1. Insignia by S.J. Kincaid.
Tom Raines and his almost permanently drunk father, are barely scraping by, if even. Each day Tom must earn back the money his father gambles away, in the VR parlours at the many casinos his father attends. So it’s no surprise what he choose to do when the Indo-american alliance ask him to join them in the Pentagon Spire (formerly the Pentagon), in the fight against the Russo-chinese for the precious metal deposits scattered across our solar system. But in the future things are very different from how they are now, companies rule the world, controlling the governments to fight their petty battles for them and meaning democracy is virtually non-existent any more. But Tom still has to convince his Dad to let him go. But his Dad being paranoid, is constantly telling Tom about his many theories about what actually goes on in the Spire and how corrupt the government are. You can bet when he gives Tom the all clear, Tom is flabbergasted and amazed at his luck, itching for adventure. But will the Spire be all it’s made out to be?Or will Tom’s Father’s crazy theories not really be that outrages after all?
AGE RATING: 13+
TEEN RATING: 6/5
TEEN OVERVIEW: Easily the best Sci-fi book I’ve read in a while!
2. Vortex by S.J. Kincaid.
Thomas Raines is on his mandatory ‘military’ vacation, away from the spire, in accordance with the laws of a civilian in military service…etc.,etc.,etc. That means, whether he likes it or not, spending 2-3 weeks with his drunken, practically homeless father. This time though Niel, his father, is acting reasonably responsible and unusually there isn’t a hint of booze off him, but that doesn’t stop him from entering a gambling parlour with Tom and winning his means of giving Tom his first ever birthday present. Maybe things are looking up for Tom? Or maybe not. The banker who lost the poker game, doesn’t know how to lose and sends a corrupt cop after them to reclaim his lost treasures. The catch is Tom and Niel can’t fight back otherwise jail time will be the result, maybe just a little unfair? From this point on things start to get worse and worse spiralling out of control. That is unless of course Tom can change that?….
AGE RATING: 13+
TEEN RATING: 5/5
TEEN OVERVIEW: Exceptional follow up to it’s predecessor!
3. The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Ruin has escaped the ‘Well of Ascension’ and the Ashmounts are falling ceaselessly in a endless stream of ash, that’s coating the land in a black blanket of death, suffocating the land and all life with it. The Mist no longer recedes during the day, cloaking the land in a world of white, where the sun cannot reach the already dying plants and bringing more ruin to the land and it’s inhabitants but, isn’t that what Ruin is after anyway, ruin. And Vin, the ‘Hero of Ages’ feels responsible for all this, as it is said to be her duty to solve this very problem. Elend meanwhile is seriously enjoying his new gift, using it whenever he can. Even more surprisingly he’s beginning to become extremely powerful, learning at a rate even Vin is impressed by, which is something. Now as the end is most certainly nearing, Emperor Elend and Empress Vin are working tirelessly to unearth anything at all witch could increase there odds against Ruin, even if that means getting help from the Lord Ruler himself.
AGE RATING: 13+
TEEN RATING: 5/5
TEEN OVERVIEW: An incredible finish to an outstanding series.
