Light Years

In this character-driven sci-fi series starter, Morgan (The 100) introduces four ambitious and sympathetic protagonists: Vesper, Cormak, Arran, and Orelia. Diverse in planetary origin, wealth, class, and even species, all are extremely gifted. At school, the galaxy’s top military academy, the stakes for their success are high—pilot Vesper strives to live up to unyielding family expectations, Cormak must borrow a deceased person’s identity, loner Arran falls for a boy from the ruling planet, and Orelia—much to her chagrin—is charged with infiltrating the academy and destroying the new friends she’s made. Morgan offers smooth, easy prose, clever wit, and excellent character-building, but the novel’s secondary characters, planetary jargon, and complex social dynamics can make the story confusing. The school setting, complete with competition, parties, and romance, is a much-needed tether in this ultimately promising interplanetary tale. Ages 14–up. [em]Agent: Joelle Hobeika and Eliza Swift, Alloy Entertainment. (Oct.) [/em]