Updated cover edition found here. The world is broken. Tara is alone. But within her a power grows. The Shift destroyed the world. All that remains is the harsh and unforgiving sand lands. Food is scarce; water even more so. And Tara has just discovered that she's been lied to her entire life. The world as she knows it does not exist. She is not the ordinary girl she thought herself to be. Instead, she is one of a unique breed known as New Bloods – revered by some, hunted by others. Tara is no stranger to hardship. But when her village is destroyed and the young people taken by the merciless Prezedant, she must quickly learn how much of a fighter she can become. Gathering a ragtag fellowship on her way, she embarks on a quest into the unknown to find what remains of her family. Little does she realize how dangerous it will be. Or how it will change her–and perhaps the world–forever.

Updated cover edition found here. A shining city promises death. Tara must go there anyway. In this thrilling sequel to Awaken, Tara must choose between the impossible. She knows she isn’t the person everyone wants her to be; wants nothing to do with the rebellion and strange powers that are as likely to kill her friends as her enemies. But the Prezedant has Ben, her only remaining kin. She made a promise to save him. A promise she can only keep if she tries anyway. When they finally reach the seat of the Prezedant’s power, a masquerade ball becomes the perfect stage to set in motion a plan to save Ben. It will begin and end there in a battle against the tyrant and a daring escape that will shake the world. It will shake Tara, too, as she learns truths that change everything she had believed about herself.

The world after the Shift Wars is not for the faint of heart. Life is a constant struggle. Each day harder to survive than the one before. Tater, the traveling trader, has seen his fair share of this new world's atrocities. But somehow he has always managed to escape unscathed. Not this time. This time it's his life on the line. And his deliverance may very well rest in the hands of a tortured young woman who no longer believes in hope or salvation. Enjoy your trip into the perilous Sandlands.

They look to her for salvation. From a man she can't defeat. Tara's already fought the Prezedant once. And lost.... But that was before. Before she knew who she really was. Before she saw so many people believe in her. Before an army was raised on her behalf. But even that won't be enough now. With their plans soon in disarray and the Prezedant hungry for her blood, Tara must choose between giving him what he wants, or losing her kin. The stage is set for the final showdown. In the heart of the Prezedant's city the fate of Tara, her kin, and the world will be decided. Don't miss the conclusion to this thrilling New Bloods series by USA Today best-selling author Michelle Bryan. If you enjoy fast-paced action, with high drama and a touch of romance, this series will keep you turning the pages long into the night.