Publisher Description
In this “high-octane thriller” (Publishers Weekly), a young boy learns about his family’s hidden legacy as he’s plunged into an ancient alien conflict.
“Massive explosions, deadly shoot-outs, and harrowing escapes make this an exciting read.”—VOYA
“Car chases, explosions, and action galore—awesome.”—Kirkus Reviews
What is the secret behind his father’s invention . . . and why are so many willing to kill for it?
Tate and his father don’t exactly get along. As Tate sees it, his father has unreasonably high expectations for Tate to be the best—at everything. Tate finally learns what he’s being prepared for when he steals one of his dad’s 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 knows—like how to make weapons out of oranges and lighter fluid—may not be enough to save him as he’s plunged into a secret interspecies conflict that’s been going on for centuries.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fine (the Guards of the Shadowlands series) joins movie producer and first-time author Jury to deliver a high-octane thriller, first in a duology, about a young man trained from birth to uphold a family responsibility he knows nothing about. When 16-year-old Tate Archer swipes a mysterious invention from his father's lab, he inadvertently sets off a multi-faction hunt with devastating results. It seems that aliens live among us and actually make up a significant portion of the populace; this device can identify who's human and who's "H2." With humans and aliens desperate to obtain the device, Tate and his companions, including his girlfriend Christina and his long-absent mother, are thrust into an intense, paranoid situation where no one can be trusted. Tate, a polyglot martial artist skilled in making improvised weapons, is the ideal teen action hero, and Christina is no slouch herself. The story starts strong, but weakens once the heroes find temporary safety in a remote compound filled with human survivalists. However, the cinematic approach and constant action make this a satisfying page-turner, albeit one with a cliffhanger. Ages 12 up.
