The Impossibility of Tomorrow

Gr 8 Up—In this sequel to The Alchemy of Forever (S & S, 2012), readers find Seraphina Ames having successfully escaped the smothering clutches of Cyrus for only the second time in her 600-plus years of living as an immortal incarnate. Cyrus has perfected a method of alchemy that allows a soul to swap bodies with any human of choice and is the leader of a coven that Sera has been a part of for the past six centuries. He is also her first love and is insanely jealous, acting out his displeasure in volatile, psychotic ways. Since her escape, she has been living in Berkeley, California, as a member of the Morgan family. By accident she took the body of 16-year-old Kailey Morgan in an unwitting attempt to administer CPR to the real Kailey after a fatal car crash. Living as Kailey has allowed her the opportunity to enjoy the role of a typical teenager for the first time in her life. This idyllic scenario comes to an abrupt end with the appearance of a texted message on Kailey's phone that simply says, "Alchemy." Only one person would send that message-Cyrus-and he must be stopped before he takes away the only people she's ever cared for. As she lures him out of hiding, her paranoia rises and she mistakenly suspects each and every human she encounters as the disguised, revenge-seeking Cyrus. Fans of the first book will enjoy every roller-coaster spin and twist and will not be able to figure out this who-is-it until the screeching conclusion. The menacing aspect of the story's ending leaves enough loose ends for a third installment.—Sabrina Carnesi, Crittenden Middle School, Newport News, VA