Welcome to the August and September round up of YA Speculative Fiction!

The Garsal have landed, the world has changed, and Shanna has gifts that might save everyone. With her starcats by her side and her friends around her, she must try to master her gifts and seek out the alien invaders before they enslave her world.

One of the most popular titles during August and September was Frontier Resistance (Frontier #2) by Leonie Rogers. It received a 5 star review from Brenda, who said “I absolutely loved this second instalment in the Frontier series.” It also received high praise from Carolyn, who said “Frontier Incursion was every bit as good as I hoped.”

It’s a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Another popular title has been These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Cassandra Page loved it, and proclaims that “These Broken Stars is my kind of science fiction story”. She is referring to how a reader doesn’t “need to have a degree in astrophysics or robotic engineering to follow the intricacies of the plot”, and I’d like to chime in and point out (as an astrophysicist) that the science is really well done in this book. Amie and Meagan have an astrophysicist read through their books for scientific accuracy! Welcome to my Library also reviewed These Broken Stars, and also loved it: ” I couldn’t put These Broken Stars down and was totally swept up from the moment I picked it up”.

This Night So Dark, a short-story set in the Starbound universe, is now available (here is the link to the Australian Kindle store) and the next novel, This Shattered World, is coming out in December from Allen and Unwin.

Gaby thought her life couldn’t get more complicated. She’s almost used to the idea that she’s not the nineteen-year-old backpacker she thought she was. She can just about cope with being one of the Rephaim – a 140-year-old half-angel – whose memories have been stolen. She’s even coming to grips with the fact that Jude, the brother she’s mourned for a year, didn’t die at all. But now Rafa—sexy, infuriating Rafa—is being held, and hurt, by Gatekeeper demons. And Gaby has to get the bitterly divided Rephaim to work together, or Rafa has no chance at all. It’s a race against time – and history. And it may already be too late.

Paula Weston’s The Rephaim books continue to be popular with reviewers, with Rochelle Sharpe reviewing the latest instalment, Shimmer, and saying “Shimmer was another outstanding installment of the Rephaim series. No other angel book compares to this one, seriously. It flies high above the other ones, looking down with a smirk in all its awesomeness.”

Lee @ Rally the Readers has reviewed the second book in the series, Haze, giving it high praise: “I love Paula Weston’s storytelling and characters. The latter are quite numerous, but she gives them such distinct personalities that you never have to stop and sort out who’s who. And you certainly never confuse Rafa with anyone else!”

Anamae Gilbert managed to thwart The Collective and rescue her father, even though his mind is now a shell. Determined to stop Councilor Manvyke hurting her family again, she’s training to become an active resistance member and enjoying a growing romance. But things never sail along smoothly – Manvyke wants retribution. And Anamae’s name is high on his list. After a blow to the head, she awakes in an unfamiliar location. Anamae can’t remember the last few weeks and she can’t believe the fascinating new technology she’s seeing. She’s the new kid at school and weapons training comes with ease, but something feels off. Why does the other new kid’s smile make her heart ache? And why does she get the feeling these people are deadly?

Remember Me (The Collective #2) by Stacey Nash has been reviewed by Brenda: “This second novel in the YA fantasy series of The Collective by Aussie author Stacey Nash is excellent. Fast paced with a brilliant plot and some great twists. I thoroughly enjoyed book two, and can’t wait for the next in the series. Highly recommended.” Additionally, Brenda reviewed Lake Ephemeral Part 3 by Anya Allyn and loved it, saying “[T]he chilling creepiness is getting stranger! The mystery is deepening, the horrors are intensifying.”

Other reviews:

• The Sky So Heavy by Claire Zorn – reviewed by Welcome to My Library
• Allegiance by Wanda Wiltshire – reviewed by Tracey @ Carpe Librum
• Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody – reviewed by David Golding
• The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina – reviewed by Jane Rawson
• Immagica by K. A. Last – reviewed by Cassandra Page
• Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta – reviewed by Rowena Evans
• Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier – reviewed by Leonie Rogers
• Stalking Shadows by Thalia Newland – reviewed by Coffee2Words
• Telesa – Covenant Keeper by Laini Wendt-Young – reviewed by Dani

And that’s it for this month! I’ll be back in December with the October and November round-up 🙂 Happy reading!

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About Me

Hi! I’m Shaheen from Speculating on SpecFic, a book blog dedicated to works of speculative fiction – fantasy, science fiction, magic realism, paranormal romance and much more. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love reading and use my blog to peddle my love to others. When not reading (rare times indeed), I can be found completing my PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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