Sev is branded with the mark of a criminal—a star burned into her hand. That’s the penalty for being the daughter of the woman who betrayed their entire nation.

Now her mother’s body is displayed above Traitor’s Arch, kept in a paralyzed half sleep by the same plague that destroyed the rest of the world. And as further punishment, Sev is forced to do hard labor to prove that she’s more valuable alive than dead.

When the government blames Sev for a horrific bombing, she must escape the city or face the chopping block. Unimaginable dangers lurk outside the city walls, and Sev’s only hope of survival lies with the most unlikely person—Howl, the chairman’s son. Though he promises to lead her to safety, Howl has secrets, and Sev can’t help but wonder if he knows more about her past—and her mother’s crimes—than he lets on.

But in a hostile world, trust is a luxury. Even when Sev’s life and the lives of everyone she loves may hang in the balance. – Goodreads.com

Like several other reviewers, the striking cover led me to believe this was a fantasy, but it’s definitely dystopian – being a fan of that genre, however, I wasn’t disappointed.

This was more of a slow burn for me.  The first couple of chapters or so were quite confusing, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to settle in with this book, but once Sev meets Howl and escapes the city, the story found its stride and hooked me.  The intricately layered and original world-building is done well and I enjoyed immersing myself in this world.

Sev is a likable protagonist – flawed, stubborn, bold, and intelligent.  The supporting cast is high in number and suspicion – trust doesn’t come easy for Sev or the reader, as it’s not made clear whose story is credible.

As with most books in a series, this ends on a cliffhanger and with several curve balls in the plot, I’ll be interested to see where the story goes from here.  Last Star Burning is scheduled for publication October 10th, 2017.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.