Rising Tide

August 24, 2015
This exciting sequel to 2014’s Falling Sky picks up where the earlier postapocalyptic steampunk tale left off, with airship captain Ben Gold having sacrificed his beloved ship, Cherub, to protect the hidden city of Tamoanchan from attack by ruthless raiders. Unfortunately, he’s saved by an old ally turned bitter enemy and has to trade his services for survival, leading to a perilous journey across the wasteland and through the skies of a future Earth inhabited by the feral and the dying. Ben will do whatever it takes to save himself and his newfound love, Miranda, a scientist dedicated to curing the plague that has nearly wiped out humankind. But despite his best intentions, Ben finds it hard to overcome his old nature and reputation as someone who cuts and runs when things get bad. Khanna crafts a terrifyingly dismal picture of the future, raising the stakes by gradually stripping Ben of friends and support while throwing him into increasingly dire situations. His worldbuilding remains solid and unsettling, and he never loses sight of the human element. The cliffhanger ending is sure to leave readers on the edges of their seats, panting for resolution. Agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary Agency.

October 15, 2015

Ben Gold lost his cherished airship Cherub in the events of series opener Falling Sky. Now, he and his beloved Miranda continue to work to cure the virus that turned most of the humans on the continent into feral creatures while a new disease plagues humanity's remnants. Postapocalyptic steampunk continues in this quick read.--MM

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2015
Khanna continues his postapocalyptic steampunk mash-up in this second book in the adventures of forager Ben Gold and scientist Miranda Mehra. The conclusion of Falling Sky (2014) found Ben and Miranda bobbing in the ocean after repelling an attack by raiders intent on finding the secret island of Tamoanchan. This installment begins with their rescue by the malevolent Malik, an old partner who needs Ben's expertise as a scavenger and airship pilot to repair his ailing ship. Ben must escape Malik, survive the zombie-like Ferals on the ground, and return Miranda to the island, where she can continue her research on the virus that has decimated the world's population. There's plenty of action here, but Khanna also skillfully shifts the first-person perspective from Miranda to Ben in such a way as to add insight to Ben's motivations and their emotional underpinning. This is a compelling combination of steampunk and western, and the ending ensures that readers will be seeing more of Ben Gold.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)