incredibly well researched and laced with Weir's unique humor The Maritain provides a brilliant twist on the classic survival novel. This space based adventure gives us an insight into the unique challenges that exist when considering a planetary mission to Mars and then runs with the worst case scenarios in every instance, creating a breathtaking, edge-of-the-seat, novel that no reader will be able to put down and which lives long after reading in our minds. If you haven't had a chance to read The Martian yet, take the opportunity and dive into this incredible book. We Give The Martian Five Stars ISBN - 978-1-785031-13-7 Cover Price - £7.99 First published by Del Rey in the UK 2014

Delight in the return to the Graceling Realm as Kristin Cashore paints a new view of the spellbinding world we've fallen in love with. From the blurb; 'Seasparrow is told from the point of view of Hava, Bitterblue's personal spy and secret half-sister. 'Hava sails across the sea towards Monsea with her sister. Queen Bitterblue, the royal entourage, and the world's only copies of the formulas for the zilfium weapon she saved at the end of Winterkeep. 'During the crossing, Hava makes an unexpected discovery, about one of the ship's crew, but before she can unravel the mystery, storms drive their ship off course, wrecking them in the ice far north of the Royal Continent. 'The survivors must endure a harrowing trek across the ice to make it back to Monsea. And while Queen Bitterblue grapples with how to carry the responsibility of a weapon that will change the world, Hava has a few more mysterious to solve, and a decision to make about who she wants to be in the new world Bitterblue will build. 'What will Bitterblue's spy do in a world where Gracelings are no longer the ultimate power and kingdoms now have weapons of mass destruction.' Seasparrow picks up exactly from where Winterkeep left off, with our hero's setting sail across a treacherous winter sea, while battling with the weight of the earth altering discoveries. It is obvious that Cashore put a lot of work into learning the in's and outs of sailing and survival in the Northern cold, and that research pays off in an all embracing story filled with life or death realism which will absorb any and every reader. Reading from the perspective of Hava, Bitterblue's secretive sister graced with hiding, gives us an insight into the childhood Bitterblue endured and a view of the other characters at play that only a spy could offer. While this novel is filled with the fantasy elements we have grown to adore from Cashore's Graceling series it is also an action packed survival adventure story which offers devious plots, sudden twists, and cut-throat survival on a icy plain. All the while carrying the weight of the future as Cashore asks what technology will bring to a world of magic. As our characters fight to maintain hope in their dire situation we are carried with them, enjoying every mention of characters previously loved, any nod towards the world which we initially fell in love with. Most importantly enjoying the tension of a budding, beautiful, love story while an older love takes bloom. We Give Seasparrow Five Stars ISBN - 978-1-3996-0080-4 Hard Back Cover Price - £20.00 Published by Gollancz, an imprint of the Orion Publishing Group Ltd 2022

If you thought the fist book, The Midnight Lie, was impossible to put down you'll be enthralled by The Hollow Heart. Marie Rutkoski paints a world in which we cannot escape, it's passions, love story, and magic beautifully crafted to create a spellbinding story which will steal your breath and live on long after reading. From the blurb; 'Nirrim's heart is lost, traded to the god of thieves in order to restore her people's memories. Meanwhile, Sid, the person she once loved most, has returned to Herran to take up her duty to the crown. 'But frightening rumors are growing in the Herrani court: of a new threat rising across the sea, of magic unleashed upon the world, and of a cruel, black-haired queen who can make you believe your dearest friends to be your enemies. 'Sid doesn't know that this queen is Nirrim, seeking revenge against a world that has wronged her. Can Sid save Nirrim from herself? And does Nirrim even want to be saved? 'As blood is shed and war begins, Sid and Nirrim find that it might not matter what they want... for the gods have their own plans.' Though there is no need to have read Marie Rutkoski's previous works to enjoy The Hollow Heart, having read The Winner's Trilogy, will heighten any readers enjoyment of this explosive second novel. As Rutkoski reveals Sid's true history we are delighted as readers to find a connection into her previous trilogy, and through that connection some insight into the futures of the characters we fell in love with throughout the course of that series. Explained enough to ensure that readers do not have to have read to previous Winners Trilogy to enjoy the revelations of The Hollow Heart Rutkoski creates a timeless book which will sit proudly on the bookshelves of both long term fans and new readers. As Sid deals with her own challenges across the sea with her royal family, Nirrim fights her own battles. With her compassion lost Nirrim turns into the dark god we always knew she could be. Seeing a character we fell in love with for her kindness shaped into a villain beyond cruel is a wicked delight many readers will enjoy. As Rutkoski explores these two story-lines she also delves into a past as yet unknown, revealing the secrets of the gods who shaped this world so long ago. This novel craves a reader as much as the reader craves the novel. The two devour one another completely and will leave the novel softened while the reader is left captivated, living in a world which has long since closed. Leaving us excited for what Rutkoski will do next. We Give The Hollow Heart Five Stars ISBN - 978-1-529-35754-7 Cover Price - £8.99 Published by Hodder & Stoughton 2021