Reaper's Legacy

Gr 9 Up—This installation in Lebbon's dark series about post-apocalyptic London picks up where London Eye (PYR, 2012) left off. Jack, Lucy-Anne, Sparky, Jenna, and Emily-the group of teens who entered the walled-off, damaged city in order to find out the truth about what's happening-are still trapped inside. In order to find her long-lost brother, Lucy-Anne has joined forces with a mesmerizing boy who has the power to communicate with birds. Jack's sister, Emily, and his newly rescued mother have been captured by the evil Choppers who plan to conduct experiments on them. Jack is determined to find his father, who has become the powerful and destructive leader of the Superiors, and enlist his help. In this volume, readers begin to get a clearer picture of what is happening inside the city. Nomad, an ethereal, semi-human woman, was responsible for releasing the Evolve virus two years earlier. Irregulars and Superiors are city inhabitants who have been mutated by it; the level of their exposure determines the extent of their powers, either for good or evil. It becomes clear that Jack has the potential to heal the city and unite the warring factions. However, his effectiveness seems questionable when inhabitants learn that it is only a matter of time before London is destroyed for good. This is a compelling story for those who can stomach a grim future in which one's worst nightmares come to life and only a few brave teenagers have the courage to try and make a difference.—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY