Plot twists and fairy tales

Author S.D. Grimm weaves a tight web of government secrets and plot twists in her fast-paced young adult sci-fi novel Beneath False Stars (Enclave Escape, 368 pp.). In a world where everything is a lie, teen hacker Ryleigh Stevens is bent on discovering the truth about the government’s control over genetically engineered humans with powers. The problem is, she has no idea whom she can trust. Nor do her teammates know if they can fully trust her.

Beneath False Stars S.D. Grimm

When her father’s plan to integrate the Powered back into normal society finally takes effect, old wounds and new problems collide. All she wants is a world with unity, equality, and the neutralization of powers for the safety of all. Ryleigh must work with her sworn enemy—and the person responsible for her brother’s death—if their society is ever going to avoid a second Universal Tech War.

Beneath False Stars tackles themes of overcoming prejudice and hard-won reconciliation. Grimm also beautifully incorporates the Biblical motif of finding virtuous heroes in unlikely places. Teens who enjoy superheroes, stories of defying dystopian governments, and a touch of clean romance will enjoy this first installment in the Project Integration series.

Glass Across the Sea Sara Ella

“Even shattered glass, lost across the sea … finds its way back to shore. But not before it is changed—made more beautiful and more refined than the day it was broken.” Masterfully capturing the cadence and tone of a classic fairy tale, author Sara Ella weaves her own unique myth in Glass Across the Sea (Enclave Escape, 432 pp.). In this Cinderella retelling, Noelle thinks the stories of the Firefly artisans and their Vestiges are mere myths. Yet when her mother falls gravely ill, her father has no choice but to search across the sea for the ancient relics before he loses his wife to her mysterious illness. Noelle’s best friend Prince Dante accompanies her father on the voyage, leaving Noelle behind to handle her unwanted and cruel guests.

Meanwhile, Dante is fighting for both his birthright as the next king and the life of his younger sister. Without the power of the Firefly’s Vestiges, his sister may not survive the same strange illness that took the life of his mother and now plagues Noelle’s mother. Unless Dante and Noelle can uncover the truth behind the myth of the Firefly and their Vestiges, the darkness threatening the kingdom will snuff out their light.

With nods to movies Ever After (1998) and Disney’s live-action Cinderella (2015), the land of Lumiverre boasts an entirely new magic system and origin story that will have readers drawn in by each plot twist and the depth of world-building. Christian fantasy lovers will also appreciate how Ella weaves faith elements into the story, including a God-like being called the Lamplighter who “created the Firefly to carry his light to the corners of the earth.”