#1 Insignia
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 biggie when the Indo-american alliance ask him to join them in the pentagon spire, in the fight against the Russo-chinese for the precious metal deposits scattered across the solar system.
But in the future things are very different, companies rule the world, getting the government to fight their petty battles for them.
Now Tom only has to convince his Dad to let him go. But his Dad is seriously paranoid, constantly telling Tom about his many theories about what goes on in the Spire, is a hard nut to crack. So when he gives Tom the all clear, Tom is flabbergasted at his luck and 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.
Teen Rating: Easily the best Sci-Fi I’ve read! 6/5 13+
#2 Vortex
Vortex by S.J. Kincaid.
Thomas Raines is on his mandatory ‘military’ vacation, away from the spire, in accordance with the laws (!!!) of civilian…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 is acting reasonably responsible and 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. The only problem being the banker who lost doesn’t know how to lose and sends a corrupt cop after them to reclaim his treasures.Tom and Niel can’t fight back otherwise jail time will result, kinda unfair???From this point on things start to go in a steady downward spiral, unless Tom can change that?….
Teen Rating: Tom finds him self in such a deep hole it looks impossible for his escape, but somehow he manages it! 5/5 13+
#3 The Hero of Ages
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson.
Ruin has escaped the ‘Well of Ascension’, the ashmounts are falling ceasing in a endless stream of ash, that’s coating the land in a black blanket, where life cannot flourish. Mist no longer recedes during the day, cloaking the land in a could of white, where the sun cannot reach the already dying plants. And Vin the ‘Hero of Ages’ feels responsable for all this. 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. 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 help from the Lord Ruler himself.
Teen Rating: an incredible finish to an outstanding series. 5/5 13+
