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sci fi – young adult

Sci fi stories with protagonists in their mid to late teens. Return to general Sci Fi

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Word Count: 111,000

Summary:

New York: two years after the Third World War. Humanity is rebuilding its cities brick by brick; the damage done to the people, however, is a lot harder to repair.
Dan Hardacre is one of those people. An aspiring stage actor and experienced draft-dodger, Dan struggles to find his place within the Utopic rebuild of New York City. When he’s not caught up with the duties of work, Dan lives a quiet life in mourning for his mother, Dyani, who went missing when he was a teenager.
One night, Dan experiences a vivid, terrifying nightmare that puts him right on the front lines of the war for which he dodged the draft; it ends with him facing Death itself in the form of a metallic, faceless humanoid creature that calls itself the Valkyrie. To investigate the reason behind his haunting experience, Dan seeks out a meeting with his estranged father, who reveals the startling truth about Dan’s dream: it wasn’t a dream.
With this newfound knowledge and the powers it brings, Dan makes it his mission to return to the scene of his nightmare. However, he soon comes to know that confronting the Valkyrie not only endangers him but the war-withstanding world he leaves behind.

Road to Juneau - Liam Quane
ROAD TO JUNEAU
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Word Count: 71387

Summary: Beware the Gray People Each Seeking, the magic that protects the town of Carra must be renewed, which means the children of the Exalted Family must go into hiding. Whether through disguise or bribe, through trusted friends or perfect hiding places, every child of the Priest family must avoid capture for the full day of The Seeking. When things go wrong with the renewal, it’s up to seventeen-year-old Dahlia, the middle child of the Priest family, and her girlfriend, Bisa, to escape Carra and find the magical beings responsible for the protection. They must learn who would require such a cruel game every year and if the protection of the Gray People is really worth such a price. What they will discover is far worse.

Seeking - Marlena Frank
The Seeking
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: The Dissolution is here. It is both an end, and a beginning. "Science fantasy with fantastic queer rep" -J.S. Fields, Author of the Ardulum Series The Dissolution has begun. Sam is finally reunited with Enos and Inas, only to see his new home under siege by beings that dissolve reality at a single touch. Even as they battle their personal demons, the three apprentices must also fight to save their home. Enos lashes out at those she loves, plagued by voices she’s consumed, and Inas must risk his sanity to access ancient memories of the Nether. Sam must learn how he uniquely affects the Symphony, but there is little time to master what usually takes a lifetime. The Nether is leaderless and the Assembly is in chaos. The three apprentices must counter an invasion by aliens who rip the Symphony, and the very universe, apart. Ancient antagonists will resurface, a battle must be fought, and the secrets of the Nether and the universe will be laid bare in this final book of the Dissolution Cycle. If you like epic fantasy, space opera and music-based magic, you'll love William C. Tracy's Dissolution Cycle. Download Fall of the Imperium today and discover the diverse cultures, genders, and alien species of an epic science fantasy space opera! The Dissolution Cycle (Epic Space Opera, LGBT): Book 1: The Seeds of Dissolution Book 2: Facets of the Nether Book 3: Fall of the Imperium Book 4: Tales of the Dissolutionverse (Novella collection)

Fall of the Imperium - William C. Tracy - Dissolution Universe
Fall of the Imperium
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: Rhonda Wray: Raptor Wrangler is about a teenage girl who was innocently trying to listen to some live music … her favorite boy band happened to be playing a festival on a dinosaur planet … when bad things suddenly happened. Now she and her trusty robot are all alone in the wilderness, picking up survival skills and looking for her favorite singer, Sebastian Rose, just in case he needs to be rescued. There’s hard science, explosions, plenty of dinosaurs (with feathers), diversity, no sex (although there are a few references to it), less violence than many dinosaur stories, cliffhangers galore, and a little bogus science just to honor the fine tradition of speculative fiction (what if raptors had syrinxes and could sing like birds?

Rhonda Wray: Raptor Wrangler - Charon Dunn and Sally Smith
Rhonda Wray: Raptor Wrangler
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: The Dissolution approaches, and all will change. "Science fantasy with fantastic queer rep" -J.S. Fields, Author of the Ardulum Series The Dissolution approaches. Sam has saved the Assembly of Species, but at a terrible cost. Locked in his apartment, his memories gone and his best friend abducted, he is once again crippled with anxiety. Meanwhile, Enos struggles to free her brother from imprisonment, alone for the first time in her life. Her true species has been revealed, and there are hints the deadliest of her kind survived an ancient war. But the Nether contains more secrets. A musical chime disrupts daily life, signaling changes to its very fabric. To solve this mystery, Sam must face his anxiety and confront truths about his memories and unique abilities. Only then can he save his friends from the machinations of the Life Coalition, by understanding the reality behind the Facets of the Nether. If you like epic fantasy, space opera and music-based magic, you'll love William C. Tracy's Dissolution Cycle. Download Facets of the Nether today and discover the diverse cultures, genders, and alien species of an epic science fantasy space opera! The Dissolution Cycle (Epic Space Opera, LGBT): Book 1: The Seeds of Dissolution Book 2: Facets of the Nether Book 3: Fall of the Imperium Book 4: Tales of the Dissolutionverse (Novella collection)

Facets of the Nether - William C. Tracy - Dissolution Universe
Facets of the Nether
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Word Count: 71,661

Summary: A dead-end job, a slob for a boyfriend, and neglectful friends: this is Kat Wallace's life. Ever since her best friend got married, Kat has been struggling to find happiness. All that changes when she meets Melody Adebayo, a field agent with the mysterious transdimensional company Clockwork & Associates. Melody's job is to send the consciousness of others to a scarier dimension in order to make them kinder and more grateful for their lives, which, in theory, will influence them to do good. But when Kat is sent to B-215, she awakes in a world beyond her wildest dreams. She's wealthy, well-liked, and has a successful career. Kat realizes she doesn't need to find happiness in her own world ... she can just steal it from her other self. Because of a certain (ahem) incident, Melody owes a lot of money to her evil ex-girlfriend, and Kat works out a deal with her in order to keep visiting B-215. With each visit, a sinister plot unfolds. Kat discovers her life is at risk, and she isn't alone in this dimension. To eliminate the threat, she must team up with Melody, but can the two uncover the truth before Kat loses her life? More important, will they be able to move on from the mistakes they made in the past and find love with each other?

Duality - Chloe Spencer
Duality
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Word Count: 55000

Summary: Stranded in space: no fuel, no way home… and no one coming to help. From the pen of Hugo Finalist Gideon Marcus comes the found-family, YA Space Adventure you’ve been waiting for: Nineteen-year-old Kitra Yilmaz dreams of traveling the galaxy like her Ambassador mother. But soaring in her glider is the closest she can get to touching the stars — until she stakes her inheritance on a salvage Navy spaceship. On its shakedown cruise, Kitra’s ship plunges into hyperspace, stranding Kitra and her crew light years away. Tensions rise between Kitra and her shipmates: the handsome programmer, Fareedh; Marta, biologist and Kitra’s ex-girlfriend; Peter, the panicking engineer; and the oddball alien navigator, Pinky. Now, running low on air and food, it’ll take all of them working together to get back home. With illustrations by Hugo Finalist Lorelei Esther.

Kitra - Gideon Marcus
Kitra
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: Being too close to the truth got Jon Xiong's mother killed. While searching for answers, a murderous cult shows up at his door. A secretive organization called the Tuners comes to his aide and teaches him about his rare ability to travel between worlds called tuning. He grapples with his new superpower and is stuck between those who would maintain order in the multiverse and those who would destroy it. Jon must avoid the same gruesome fate as his mom and figure out what happened to his family.

Tuners - Aaron Frale
Tuners
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: “It is so packed with action that there was no place where I could say, ‘Ok time for bed now. I’ll finish it tomorrow.’ A must read.” ~Amazon Reviewer   Fale doesn’t know why she has visions of the queen’s past life. All she knows is that her magic becomes dangerously faulty every time she sees into the past. Through the visions, the mystery of Effailya’s banishment and life of slavery is solved; the reasons of her heated parting with Gryndoll are revealed, as well as who was the queen’s secret lover. And how that could possibly relate the Source Wizard to the Queen of Mages, herself. The Source Wizard Gasten sends out his best efforts, but the new queen stays one step ahead of him. He may have found a way to send his spell to her. And if not, he’s found the old wizard’s journals, which are sure to give her weaknesses. The Final Rescue is a face-paced adventure as the wizards and mages race toward their mutual destruction. A strong female lead not only survives her dystopian society… she solves the mystery of a hidden war, only to cause a new one, then battles both sides to rule it herself. It's a conclusion for fans who fell in love with The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Reader series. If you're hooked on genre-blending, suspenseful, fantasy romance novels, with adventure, you'll love The Final Rescue!

The Final Rescue - Jennifer Haskin - Freedom Fight
The Final Rescue
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: He believes in science, but only magic can help his mom. Twelve-year-old Finn is used to people in his family disappearing. His twin sister, Faith, drowned when they were three years old. A few months ago, his mom abandoned him and his dad with no explanation. Finn clings to the concrete facts in his physics books—and to his best friend, Gabi—to ward off his sadness. But then his grandmother tells him a secret: the women in their family are Travelers, able to move back and forth in time. Finn's mom is trapped somewhere in the timeline, and she's left Finn a portal to find her. But to succeed, he'll have to put his trust in something bigger than logic. "This is an incredible book, no matter which time universe you're in. I couldn't put it down. One of my favorite debut novels of the year."—Erin Entrada Kelly, New York Times bestselling author and 2018 Newbery Medal winner

A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity - Nicole Valentine
A Time Traveler's Theory of Relativity
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: The race is on. Beware the henchmen. Fale and her friends are on an epic journey to find the magic machine that will open dimensions, allowing her to rescue the mage slaves—her people—from the hands of an evil Source Wizard. Still accepting her role as queen, she welcomes her new powers. But the group is not alone. Henchmen wait for them when they least expect it. Tensions are already high, but when Izzy—Alloy City’s socialite—decides to wage war on Fale, the situation becomes toxic. Fale is devastated. She’s lost her way of life, her identity, her guardian, and now her best friend. Worse, she pushed Keron—her hot boxer crush—away so he could focus on his job, but sharing a tent with him is excruciating when passions boil over. She’d give it all up if it weren’t for her trusty sidekick, Lisle—the wizard—who loves her, but wants to see her succeed and to find his own purpose. They sail to an island in her visions that no one believes is there. Fale is relieved to be on her way, but fear of what awaits her, plus the constant state of tension in her group, immobilizes her. She’s miserable, just trying to make every choice a good one. Things will never be the same as they were back home, she will never be the same. Fale doesn’t know what they will find once they reach the island. She doesn’t know why she’s having memories of Queen Effailya’s life, making her magic misfire at inopportune times. She has no clue how they’ll manage to get a huge machine onto the boat and back to the mountain mages’ estate. Impatient for answers, she seeks clues to the mystery. She may find everything she’s looking for—she might not—but the price for winning will be higher than she ever imagined. ★If you like epic quests, sword and sorcery, mages, wizards, love triangles and plot twists, you’ll love this complicated emotional must-read. You won't want to put it down. Fans of the first book, The Key of F, The Hunger Games, Eve, and The Rise of Isaac will enjoy this character-driven story.

The Queen's Heart - Jennifer Haskin - Freedom Fight
The Queen's Heart
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Word Count: 92000

Summary: He wants to rule the world. She was born to stop him. Fale secretly began having visions of things before they happen when she turned 18. But when she uses the vision of a deadly encounter to save the life of her hot, biomechanical crush in a fight, she sets into motion the race of their lives. Henchmen emerge from the shadows, and Fale and Keron battle to stay alive. When Fale’s only remaining family disappears, leaving a kidnapper’s note, they go into hiding. There, they discover a hidden romance that steams up their hideaway. Fale searches for clues to discover why she is being hunted, and how to get her family back. When the answers come, no one could have expected the role Fale is called to be, or the impossible task she must fulfill. Fale’s powers awaken as she learns who her true enemy is and why they want the antique key her father gave her as he lay dying, saying it was her destiny. The human citizens of Alloy City have believed the lies they were fed, and magic has been forgotten, though the war between wizards and mages has been brewing for centuries. If Fale can accept the identity she's been given and the power that runs in her veins, a greater fate awaits her, but the war has awakened with her in the center. Rebellion is in her blood, but can she admit that she has the strength to be a warrior princess? Can she defeat the greatest evil her world has ever known? Can she love a man who is part machine? ♥ For fans of Sarah J Maas's Throne of Glass and Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games. Are you ready for the adventure?

Princess of the Blood Mages - Jennifer Haskin - Freedom Fight
Princess of the Blood Mages
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: Discover ten planets, joined through music-based magic and an immense sentient crystal. This anthology contains ten stories from the popular Dissolutionverse universe! Journey with a new majus as he investigates the Pixie homeworld and tries to avert a war. Learn how to change the Symphony during a search for a majus' lost brother. Find a new relationship on an island at war! Travel with merchants in an old war train transporting suspicious cargo. Fly with the first majus in space! Discover the food and culture of the ten species. Uncover what lurks in the basement of the House of Potential. Investigate magic, mystery and murder when a miscreant attacks the secret Society of Two Houses! Confront other-dimensional entities alongside an ancient being. Climb to the top of a miles-high wall with a crew riding a giant steampunk beetle! If you like space opera, fast-paced adventure, music-based magic, and complex, diverse characters, then you’ll love this collection of stories from William C. Tracy’s Dissolutionverse. Pick up Tales of the Dissolutionverse to discover the music today! There’s more adventure in The Dissolution Cycle (Epic Space Opera, LGBT): Book 1: The Seeds of Dissolution Book 2: Facets of the Nether Book 3: Fall of the Imperium Book 4: Tales of the Dissolutionverse

Tales of the Dissolutionverse William C. Tracy
Tales of the Dissolutionverse
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Word Count: 93000

Summary: Harper Cody used to worry about the SATs or a getting a new laptop for Christmas… but now, she only wants to keep her little sister alive. At 5:59 a.m. early in September, life as she knew it came to an end with a nuclear flash ninety miles away in Colorado Springs. For two months, her family sheltered in the basement of their home, surviving on whatever canned goods Dad could scavenge. Passing evacuees told of a safe haven in the mountains, but her father refused to leave. He thought their home was safe… until a gang of looters kicked in the door. Four years ago at thirteen, Harper won trophies for competition shooting, but killing a man pointing a gun at her is nothing like nailing targets at a range. Hesitation cost her parents’ lives. With no other options, she grabbed her little sister and ran away from the only home she’d ever known into a world she no longer recognized. The promise of safety in Evergreen gives her hope, but unless the girl voted sweetest in her class can find the nerve to kill, Harper—and her kid sister—are as good as dead.

Evergreen - Matthew S. Cox
Evergreen
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Word Count: 81000

Summary: A hijacked spaceship... kidnapped colonists... their destiny changed forever Award-winning first book of the Titan trilogy follows a family whose torn loyalties threaten doom on a strange world that real-life science has only begun to explore. What if you awoke on a shadowy moon where water freezes as hard as granite and lakes fill with liquid methane? On Titan, a bizarre cult seeks utopia, but what will be different on this distant world? Real readers say: Dynamic story - Engaging characters - Feel like you were there - Devoured this book Discover a riveting mix of science and society on Saturn's deadly frozen moon. If you love gripping science fiction with twists and turns, you won't want to put it down.kk

Titan - Kate Rauner - Titan Series
Titan
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Word Count: 111000

Summary: Most Citizens hold Outcasts in dim regard, but Sima never expected they’d throw her off the planet. In 2411, overpopulation has spread a plaque of filthy, congested city to the corners of the Earth. Government has raised corruption to an art form, and no one hears the cries of those left to die in the dark passageways of civilization. Following the End of Nations, people cling to the only division left: social status. Since running away from home four years ago, she’s managed to stay a step ahead of death―or worse. At sixteen, she’s getting too old to survive from begging, despite her best effort to pretend she’s younger. Worse, the sidewalks teem with little kids edging in on her turf, monopolizing Citizens’ charity with their wide, pleading eyes and genuine innocence. A chance meeting with suspiciously nice cops leaves her more confused than ever. Between deadly gangs, unforgiving security forces, and a terrifying madam eager to exploit a girl her age, merely getting older is the biggest threat to her life. With no good choice to make, she risks the least of three evils. Sima thought her life on Earth had been dangerous… She hasn’t seen anything yet.

Out of Sight - Matthew S. Cox
Out of Sight
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Word Count: 108000

Summary:

Under the watchful eye of the Mother Shrine, twelve-year-old Wisp ekes out a simple, but challenging life with Dad, foraging for food and losing herself in old books from the world that came before. She loves the Endless Forest―except when the Tree Walkers come for her.

In ages past, the great rain of fire and ash destroyed the Earth, wiping out the ancients and everything they had made. Nature has reclaimed much since then, spreading out in a vast forest full of wonder and dread. Ever in fear of being taken away, she follows Dad’s rules without question while learning to survive off the land. No longer a small child, she accompanies Dad on one of his treks, her first time more than a few steps away from the cabin. A day exploring with him is the happiest time of her life, but joy is short-lived. A monster follows them home. Safe in her Haven, she hides while Dad goes outside to confront the beast. She wakes alone the next morning, and waits. Alas, her hope of his return fades with the daylight. Desperate, she breaks his strictest rule and goes outside alone. Not far from the cabin, she discovers his rifle abandoned next to the monster’s strange footprints. Afraid but determined, Wisp sets off on her own into the Endless Forest to find Dad―before the Tree Walkers catch her.

The Forest Beyond the Earth - Matthew S. Cox
The Forest Beyond the Earth
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Word Count: 416800

Summary: Colonists struggle to build their lives, but first they have to survive. Read the complete series through generations.

  • Glory on Mars - Emma joins the first settlers amid death and betrayal. She must learn the truth before Mars kills them all.
  • Born on Mars - Jake didn't ask to be born into a failing habitat, but new arrivals bring hope and peril. Can he save his friends and family?
  • Hermit on Mars - Sig will rescue the ungrateful Martian prospectors, even if it kills him.
  • Water on Mars - Scoundrels on Mars and Earth drag Bliss into their lethal schemes.
  • Storm on Mars - An AI may be a psychopath's only friend. Zeker's always close by when something weird happens.

Glory on Mars box set - Kate Rauner
Colony on Mars - All 5 Books
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary:

Music and magic. Steampunky science. The Dissolution is coming.

Eighteen year old recluse Sam van Oen lives with his aunt, takes online college courses, works in technical support, and tries not to remember the freak storm that killed his parents ten years ago. But anxiety and reclusion bring up memories he doesn’t want. Just as Sam gathers courage to send in his application for college away from home, the temperature drops and the sun goes dim. Ice forms in August, and a portal opens in his fireplace. This time, Sam can't run. This time he's sucked in. Now Sam must survive in the flourishing capital of ten alien species, home to thousands who can change the Symphony underlying the universe and alter reality. Sam’s anxiety attacks and fear of crowds transforms the Nether into a frightening, expansive city. To find his home again, Sam must learn to control the music inside him, while devastating voids threaten to destroy the Nether and everyone he has grown to love. "Simply Put, This is a Brilliant Book. Read it Now." -Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Blog If you're looking for an awesome ride across multiple homeworlds filled with magic, science, music, and diverse alien species, don't miss the first book in William C. Tracy's Dissolution Cycle! The Dissolution Cycle (Epic Space Opera, LGBT): Book 1: The Seeds of Dissolution Book 2: Facets of the Nether Book 3: Fall of the Imperium Book 4: Tales of the Dissolutionverse (Novella collection)

The Seeds of Dissolution - William C. Tracy - Dissolution Universe
The Seeds of Dissolution
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Word Count: Information not available

Summary: Collection of twenty-two short fantasy and science fiction stories. A wizard seeking an apprentice won’t take no for an answer, and a would-be apprentice attempts the impossible to find a mentor. A twin discovers her sister’s new job is a lot different than she expects. And what’s the deal with the cat whiskers?

Agents, Adepts & Apprentices - Kathryn Sullivan
Agents, Adepts & Apprentices
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