by Andrew Smith
First published 2012
Jack and Conner cannot break free from Marbury, the alternate world that has consumed their lives. The war there continues, and something darker than they previously encountered now calls to them. Their friends remain trapped in that reality, and the boys face an impossible choice between safety and loyalty. They attempt to destroy the lens that serves as their gateway between worlds. But Marbury refuses to release its hold on them. The boundary between what is real and what exists in that other place blurs beyond recognition. Jack and Conner must return once more to face the darkest entities Marbury contains. Their survival depends on confronting forces that seem determined to claim them permanently. The boys discover that some doors, once opened, resist every attempt to close them.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, alternate-universe
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, portal-fantasy, reluctant-hero
Setting: Marbury
480 pages · Kindle Edition · Feiwel & Friends
Content warnings: anxiety, depression, violence