Exo

A military science fiction novel set a century after Earth was colonized by an alien species called the zhree. The story follows Donovan Reyes, a teenage soldier in the Security Forces who has undergone an experimental exocellular enhancement procedure to give him armor-like abilities. Donovan serves alongside other enhanced humans to maintain peace between zhree and unaltered humans in this divided world. His position becomes complicated when he is captured by revolutionary forces who oppose both alien rule and the existence of enhanced humans like himself. The narrative explores questions of loyalty, identity, and what it means to be human in a transformed world. Elements of military action, political intrigue, and family dynamics intersect as Donovan must navigate between competing factions with different visions for Earth's future. Through its blend of science fiction concepts and coming-of-age elements, the book examines themes of colonization, assimilation, and the cost of choosing sides in a conflict that defies simple categorization.

Readers highlight the book's fresh take on alien occupation, with many appreciating the complex moral questions rather than a simple "humans vs. aliens" narrative. The exploration of cultural identity and loyalty resonated with readers who have experienced being caught between two cultures. Positives: - Fast-paced action sequences - Morally gray characters with understandable motivations - Detailed worldbuilding without info-dumping - Strong female protagonist who isn't defined by romance Criticisms: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - Political elements too complex for younger YA readers - Character relationships could be more developed - Several readers wanted more backstory about the alien arrival Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (120+ ratings) Kirkus Reviews: Starred Review "The political intrigue kept me guessing until the end," notes one Goodreads reviewer, while another mentions "the fight scenes were cinematic but the family dynamics felt underdeveloped."

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🚀 Author Fonda Lee wrote the first draft of Exo while working full-time as a corporate strategist, often writing during her lunch breaks and commutes. 🌟 The book's premise of alien colonization was partly inspired by real historical colonization events, particularly the British colonization of India and Hong Kong. 🛸 The "hardened" technology in the book, where humans can have their bodies enhanced with alien biotech, draws from both science fiction and real scientific research into human augmentation. 🏆 Exo won the 2019 Red Maple Fiction Award, selected by young readers across Ontario, Canada. 🎮 Before becoming an author, Fonda Lee was a black belt martial artist and corporate executive, experiences that influenced the combat scenes and political intrigue in the book.