The Darkest Star

This science fiction drama picks up four years after the events of Armentrout’s Lux series. Aliens known as the Luxen have launched a failed invasion of Earth, and humans have entered into an uneasy, fragile peace with those Luxen who chose integration rather than conflict. When 17-year-old Evie Dasher accompanies a friend to a nightclub where humans and aliens can mingle, she’s inadvertently drawn into a terrifying mystery in which she discovers that many aspects of her life are false. The aggravating and oh-so-sexy Luc insinuates himself into her life at every turn, and Evie can’t get away from the Luxen, as much as she’d prefer to continue her quiet life as an ordinary high schooler. But she may need Luc if she wants to survive the attentions of a superpowered killer. While this series opener draws heavily on the events and premise of the previous series, it works as an entry point for new readers. Unfortunately, Luc comes across as more annoying than appealing, and the constant string of surprise revelations may test the limits of plausibility. Ages 13–up. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Oct.)