A first year student who believes passionately in direct-democracy has to uncover the dark truth about her seemingly perfect world in order to save New Britain from a power-hungry leader. *** Athena wants to get through her first year at the New London University of Politics maintaining a reasonable influence level and taking part in as many votes as possible. Her world runs on voting: from the colour of clothing, to the price of food, everything is determined by the people. What Athena doesn't want is to be asked to spy on a group who believe voters have less choice than they realise. Nor does she expect enigmatic Dyo to get under her skin, causing her to wonder if her society is less perfect than it seems. But Dyo is keeping secrets too, and Athena struggles to work out who to trust and what she should do next. Her society may be broken, but it isn't unfixable - yet. From student to spy, traitor to revolutionary, Athena must work out who she wants to be, and which side she should be fighting for, before New London's citizens have their democracy destroyed forever.

On the run from the Earth government and military forces, wanted former terrorist Maddy Hawthorn seeks a new life on Mars. When she discovers plans for another terrorist attack, her only hope to prevent a global catastrophe is to seek the help of other insurgents. But everyone wants her dead, including the people she is trying to save. With the help of a runaway Elite teenager and a band of renegade slaves, Maddy fights to save the very government system she despises. Nothing lasts forever. Although it alludes to events in the previous Maddy Hawthorn book, "Days of Iron", this is a separate story and is designed to be read and understood independently. Cover art by BeyondBookCovers. www.beyondbookcovers.com