Prodigal

In a complex future world where two groups of time travelers—the Tesla Institute and the rebellious Hollows—battle to rewrite history, time traveler Stein learns she’s dying, and her friends make a desperate gamble to find a cure. Despite their best efforts, soon it becomes clear that only her worst enemy, death-defying genius Nicola Tesla, can save her. The refreshing second Lost Imperials novel (after Extracted) daringly makes steampunk fan favorite Tesla not just a villain, but a horrible monster of a man. There are a few hints that he could be sympathetic, but the powerful and surprising ending shows just how far Tesla is willing to go for control of the time stream. Stein’s personal connection to Tesla, tipped early, builds into a complex series of revelations that could change the balance of power between the Hollows and the Institute, hooking readers with a brisk pace and novel reinterpretations of familiar steampunk story elements. (May)