Dark Energy

We are not alone. They are here. And there’s no going back. Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the I Am Number Four series, Dark Energy is a thrilling stand-alone science fiction adventure from Robison Wells, critically acclaimed author of Variant and Blackout.

Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing—or no one—has come out.

If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching the fallout on the news. But her dad is director of special projects at NASA, so she’s been forced to enroll in a boarding school not far from the crash site. Alice is right in the middle of the action, but even she isn’t sure what to expect when the aliens finally emerge. Only one thing is clear: everything has changed.

• First Contact: The aliens have landed, but they aren’t what anyone expected. When they finally emerge, they look… human.
• A Deadly Conspiracy: As the daughter of a NASA director, Alice is closer to the truth than anyone—and in more danger than she could ever imagine.
• Boarding School Setting: While the world panics, Alice is trapped in a preppy school where the new transfer students aren’t just from another state—they’re from another world.
• Ancient Mystery: The key to survival might not lie in the stars, but in a secret buried for centuries right here on Earth.

PRAISE FOR ROBISON WELLS: “This thoughtful, considered action-adventure will have readers pondering even after they’ve closed the book.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Wells knows how to snare readers’ attention and hold them spellbound. There is no shortage of white-knuckle action.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Blackout is a thrilling combination of Wells’ trademark twists and terror. Fantastic!” - Ally Condie, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Matched

“A chilling, masterful debut. With its clever premise, quick pace, and easy-to-champion characters, Wells’ story is a fast, gripping read with a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers wanting more.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A seriously engaging action-adventure that stands on its own and leaves readers wanting more.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“A highly pertinent, engaging thriller.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Wells is a veteran author whose home turf is science fiction, and his fans will recognize and appreciate his style, while newcomers will appreciate the humor and compulsive readability. Grab this, along with Wells’ other novels, for any collection.” - ALA Booklist

“Variant should join the ranks of today’s must-read science fiction and fantasy series. A highly recommended addition to any collection for teens.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (starred review)

“Benson’s account unfolds in a speedy, unadorned first person. Hard to put down from the very first page, this fast-paced novel answers only some of the questions it poses, holding some of the most tantalizing open for the next installment in a series that is anything but ordinary.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Good old-fashioned paranoia taken to giddy extremes. Take Veronica Roth’s Divergent, strip out the angst, add a Michael Grant-level storytelling pace, and you have this very satisfying series starter.” - ALA Booklist

“Filled with heart-racing action and suspense. An impressive debut with wide appeal, especially for fans of Alexander Gordon Smith’s Lockdown and James Dashner’s The Maze Runner.” - School Library Journal

“Fans seeking a fast-paced, action-heavy read will find this generates a lot of excitement.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Picking up only moments after the first book ends, Feedback features the same nonstop, breathless pace, adding new dimension to old characters and new plot twists that are hard to see coming. An absorbing read that won’t let fans of the first down.” - Kirkus Reviews