14 must-read SFF releases that will make your September magical
By Lacy Baugher
Skyhunter – Marie Lu
Skyhunter is the latest novel from Marie Lu, the author of Warcross and the Legend series. Inspired in part by her own experiences as an immigrant in the United States, the novel follows the story of a mute heroine named Talin Kanam.
A member of an elite fighting force known as the Strikers, Talin and the rest of her squad are the last hope of protecting the free nations of Mara from the encroaching Federation and its mutant war beasts known as Ghosts. The capture of a Federation fighter with strange abilities pushes Talin to hatch a dangerous scheme to infiltrate their ranks, in the hopes of stopping the production of Ghosts entirely. Whether the prisoner Redlen will help them achieve that goal – or betray them along the way – is anyone’s guess.
The official synopsis describes the story in more detail.
"The Karensa Federation has conquered a dozen countries, leaving Mara as one of the last free nations in the world. Refugees flee to its borders to escape a fate worse than death―transformation into mutant war beasts known as Ghosts, creatures the Federation then sends to attack Mara. The legendary Strikers, Mara’s elite fighting force, are trained to stop these monsters. But as the number of Ghosts grows and Karensa closes in, defeat seems inevitable. Still, one Striker refuses to give up hope. Robbed of her voice and home, Talin Kanami knows firsthand the brutality of the Federation. Their cruelty forced her and her mother to seek asylum in a country that finds their people repugnant. She finds comfort only with a handful of fellow Strikers who have pledged their lives to one another, soldiers determined to push Karensa back at all costs. After another devastating battle, Mara seems ready to fall. But when a mysterious prisoner is brought from the front, Talin senses there’s more to him than meets the eye. Is he a spy from the Federation? Or could he be the weapon that will save them all?"
Skyhunter is available on September 29.
Next. Where Dreams Descend is a lush, magical YA fantasy must-read. dark
What are you planning on adding to your TBR pile this September? Let us know in the comments!