The Edge of Everything

Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old Zoe Bissell has had a rough year. She hasn't been able to find closure following her father's unexpected death in a caving accident and the disappearance of two beloved neighbors. Then, during a harsh winter storm, she and her eight-year-old brother, Jonah, are attacked. X, a handsome and mysterious stranger, comes to their rescue. Unbeknownst to Zoe, X is actually a bounty hunter from a dark, unique area of Hell known as the Lowlands, and he was sent after Zoe's attacker's soul. Despite X's hellacious origins, he and Zoe form an intense connection, and X learns empathy for humans. The romance will not be without consequences, though, as some beings from the Lowlands are not happy about X's and Zoe's intense feelings for each other, and Zoe's friend Dallas could end up with a broken heart. Giles's fantastical novel reads like a blend of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and modern-day horror, such as Stranger Things. Zoe is an empowered, complicated female protagonist with a huge heart, and X is a heartthrob with a twisted past and a thoughtful persona.