Last Star Burning (Hb)

Last Star Burning is a post-apocalyptic YA thriller about sixteen-year-old Sev, branded with a star burned into her hand after a crime she didn’t commit. In a world where traitors are paraded and punished, Sev is forced to flee the only home she has ever known, with her mother’s memory and danger hot on her heels. This gripping debut pulls readers into a tense, high-stakes journey that will resonate with teens and adults who love suspense, survival, and a story that asks big questions about loyalty and truth. The book unfolds through tight, immersive storytelling that follows Sev’s perilous escape beyond oppressive city walls and into a world where danger lurks around every corner. Howl, the chairman’s son, becomes a fragile beacon of hope, offering to guide her to safety even as his own secrets threaten to undo them both. Last Star Burning combines vivid world-building—grim urban landscapes, a plague-haunted afterlife of half-sleep, and a raw, dangerous frontier—with a pace that keeps the reader hooked, and a focus on character and choice that makes every decision feel consequential. Branded sixteen-year-old Sev fighting to clear her name in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world Vivid setting of oppressive city walls, a plague-haunted outside, and a dangerous frontier An uneasy alliance with Howl, the chairman's son, whose true motives slowly unfold Themes of trust, betrayal, survival, and resilience under pressure Fast-paced, cinematic writing with vivid imagery and heart-stopping moments Rich world-building and a mystery about Sev's family's past that invites readers to question who to believe What readers gain after finishing Last Star Burning is a sense of courage and clarity about what it means to fight for a future—one built on trust, perseverance, and the stubborn hope that truth can prevail even in the darkest hours.