Action! Humor! Fantasy! "Kicking off a new series with a bang (several bangs, in fact), Stroud sends two young fugitives with murky pasts fleeing murderous pursuers across a fractured future Britain." —Kirkus Reviews, starred
Scarlett McCain is a shoot-first ask-questions-later kind of outlaw. She scrapes by on bank heists, her wits—and never looking back.
She’s on the run from her latest crime when she comes across Albert Browne. He is the sole survivor of a horrific accident, and against her better judgement, Scarlett agrees to guide him to safety.
This is a mistake. Soon there are men with dogs and guns and explosives hot on their heels. Scarlett’s used to being chased by the law, but this is extreme. It was only a
little bank she’d robbed . . .
As they flee together across the wilds, fighting off monstrous beasts, and dodging their pursuers, Scarlett comes to realize that Albert Browne is hiding a terrible secret. And that
he may be the most dangerous threat of all.
In this fast-paced, quick-witted whirlwind of a story, Jonathan Stroud introduces two unlikely allies—the outlaws Scarlett and Browne—who are about to become the most notorious renegades in all that’s left of Britain.
On sale: March 7, 2023
Age: 10 and up
Grade: Grades 6-12
Page count: 448 Pages
ISBN: 9780593430392
Reading level: Lexile: 700L | Fountas/Pinnell: Z
Jonathan Stroud is the author of two internationally bestselling series: the award-winning Bartimaeus sequence, which has been published in thirty-six languages worldwide, and the critically acclaimed Lockwood & Co, which is currently being adapted by Netflix. His stand-alone titles include
Heroes of the Valley, The Last Siege, The Leap, and
Buried Fire.
Jonathan lives near London with his wife and three children.
"The
vivid setting, rapid-fire dialogue, and nonstop action will propel readers through this raucous, rousing rumble.
A blast for action fans, with potential for a long run." —
Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Just the kind of setting where adventure fantasy thrives. Add
razor-sharp banter and you can lay the smart money on
another Stroud winner." —
Bulletin, starred review
"Stroud expertly builds flawed characters, cahoots close and tender, and a fully realized setting in this
rollicking series opener, employing
arch phrasing, witty rapport, and quick pacing alongside the brutally rendered truths of a world intent on controlling outlaws of every type." —
Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Stroud’s world building is
exceptional, his compelling characters easy to root for. There’s
real suspense and surprise, along with some
truly terrifying moments, though
plenty of banter and scheming keeps things fun." —
Booklist
"
Intricate worldbuilding and a
compelling heroine will appeal to readers who like “Rick Riordan Presents,” as well as the works of Philip Pullman and Garth Nix." —
School Library Journal
"Incisive, elegant action scenes,
stuffed with daredevil escapes and shoot-’em-up confrontations, keep the story racing along in a turbulent stream of suspense and relief.
Stroud’s characteristic humor—irony, sarcasm, a witty quickness—lightens the tale’s more dire themes." —
The Horn Book
