Shield

Description

The final action-packed instalment of the Spark trilogy. Evie is out of options. She must comply with the Affinity Project - obey their rules, play their deadly games, give up Jamie. And her losses keep growing. When she decides to help a small group of Shields trying to affect change, Evie finds herself in the firing line. Counsellor Knox is intent on revealing her secrets and shackling her to the Affinity Project for life. To protect her family, Evie must betray those closest to her. The odds of success - let alone survival - are slim.

Rachael Craw began her working life as an English Teacher after completing a degree in Classical Studies and Drama at the University of Canterbury. She dabbled in acting, directing and writing for amateur theatre productions and small independent film ventures. Her passion for dialogue and characterisation finally led to long-form writing with the Spark series. Rachael's enthusiasm for classical heroes, teen angst and popular culture informs much of her creative process. She enjoys small town life at the top of the South Island of New Zealand where she lives with her husband and three daughters. Visit her online at www.rachaelcraw.com

Overall, Shield has left me excited. I wasn't sorry when I closed my review copy that it was all said and done, because Rachael Craw isn't all said and done; her latest tight, confident crescendo work may end this series, but is not the grande finale. I am looking forward to what YA page-turner she delivers next. -- Striking Keys * Striking Keys * Rachael Craw is a prolific talent as evidenced by her latest book. She has the ability to produce brilliant work that is well-written and contains just the right amount of action and excitement to enthral readers. A great read and highly recommended. * Buzzwords * Filled with twists, desperation, politics, determination and complexity - Shield is the perfect ending to this amazingly unique and intriguing world. * Book Nerd Reviews * Spark, Stray and Shield are all enthralling reads, owing to a great mix of characters, carefully crafted supernatural elements and a killer plot. While each of the novels deal with heavy-handed issues there is always a sense of hope, which is achieved through the complexity of the characters and the strong relationships they have with one another despite their differences. I thoroughly enjoyed this series, and will undoubtedly revisit the world again. * Liz McShane * This is sci-fi at its best, where the technology comes second to the relationships involved, and we learn something about what it means to be human. Rachael Craw has created a compelling and exciting series. I closed the last page with tears in my eyes, sad to be leaving this world, but satisfied with the conclusion. I sincerely hope Rachael finds more stories in this world, but if this is all we get, then it's enough. * Nicole Has Read * You will be unable to put it down. This is a must-read, stand out series. I cannot recommend it enough. * Inside My Worlds * The final novel in the Spark trilogy is an intense, intelligent plot that will please young adult readers who like a challenging book to stretch their minds. * Bookrapt * This is one of my favourite trilogies and I can't wait to see what Rachael comes up with next! * My Life in Books * Shield delivered. Shield had me hanging on to every word from the first chapter and made the risk of heartbreak 110% worth it. * 21st Century Once Upon a Times * Rachael Craw has pulled together an explosive finale with amazing character arcs and new surprises left, right and centre. I can't wait to see what Rachael writes next. * Loony Literate * Overall, Shield was a really great finale to a series that I can say I've thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. I can't wait to see what Rachael Craw comes up with next because you can bet I'll be reading it. * Books for a Delicate Eternity * Mention in top ten YA list * The Herald Sun * From the young teenager we met in Spark to the strong, resilient woman that we see today, I loved Evie's character development throughout the series. * Happy Indulgence * for teenagers over 16, I do recommend this very exciting book. I enjoyed it very much, though I did skim over the fight scenes. * Reading Time * The final instalment in the Spark Trilogy is absolutely breathtaking. * Diva Booknerd * Craw's writing is fantastic. She maintains an almost frantic pace throughout the series and never drops the intensity or suspense. * The Book Kat * Craw's descriptive writing takes you right into the heart of each scene in a very visceral way (again, that basement scene - gut = wrenched). Like others have noted, it's so easy to imagine these on the big screen. * The Golden Adventures of a Very Dark Horse *