Child of Etherclaw

by Matty Roberts

Overview

The bonds of family go well beyond blood.

But can those bonds hold when the blood itself carries a devastating secret?

Fenlee's opal necklace had always radiated a certain warmth since her mother's death. But now, at sixteen, her world begins to unravel as the stone sparks to life, revealing itself to be an otherworldly artifact of untold power.

Between her mechatronics studies at the academy and scavenging expeditions beneath the sprawling city of New Cascadia, Fenlee and her adopted brother, Elliot, try to decipher the mysteries of her necklace and its link to events in Fenlee's past.

But they're not alone in their search.

Strange undercity dwellers offer cryptic warnings, drones track their movements, and deadly corporate agents lurk in the shadows. When tragedy rips Fenlee's family apart, she must learn to use the artifact's power to save those who are deeply precious to her. But nothing can prepare her for the dark truths that she will uncover on that journey...

"Lee," Elliot mumbled. "I'm not who you think I am."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780578394169
Publisher:	Twilight Fox LLC
Publication date:	07/18/2022
Series:	Etherclaw , #1
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.78(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Matty Roberts began their career in journalism where they earned an Emmy and had the privilege of working on several other award-winning projects. They hold an MS from Johns Hopkins University and are now an engineer in renewable energy in Denver, Colorado where they live with their wonderful partner, two extraordinary kids, and the best doggie ever. In addition to writing, engineering, and parenting, Matty is a vegan enby nerd who is in love with this world and will forever be doing all they can to make it a better place. And they may be known to occasionally play in a punk band here or there. For more information about Matty and their upcoming books, visit www.mattyroberts.io.

Editorial Reviews

"Absorbing adventure with astute worldbuilding and plucky heroes." - Kirkus Reviews

"...an enthralling post-apocalyptic teen thriller." - Booklife Reviews (Editor's Pick)

"Roberts creates a multifaceted story with a host of characters that operate and interact on different levels...a powerful saga that explores family bonds, responsibility, and the special allure of capturing, holding onto, and living a different kind of life...a vivid young adult story." - Midwest Book Review

"A young-adult dystopian thriller in a similar vein to The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and Divergent...an exciting and action-packed story featuring complex characters that the reader really comes to care about." - San Francisco Book Review

"From the beginning, it opens with action that just sucks you in...I love a good coming-of-age story and this definitely fits the bill. It has the right amount of teen angst mixed with action, mystery, and even a little bit of romance." - Seattle Book Review

From the Publisher

2022-06-20
A teenage girl and her adopted brother inherit alien powers and find themselves hunted by authorities in Roberts’ YA SF debut.

Sixteen-year-old Fenlee and 14-year-old Elliot Harperlive in New Cascadia, one of many city-states that arose on Earth two centuries ago when alien biomechanical creatures intervened to save the planet from global warming. In the city’s upper tiers reside a rich elite whose power is based on the religious worship of these now-dormant aliens. The midtier residents are working professionals, and the lower tiers are home to everyone else. Before her mother’s death and Elliot’s adoption by her dad, Fenlee’s family was midtier. Now she and Elliot subsist in the lower tiers, scavenging for electrical parts in the abandoned undercity while their father’s work frequently takes him away from home. During a run-in with a security drone, Fenlee learns that a black opal that her mother left her is, in fact, an alien artifact that affords her telekinetic powers. Her abilities bring her to the attention of Dr. Seth Arkamis, an unscrupulous upper-tier scientist and member of the all-powerful Divine Council. Fenlee’s life is very much in danger, but it’s Elliot who’s taken. Can Fenlee and her friends rescue him from a high-security research lab? Roberts writes mostly from Fenlee’s third-person point of view but occasionally from Elliot’s or Arkamis’; the dialogue is naturalistic and the prose simple but polished. New Cascadia emerges as a compelling, flawed world, and in Fenlee, Roberts presents a well-rounded character who’s headstrong but fallible, compassionate, and relatable. Readers will also appreciate that her use of a prosthetic leg is simply presented as part of who she is rather than as a source of angst. The book’s portrayal of a found family is also engaging; Fenlee’s bond with Elliot, and their relationship with a ragamuffin named Nico and a cat named Kavi, contrasts poignantly with the neglectful behavior of Fenlee’s father, and their connection gives the plot additional urgency. Although the story ultimately pulls back in preparation for a sequel, readers will be well satisfied.

An absorbing adventure with astute worldbuilding and plucky heroes.

Kirkus Reviews