Publishers Weekly
01/14/2019
For the last year, Foster, 18, and her adoptive mother, Cora, have been on the run. Foster believes that they are hunting down the people whom they believe killed fertility expert Dr. Rick Stewart, Cora’s husband and Foster’s adoptive father. But when Cora brings Foster to Homer, Mo., to meet with high school football star Tate Taylor, Foster realizes that something else is going on. A tornado hits, and after Foster and Tate manage to send it in a different direction, they discover that they have the ability to manipulate the air. The teens travel to a remote island in search of answers, but they’re pursued by others who have element-manipulating powers and want them to help carry out a nefarious plan. The mother-and-daughter authors (the House of Night series) have successfully created a fast-paced series opener, but the inclusion of black-and-white comic book–style graphics does little to further thin characterizations. Ages 14–up. Agent: Meredith Bernstein, Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"The mother-and-daughter authors (the House of Night series) have successfully created a fast-paced series opener." - Publisher's Weekly
“This sci-fi romance offers a diverse cast and an action-packed plot; a great choice for both new adult and young adult readers. An engaging read.” - School Library Journal
“The mother-daughter writing team has a built-in audience from their phenomenally popular House of Night books; a must-buy for genre fans.” - Booklist
“I would recommend this to fans of science fiction, stormy weather, elements, superheroes, and unique plots.” - Young Adult Book Central
PRAISE FOR THE HOUSE OF NIGHT SERIES:
“Twilight meets Harry Potter.” —MTV.com on The House of Night series
“Both intense and thoroughly entertaining. . . . this outing will not disappoint House of Night fans.” —Kirkus Reviews on Destined
“This amazing writing pair once again weaves together a world where rising darkness threatens and brave teens risk everything.” —RT Book Reviews (4 ½ stars) on Destined
“The saga of the House of Night series continues to smolder in Burned . . . fast paced and packed with mystery, suspense, and romance, this book is a hard one to put down.” —Voya
School Library Journal
11/01/2018
Gr 10 Up–What would you do if you found out you were genetically altered as an embryo by your adoptive father to control Earth's elements? Foster and Tate were drawn to each other and now must survive to escape the Core Four, more superpowered beings genetically engineered by Foster's adoptive father, Dr. Rick. He is on a mission to control the world's climate and make millions. Foster and Tate fight to find the others like them and keep them safe from the power-hungry and drug-addicted doctor's grasp. Readers of the Casts' previous books will be excited for this new series opener. This sci-fi romance offers a diverse cast and an action-packed plot. It is a great choice for both new adult and young adult readers, as the teen protagonists are 18 and the villainous Core Four are in their 30s. VERDICT An engaging read highly recommended for young adult collections where the authors are popular.—Kayla Casiello, Woods Memorial Library, Barre, MA
MARCH 2019 - AudioFile
Despite its dramatic premise, this audiobook is a fun, lighthearted high school story much in the same spirit as the Cast duo’s HOUSE OF NIGHT series. Snarky teens must learn to harness their exceptional supernatural abilities, lest they bring “dysaster” to those they love. Narrator Emma Galvin captures the spirit of this YA fantasy with her feisty delivery and relatable voice. Her conversational tone and delivery of the interplay between the characters are the highlights of the story because she keeps the dialogue cheeky, the arguments animated, and the emotional scenes full of angst. The talented narrator and entertaining plot make this an audiobook worthy of note for fans of both the authors and the genre. N.H. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2018-11-07
Two 18-year-olds discover the elemental power that links them in this latest from the mother-daughter Cast duo (Lost, 2018, etc.).
When an aberrant tornado kills Foster's adoptive mother, Cora, and Tate's parents, their worlds violently collide. Before she dies, Cora reveals to Foster how close she is to danger—the tornado, it turns out, was no act of nature, and at the center of it all is Foster's connection to Tate and their emergent power to control the element of air. In ruthless pursuit of the terrified teens are the Core Four, powerful adults who each control one of the elements and who in turn are controlled by Foster's supposedly dead foster father. As Foster and Tate hide in the safe house that Cora left them, they begin to unravel the mystery of their abilities and those of the other six teens—a pair for each element—they must work to save. Genetic manipulation, schemes for power and domination, and the ever familiar struggle of self-discovery and connection come together in a maelstrom of a plot that moves between the bewildered teens and the dangerously desperate quartet that hunts their kind. Several characters of color feature here, but all noticeably orbit around the white protagonists as either helpers or threats. As the narrative is poised to deepen in a clearly planned sequel, hopefully so too is the representation.
A not-quite-hard sci-fi thrill for Avatar: The Last Airbender fans. (Science fiction. 14-18)
