The Almost King : A Take Back the Skies novel

Aleks Vasin doesn't want any part of the boring village life mapped out for him--he wants excitement and the chance to travel. So Aleks heads South to the great city of Rensav and enlists in the army, but after a brutal few days, he realizes that he's signed himself away to a life far worse than the one he just left.

Aleks escapes, hoping to find safety somewhere in the North. On the way, he finds love, adventure, and a skyship full of technological discoveries beyond his wildest dreams. He might just prove himself a hero too-but only if he can evade the vengeful soldiers on his trail who want him back. The Almost King returns to the epic, sweeping world of Tellus with a brand-new hero.

"Readers fascinated by clockwork adventure will enjoy Tellus' steampunk technologies and airship-populated skies." - Booklist

"Intriguing. . . . readers will undoubtedly feel that staunch, earnest Aleks deserves all the good that heads his way" - BCCB

"Brilliant storytelling . . . Saxon’s second novel is almost perfect and should appeal to any reader who enjoys a great adventure story." - VOYA

"Sprinkled with popular elements of dystopia, steampunk, and noble love, the plot sparkles. . . . Saxon has set up the world of Tellus well to support many rollicking tales." - Publishers Weekly on TAKE BACK THE SKIES

"Readers will discover a fast-paced adventure, a little mystery, and a little romance." - School Library Journal on TAKE BACK THE SKIES

"Saxon’s debut novel depicts a carefully crafted dystopian world. . . Full of adventure, political intrigue, alternative technology, a chaste romance between Cat and crewmate Fox, and a hint of steampunk, this should be popular with the Hunger Games crowd." - Booklist on TAKE BACK THE SKIES

"Has an engaging plot and a well-developed world with likable characters." - VOYA on TAKE BACK THE SKIES

"[D]efinitely an author to watch." - USA Today on TAKE BACK THE SKIES