Light Years

August 6, 2018
In this character-driven sci-fi series starter, Morgan (The 100) introduces four ambitious and sympathetic protagonists: Vesper, Cormak, Arran, and Orelia. Diverse in planetary origin, wealth, class, and even species, all are extremely gifted. At school, the galaxy’s top military academy, the stakes for their success are high—pilot Vesper strives to live up to unyielding family expectations, Cormak must borrow a deceased person’s identity, loner Arran falls for a boy from the ruling planet, and Orelia—much to her chagrin—is charged with infiltrating the academy and destroying the new friends she’s made. Morgan offers smooth, easy prose, clever wit, and excellent character-building, but the novel’s secondary characters, planetary jargon, and complex social dynamics can make the story confusing. The school setting, complete with competition, parties, and romance, is a much-needed tether in this ultimately promising interplanetary tale. Ages 14–up. Agent: Joelle Hobeika and Eliza Swift, Alloy Entertainment.

July 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-Only the best and brightest enter the prestigious Quatra Fleet Academy to be honed into a well-oiled, military machine. Because the threat from the enemy fleet is so great, the academy has opened its enrollment to include candidates from outlying colonial planets. These "Edgers" are not welcomed with open arms, and there are open acts of hatred against the new recruits. Cormak is posing as his brother Rex, who was killed in a mining accident after applying to the academy. Vesper, whose high-ranked mother has pulled strings to help grease her admission, is devastated when her scores merely place her as pilot rather than captain. Meanwhile, Arran is smitten with the appropriately named Dash, whose commander father has been quite forthright in his disapproval of including colony residents at the academy. To top it off, Orelia is a spy who has managed to infiltrate the academy to send back its coordinates to the approaching enemy. The shifting among characters, although cumbersome at first, becomes manageable over the course of this phenomenal series opener. The cast is well drawn, there are several romantic interests established, and the backstories are elaborate. Many readers will be itching for more when they finish this long volume, which merely serves as an introduction to the books to come. VERDICT A must-purchase for fans of the author and science fiction/romance.-Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2018
Four cadets from different worlds navigate their first year together at Quatra Fleet Academy, an elite space academy in the Quatra Federation, against the backdrop of interstellar war.The Quatrans are entrenched in a 15-year-old battle with an enemy species, the Specters. For the first time, the Academy has decided to accept not only wealthy students from the planet Tri, but also poor Settlers from toxic Deva, frozen Chetire, and tropical Loos. The narrative fluidly interleaves the perspectives of four characters who are thrown together to form a squadron and who must compete to win a tournament. Vesper yearns to meet her admiral mother's expectations but suffers from imposter syndrome. Cormak has faked his dead brother's identity and may be caught and executed at any moment. Shy Arran has finally found a boy who makes him feel seen, but he's the son of a powerful enemy. Orelia is really a Specter on a covert mission to discover the Academy's secret location, but can she betray the first friends she's ever known? The science is handled with a light touch, but the many space-combat scenarios are convincing enough to thrill ardent Trekkies. Several characters are described as having dark eyes, skin, and hair, but without any insight into cultures, languages, and beliefs, the differences between the haves and the have-nots seem no more than skin-deep.A fun, fast-paced read laced with a froth of space romance. (Science fiction. 12-17)

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