Last Star Burning (#1)
To escape execution for a crime she didn’t commit, sixteen-year-old Sev is forced to run away from the only home she’s ever known in this “richly imagined” (BCCB, starred review) post-apocalyptic debut novel from Caitlin Sangster.
Sev is branded with the mark of a criminal—a star burned into her hand. That’s the penalty for being the daughter of the woman who betrayed their entire nation.
Now her mother’s body is displayed above Traitor’s Arch, kept in a paralyzed half sleep by the same plague that destroyed the rest of the world. And as further punishment, Sev is forced to do hard labor to prove that she’s more valuable alive than dead.
When the government blames Sev for a horrific bombing, she must escape the city or face the chopping block. Unimaginable dangers lurk outside the city walls, and Sev’s only hope of survival lies with the most unlikely person—Howl, the chairman’s son. Though he promises to lead her to safety, Howl has secrets, and Sev can’t help but wonder if he knows more about her past—and her mother’s crimes—than he lets on.
But in a hostile world, trust is a luxury. Even when Sev’s life and the lives of everyone she loves may hang in the balance.
Reviews
"Brimming with rich detail in an Asian-inflected alternative world that's lightly touched with Maoist terminology and concepts and helmed by achingly real characters, Sevvy's story is thrilling to get lost in. By the end, readers will be clamoring for more. Incredibly immersive and tightly plotted."
"Loosely inspired by China’s Cultural Revolution, Sangster’s vibrant debut is set in a world where class and status define its citizens; some genuinely surprising twists highlight Sev’s struggle to accept a reality vastly different from what she has known."
"The backdrop of vicious creatures coupled with adventures in which survival is not always assured will keep patient readers engaged."
"A gripping tale of trust, class struggle, and betrayal."Booklist
"A richly imagined dystopia that brings new life to familiar tropes"
"Young adult lovers of dystopian dramas will enjoy this new twist on the 'old' standards."VOYA
"Compellingly and excellently written"
"Thrilling and full of twists, Last Star Burning is an adventure dystopian young adult fans won’t want to miss!"
"This book is so action-packed that it is impossible to put down!"
"The whole premise of this book was really unique and I liked it – I haven’t read a good dystopian in quite some time so it was refreshing to pick one up."
"I love how Sangster puts a fresh, riveting face on plot elements that could easily have seemed old."
"Caitlin Sangster's Last Star Burning opens with moves in an intricate strategy game, and the entire novel follows that initial scene. Set in a gorgeous, Asian-themed post-apocalyptic world, Sangster presents the reader with a fully-formed society, as fully inhabited by lies and deception, as human beings. With propaganda, the illusion of the greater good, and the stigma of illness heavily coloring the dark themes of this book, young readers will be forced to examine not only Sevvy's actions and motivations, but also their own. A rich and timely tale that twists and turns so quickly, you might get whiplash."Aprilynne Pike, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Awards & Accolades
2017 Whitney Awards Finalist