by Paul Preuss
First published 2016
Sparta carries secrets beneath her striking appearance. Advanced biotech engineering gave her abilities that exceed normal human limits, but her past remains shrouded in mystery. When a research team becomes stranded in the crushing, superheated atmosphere of Venus, she must enter the planet's gaseous inferno to extract them. The rescue mission succeeds, but it also leads to the recovery of something unexpected: a mysterious artifact that proves life exists beyond Earth. As Sparta examines this discovery, she realizes it may unlock the truth about her own origins and purpose. The artifact holds secrets that could reshape humanity's understanding of life in the universe, while forcing Sparta to confront questions about her engineered nature and ultimate destiny.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, mystery, thriller
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: Venus
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
306 pages · Hardcover · iPicturebooks