Sixteen-year-old alien Val Stone is sent to assassinate Rolf Cartier to prevent a deadly prophecy, only to discover the prophecy is a hoax and that both are being manipulated. As they race to uncover the truth behind the deception, Val and Rolf must navigate growing feelings for each other while trying to avert interspecies war in a post-WWIV dystopian world.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a post-World War IV dystopian future, the story follows sixteen-year-old Val Stone, an alien assassin sent to Earth with a singular mission: to kill Randolf “Rolf” Cartier, a teenage boy prophesied to become a future American president responsible for the deaths of thousands of Val’s species. Val is deeply prepared for her task, having studied every detail of Rolf’s life, but she is unaware that Rolf has also been watching her, anticipating her move. When the moment of confrontation arrives, both are struck by doubt and discover that the prophecy driving their actions is a fabrication. As they grapple with their unexpected attraction to each other, they must work together to uncover the origins of the false prophecy before escalating tensions between species lead to catastrophe.

Readers appreciated the book’s blend of action, romance, and science fiction elements, as highlighted in the review mentioning the aftermath of WWIV, the arrival of the Ancients, and the dynamic between an alien assassin and a human boy. The standalone nature of the novel was also noted, as was the anticipation for the mix of murder, action, and romantic tension. The cover art received positive attention, and the book’s premise involving prophecy, deception, and interspecies conflict was a point of interest.

With only one full reader review and an average rating of 3.83 out of 5 from 24 ratings, some readers may have found aspects of the book less compelling, though specific criticisms are not detailed in the available feedback. The moderate average rating suggests that while some elements were enjoyed, there may have been issues with execution, pacing, or character development that were not explicitly mentioned in the reviews provided.

Published by Melissa West and set for release on July 8, 2025, the book falls within the Young Adult, Science Fiction, Aliens, and Dystopia genres. It is a full-length, standalone novel and serves as a prequel, exploring themes of trust, manipulation, and the consequences of misinformation. The narrative centers on the urgency to prevent interspecies war and the unraveling of a conspiracy, with the fate of humanity and the Ancients at stake.