Vortex is like 'Ender’s Game' for a new generation; it’s politically charged, intelligent, funny, and action packed. Tom Raines is a character you want to survive; you want him to come out on top, but oh boy does he have a fight on his hands. The pacing of Vortex is brilliant; it’s a total page turner, and had me up until the wee hours to find out how it all ends. I also thought the description of all the technology used was fantastic and detailed; it feels so realistic and makes it seem as if Tom’s world isn’t too far off in the future. Even though Tom’s life and the world he lives in are full of danger, you can’t help but wish you lived there with him. You need to read this book; this series is shaping up to be a real personal favourite, and I eagerly await the rest of it.

If you haven't yet already read Insignia, you really should! This is the sequel, which picks up a few months after the end of Insignia, with Tom finishing up his summer holiday with his father before heading back to start his second year at the Spire. It's an action packed sci-fi adventure, with some laugh out loud moments and truly lovely pieces of writing. Alright, it did take me a little while to get into it but once I did I was absolutely hooked and ended up reading into the early hours of the morning! Tom is still loyal and fun, but there's a ruthless, arrogant streak in him that stops him being a classic good guy . However, there's some great character development as Tom learns some hard lessons and makes very difficult choices. All in all it's a fantastic sequel that won't disappoint!