Book picks similar to
Torn by Mary Brock Jones


sci-fi
new-zealand-writers
edited-by-grace-bridges
science-fiction

Unite


Jamie Campbell - 2013
    Now, those aliens are being hunted.Amery Jones is your typical teenager, except for the fact she is an alien and a member of the government’s secret Project Integrate.When Amery’s best friend Lola is kidnapped in order to get to her, there is only one person that can help – the exceedingly annoying and charming Lochie Mercury.Together, Amery and Lochie must put aside their differences and attraction in order to rescue Lola before it’s too late.

Bonds of Brass


Emily Skrutskie - 2020
    He's spent seven years putting himself back together under its rule, joining an Umber military academy and becoming the best pilot in his class. Even better, he's met Gal Veres--his exasperating and infuriatingly enticing roommate who's made the Academy feel like a new home. But when dozens of classmates spring an assassination plot on Gal, a devastating secret comes to light: Gal is the heir to the Umber Empire. Ettian barely manages to save his best friend and flee the compromised Academy unscathed, rattled both that Gal stands to inherit the empire that broke him and that there are still people willing to fight back against Umber rule. As they piece together a way to deliver Gal safely to his throne, Ettian finds himself torn in half by an impossible choice. Does he save the man who's won his heart and trust that Gal's goodness could transform the empire? Or does he throw his lot in with the brewing rebellion and fight to take back what's rightfully theirs?

C791


Eve Langlais - 2012
    Kidnapped during his daring escape, he shows her that despite the chip in his brain, his humanity is not completely lost.Formerly known as unit X109GI, Joe is on a quest to discover his origin. While he doesn’t find the answers he’s looking for, he does discover that affection isn't just for humans. But when it comes to a battle between logic and love, which side will the cybernetic organism—once a man—choose?Evaluating his feelings will have to wait though because the military isn’t done with Joe. But their threats against him pale in comparison before the shocking discovery of project C791, the revelation of which stuns the rebel cyborgs—and ignites a fury for vengeance.

The Psychology of Time Travel


Kate Mascarenhas - 2018
    But just as they are about to debut their creation, one of them suffers a breakdown, putting the whole project—and future of time travel—in jeopardy. To protect their invention, one member is exiled from the team—erasing her contributions from history.Fifty years later, time travel is a big business. Twenty-something Ruby Rebello knows her beloved grandmother, Granny Bee, was one of the pioneers, though no one will tell her more. But when Bee receives a mysterious newspaper clipping from the future reporting the murder of an unidentified woman, Ruby becomes obsessed: could it be Bee? Who would want her dead? And most importantly of all: can her murder be stopped?Traversing the decades and told from alternating perspectives, The Psychology of Time Travel introduces a fabulous new voice in fiction and a new must-read for fans of speculative fiction and women’s fiction alike.

Centauri Dawn


Cynthia Woolf - 2011
    Until the day she finds out she isn't. She's a princess from the planet Centauri. Her mission, whether or not she chooses to accept it, is to marry an alien and save the world, in order to save her family.Darius is charged with delivering his brother's bride home to Centauri, ready to be queen. Falling in love isn't just forbidden, it's a death sentence for him and for his world.

The Galactic Mage


John Daulton - 2012
    Seeking to avoid a looming doom, he sets his magical sights on the stars—a quest that will likely bring about the very end he's seeking to escape.Far across the galaxy, Ensign Orli Pewter of planet Earth has a looming doom of her own—one of loneliness, depression and, worse, a race of genocidal aliens known as Hostiles seeking to destroy humanity. Trapped aboard a spaceship she never asked to be upon, Orli is in a fight for her life and her sanity.Worlds apart, Altin and Orli share a destiny, though neither knows the other is alive. The Hostiles know. And they have other plans.

Battle Lines


Chris Hechtl - 2015
    But he returned changed, he had lost one of his AI to rampancy after fighting an Xeno AI Wraith, and his greatest AI, his confidant Commander Sprite had chosen to leave him. He didn't return to civilization alone however. He brought with him over a hundred precious sleepers, officers and enlisted personnel ready to help rebuild the Federation once more, along with petabytes of precious blueprints and data, designed by some of the greatest minds of the Federation. But before they can begin to forge a new fleet they have to stop the rampaging Horathian Empire in it's tracks. Rear Admiral Amadeus White has been assigned to push the enemy back and keep them back while Admiral Irons and Subert work on building new ships. Admiral Subert has his own problems to deal with in Pyrax. He needs time, time to adjust, time to clean up the mess. Time to build more ships. But the enemy within and without won't wait. Napoleon said it best, "You can ask me for anything but not time!" The Battle Lines have been drawn!

Violent Graduation


John Hindmarsh - 2021
    The risk to his friends at the academy is the hidden price. His challenge is how to balance the risks.The final stage of his training is a shakedown cruise on an old minesweeper, barely able to achieve FTL entry and exit.Midway through their cruise, the minesweeper collides with an ancient alien wreck, ripping the sides off the starship. Jack’s team of bots help seal the combined wreck to prevent air loss. Ghost, a nanolife form from the alien wreck, provides assistance.Jack and his girlfriend, Sofia, are the only survivors, and air, food, and supplies are critical.The countdown of days to survive is ticking.No wonder the Royal Family are angry.And there’s still a price on Jack’s head.

Conquering His Queen


Viki Storm - 2019
    But it’s mine—including the feisty young queen who’s in way over her head. Because once I see her run out onto the battlefield, about to risk it all for her people, I have to save her. I have to conquer her. I have to own her. She thinks she’s using me, thinks she can strut around and wrap me around her little finger. How wrong she is. Conquering this planet is just a job for me. Subdue and evacuate the human population. And that includes her, no matter how bad I want to keep her… BRYN I’m not sure how I ended up the queen of this isolated planet, but here I am. One problem after another. When I think it can’t get any worse, we’re invaded by huge, savage aliens. The ship descends and I see him—their leader. He claims me for his own. I need his help if I want to save my people. But I have nothing to offer him. Nothing to give him that he couldn’t just take. Except my body. My virginity. But he wants more. He wants my heart. And that’s something I vowed never to give away. A queen can’t trust anyone, even if he’s my only hope... This is the first book in the new Zalaryn Conqueror's Trilogy and can be enjoyed without having read any of my previous books! And as always, HEA guaranteed!

The Vanished Birds


Simon Jimenez - 2020
    Decades of travel through the stars are condensed into mere months for her, though the years continue to march steadily onward for everyone she has ever known. Her friends and lovers have aged past her; all she has left is work. Alone and adrift, she lives only for the next paycheck, until the day she meets a mysterious boy, fallen from the sky.A boy, broken by his past.The scarred child does not speak, his only form of communication the beautiful and haunting music he plays on an old wooden flute. Captured by his songs and their strange, immediate connection, Nia decides to take the boy in. And over years of starlit travel, these two outsiders discover in each other the things they lack. For him, a home, a place of love and safety. For her, an anchor to the world outside of herself.For both of them, a family.But Nia is not the only one who wants the boy. The past hungers for him, and when it catches up, it threatens to tear this makeshift family apart.

Grow Up (One Up Series Book 2)


Craig Anderson - 2019
    Oh, and his upcoming exams. That was before he caught the attention of a planet of intergalactic trial-by-combat lawyers that use giant mechs to fight their legal battles. Now he has bigger things to worry about. Much, much bigger. The only advantage he has is his trusty games controller, but will it be enough to beat a Level 10 Behemoth? Josh isn’t the only one having a rough day. Gargle was your run-of-the-mill, body swapping, ethereal alien courier. Everything was going great, until he was dropped off on Earth and asked to blend in with a crowd of teenagers. Josh only has to save the world, Gargle has to survive puberty. If you love humour, sci-fi and GameLit then this is the book for you! Note that while this book shares the same universe as Level Up, it has its own cast of characters. Both books can be enjoyed standalone.

Seven Crowns


E.V. Everest - 2020
    Six deadly rivals. A world she never knew existed.Sixteen-year-old Ana is a waitress, foster kid, and liar. She might also be the sole heir to a crown on another planet. A crown she never asked for or even wanted.One year after her mom's death, Ana discovers her mom's biggest secret-- she was a political refugee from a planet called Bellaton. Ana's family was one of seven that ruled before they were picked off one by one.Now, with assassins after her, Ana could be next. With the help of a dazzling array of friends and enemies, Ana must discover her magical "gift"… or risk being named an imposter.In this world of breathtaking beauty, charm, and magic, will Ana be able to tell friend from foe, reveal her would-be assassin, and take the crown?Travel to a glittering, dangerous world with political alliances and ballgowns, perfect for fans of Red Queen and The Selection.

Alicron


Maia Starr - 2018
    That’s why I took her, she’s the one that can save my race, and myself. Vicki is a smart and busy Hollywood agent forced to go on a yoga retreat with her friend in order to take some time for herself. She is resistant to go, but knows that she needs to make a change in her lifestyle, especially in the romance department. Alicron is an alien on a mission. He needs to bring human females back to his home planet to mate with the males in order to save his species. It’s a heavy mission to bare. When Vicki is abducted, she is angry and hates the aliens that have taken her and a group of other human females. Her hate is focused on Alicron, but her body is betraying her. Alicron is intrigued with the strong human female, and plans to make her his mate. But then all goes wrong when his ship crash-lands on a cyborg planet. Now he will need to save her from the cyborgs that have taken her from him, even if she does hate him. She is his. But will rescuing her make her change her feelings of hate to feelings of desire? Or will she continue to despise him for what he has done to her? Alicron is the first book in the Aliens Of Xeion standalone series. All books in this page-turning Sci-Fi Alien Abduction Romance can be read as standalones, there are no cliffhangers, and happily ever afters are guaranteed! Note: Adults Only!

The Space Between Worlds


Micaiah Johnson - 2020
    Enter Cara, whose parallel selves happen to be exceptionally good at dying—from disease, turf wars, or vendettas they couldn’t outrun. Cara’s life has been cut short on 372 worlds in total.On this Earth, however, Cara has survived. Identified as an outlier and therefore a perfect candidate for multiverse travel, Cara is plucked from the dirt of the wastelands. Now she has a nice apartment on the lower levels of the wealthy and walled-off Wiley City. She works—and shamelessly flirts—with her enticing yet aloof handler, Dell, as the two women collect off-world data for the Eldridge Institute. She even occasionally leaves the city to visit her family in the wastes, though she struggles to feel at home in either place. So long as she can keep her head down and avoid trouble, Cara is on a sure path to citizenship and security.But trouble finds Cara when one of her eight remaining doppelgängers dies under mysterious circumstances, plunging her into a new world with an old secret. What she discovers will connect her past and her future in ways she could have never imagined—and reveal her own role in a plot that endangers not just her world, but the entire multiverse.

Freaks of Greenfield High


Maree Anderson - 2011
    But with a covert organization intent on using her as a weapon hot on her trail, now’s so not the time for a cyborg to get all emotional!