YA/Dystopian
400 pages
Darrow is young and strong and fearless. He can do the dangerous mining work and have enough energy left in him to dance with his wife. But he is a Red and therefore powerless to protect Eo when the government comes and witnesses her defiance. When she is executed, he has nothing left to give him hope.
But everything changes when the revolutionaries surgically morph Darrow into a Gold. Does he have what it takes to infiltrate the elite social class and exact vengeance for the death of his wife and everything he holds dear. He is called to do battle to earn favor with the gods, but can he keep his disguise, his honor, and his life, or will it prove to be too much?
I would recommend this book to mature 8th graders or high school students who like a battle to the death dystopian story. It is at times violent and the tactical military moves take on a life of their own. It is an intense story much like Hunger Games or Maze Runner with an epic vibe.
A feral can communicate with a certain animal, and Caw can talk to crows. He never knew there was a name for what he was; he just knew he relied on his dark winged friends for his survival. But something is changing all around him, and it’s not good. He’s been viciously attacked, surviving only because of a new friend who was looking out for him, and his secret nest has been exposed. Orphaned and alone, Caw has never felt comfortable or safe around people, but he’s going to need help to understand who he is and how to combat the evil lurking all around him. Years ago, the city was under siege by the Spinning Man, and he is showing up again. The last defenders of this dark force are old and beaten, but perhaps a few are willing to let Caw in on some of their secrets. Honestly, who knows how many of them are hiding in the city.