Sanctuary (A Sanctuary Novel)

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Review “Caryn Lix takes the prison thriller genre to new places in this YA novel.”  (Quill & Quire)Kenzie knew her duty to Omnistellar as a junior guard: protect the world from the criminal super-powered teenagers imprisoned on Sanctuary. Considering the security measures in place, the job was not too complicated, and she had her parents there for support. However, when a supposed drill turns into something more, Kenzie finds herself taken hostage by the ruthless prisoners. But as she gets to know them, they do not seem as bad as she thought. She begins to question what crime was so bad they were imprisoned for years. When an even greater danger threatens them all, she must learn to trust and rely on those she was taught to hate and fear. This sci-fi fantasy is filled with YA characters having to determine what is right and face serious consequences for whatever they decide. Lix’s novel keeps teens guessing what is really going on and who will win this epic space battle. The ending will leave readers hoping for a sequel. VERDICT YA sci-fi fans will enjoy this wild ride through space.–Jessica Perovich, US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit Library (School Library Journal May 1, 2018)As the story opens on the prison facility–spaceship known as Sanctuary, 17-year-old Kenzie is all that stands between a gang of suddenly free, superpowered teen inmates and the universe. Her mother, the ship’s commander, is wounded or dead, and it appears that Sanctuary is also under attack from an alien presence. Amidst this chaos, Kenzie discovers she has been a different sort of prisoner aboard Sanctuary and that the “bad guys” might not be so bad after all. First-time author Lix creates an energetic novel that dispatches the adults early so that the superpowered teens can come into their own. Kenzie is slowly won over to the side of the teen prisoners, whose backstories reveal Sanctuary’s corporate owners as the true criminals. Though Kenzie’s own ability becomes too convenient a plot device, the teen characters are engaging, and readers will find themselves rooting for the budding romances and holding their breath as the heroes tiptoe down dark hallways to find a way to defeat their foes. — Cindy Welch (Booklist May 15, 2018)Raised by her parents to appreciate the benefits of corporate citizenship and to maintain unwavering loyalty to their employer, Omnistellar Concepts, Kenzie is following in their footsteps and guarding the space station Sanctuary, a prison for children and teens imbued with superpowers. Her aspirations, faith in Omnistellar, and belief in her parents come crashing down when a prisoner escape plan coincides with an alien invasion, turning Kenzie from guard to prisoner, fighting for her life among the kids she had been taught to fear. There’s an enjoyable B-movie vibe to the plotting, as Kenzie outmaneuvers monsters, discovers her own technologically repressed superpower, learns the tightly circumscribed boundary of her mother’s love, and kindles a romance with the Sanctuary prisoner leader, all within the time- frame of a couple of days. The themes and characters may derive from familiar sci-fi repertoire, but Lix’s breakneck pacing keeps the pages flying, and Kenzie’s barely tapped superpower and the unplumbed depths of Omnistellar’s presence provide plenty of scope for later adventure. Lix leaves readers just where she wants them: satisfied by a complete story arc but ready to follow the surviving renegades into space, with good guys and bad guys undoubtedly in hot pursuit.  (BCCB June 2018) Read more About the Author Caryn Lix has been writing since she was a teenager and delved deep into science fiction, fantasy, and the uncanny while working on her masters in English literature. Caryn writes novels for teens and anyone else who likes a bit of the bizarre to mess up their day. When not writing, Caryn spends her time obsessively consuming other people’s stories, plotting travel adventures, and exploring artistic endeavors. She lives with her husband and a horde of surly and entitled animals in southern Alberta. Read more