Six teenagers are horrified to discover that an evil force has taken control of them . . . a force that feeds on them hungrily and finds its only outlet in the blind desire to destroy. The force must be destroyed. But how? What follows is the ultimate battle for supremacy between the forced of good and evil. — “Shusterman’s unique vision, suspenseful pacing, and empathy with teen’s not-so-nice emotions will draw readers into this fabulous tale just as inexorably as its protagonists are impelled to find one another and discover the source of their malaises. A spellbinder.” — Publisher’s Weekly — “Shusterman combines personal quest, horror, and science fiction into an absorbing exploration of good and evil, guilt, forgiveness, and personal responsibility.” — VOYA — “Readers [will] wish for a sequel to tell more about these interesting and unusual characters.” — School Library Journal

The shattering sequel to the acclaimed Scorpion Shards. For five young people born with extraordinary powers, a climatic battle against Evil seemingly brought an end to their nightmare. But as they will discover, the nightmare has only began. Imprisoned for thousands of years, an ancient, malevolent force—The Bringer—awaits the moment when it can break free and wreak its revenge upon the world. Only one force can stop it: the power of the five. — “Neal Shusterman dazzles you with action and excites you with ideas, but underneath it all, his stories are unforgettable because his characters have souls.” — Orson Scott Card

It began innocently enough: six children conceived at exact moment that the star Mentaras-H went supernova— The Explosion transformed their souls into living star fragments. It also conferred upon each of them a unique but mysterious power—a power that until they learned its secret masqueraded as a warping disfigurement. For some, it was physical. For others, it was emotional. But for all six, it meant one thing: their lives would never be the same. In time they unlocked the secret of their power. Their gifts brought them incredible riches and attention. Once despised for their deformities, they would come to be worshiped—and feared—as gods. But with unlimited power would come the temptation to abuse it, and—in a desperate struggle for supremacy—the risk of turning against one another like hungry wolves. But only now will the true cost of their gifts be revealed. A new and terrifying force has been loosed in the universe. It infects an alien world like a rampaging virus. When the inhabitants of the doomed world are forced to flee, they must conquer and colonize a new world. Their choice: Earth. Only one power exists that could conceivably prevent the extermination of the human race: the Star Shards. But only if the six put aside their titanic egos and join forces. WELCOME TO JUDGMENT DAY