After Trilogy

Keepers of Earth. One hundred and fifty years ago, global warming brought humankind to the edge of extinction. In a desperate bid for survival, four thousand genetically enhanced soldiers-the last slice of humanity-were sent to eight space stations. To serve. To protect. Then the Critamal arrived, uninvited. Waves of aliens now work to break through the Orbitos' defences, the black-shelled creatures seeking to colonise the vacated and barren world. War is their reality. All Romy can do is fight alongside her knot and watch from the mocking midst of the stars as Earth rises and falls in the distance. She dreams of a different life-one free from the mark of death and the never-ending touch of loss. Be careful what you wish for... When a technical glitch during battle leaves Romy and the four other members of Knot 27 hurtling through orbit towards Planet Earth, Romy knows they are dead one way or another. If the crash doesn't kill them, post-global warming conditions will. Yet days pass as Romy wanders injured and aimless through the bush. Alone. Every second, every day she continues to breathe disputes what they have been told. As Romy desperately searches for her knot, she comes across a grey-eyed man-a mysterious and close-lipped presence she is not certain she can trust. Especially when he shouldn't even exist. Secrets are unmasked. A different version of Earth bursts to the surface. Will Romy survive the betrayal and lies threatening to shatter her mind like glass? Earth was ruined. Humankind destroyed. Or so they were told...

Three months ago, Romy emerged from the cultivation tanks after a year floating inside. Body intact. Mind broken. Memory gone. Now she undergoes regular testing as doctors work to find out . . . well, she's not exactly sure what. The tests must have something to do with the reason she can't remember her knot-the single lucid memory the other insane soldiers on Orbito Four still possess. Whatever the researchers are searching for, if it aids the soldiers in the deathly war against the lethal alien invaders-the Critamal-the excruciating pain is worth it. But a grey-eyed man has other plans. Boxed in and caught, Romy is taken hostage by people who shouldn't exist! They dress in black and carry weapons she's never seen in her genetically enhanced life. Reunited with Knot 27. Memories returned. Fifteen months have passed since her world shattered into bright red, ringing chaos. Things have changed-people have changed. How long until what was once as familiar as breathing is familiar once more? Friendships. Love. Freedom. Can the new Romy reconcile with the old, or will the two halves of herself remain locked in an internal battle? And if a victor should arise from this silent war . . . will it be the part of her that kills without hesitation, without mercy? All it takes is for the cracks to join and blood will pour.

Earth is nothing like Romy expected. A disappointing fact made clear far too many times. Over the last year and a half, her world has shattered again and again, along with her sanity, and now Knot 27 is split in two with no sign of reconciliation. There is no end in sight. When the leader of their rebel movement steps down, the man Romy loves takes over the role of commander-general. They are outnumbered. They are outgunned. Not only are the Mandate Members as deprived of humanity as ever, another lethal player has taken the field. All it takes is a click of a button, and everyone she loves will die.