THE SEVENFOLD HUNTERS

Vampire aliens threaten the lives of everyone on Earth, and only the most elite teens are trained to stop them.

Admission to London’s Carlisle Academy is notoriously difficult, yet Artemis is attending not for the prestige but to avenge her boyfriend’s untimely death at the hands of the Nosaru, an alien species that has been feeding off the blood of their human hosts for centuries. Training to kill them will be difficult enough, but Black scholarship student Artemis’ biggest challenge may be fitting into the snobby, upper-crust school culture, especially considering squad leader Abyan’s initial commitment to making things difficult for her. The Sevenfold is the highest ranked squad at the school, and while Artemis replaces her not-quite-as-he-seemed late boyfriend on the team, there are many secrets for Artemis, Abyan, and the five other combat-ready (but nonetheless paint-by-numbers) teens to unravel. Hijabi Somali British Abyan acts tough but carries a lot of baggage about not being wealthy, which eventually helps her bond with Artemis. Both girls also lost loved ones to the Nosaru. Learning to trust friends is key to fending off an impending monster attack on the school—as well as threats from the intrigue and deceptions within its walls. The dual narration and nonlinear reveals make for a lot of convoluted pieces to a not particularly compelling puzzle, but the kick-ass queer characters will appeal to many readers.

Science-fiction action pairs with teen angst in this blood-pumping, if uneven, outing.