People’s Choice

Manticore Challenge series: Book 1

Maz is a Loser at school and literally everyone knows – because Maz attends NewBrit’s reality-TV academy. In her final term of 15Plus, all Maz wants is to somehow get the expensive medicine her half-brother, Kyle, so badly needs. But her mum has no money and Maz has no chance. Losers gonna lose. Right?

Enigmatic Professor Wolfson of Manticore Pharma tells Maz of a new competition where she could win the chance to finally help her brother. Inspired, Maz has the brilliant idea of helping a climate refugee kid – ‘cligro’ – study for the NewBrit Citizenship test. But charismatic Winner Felix steals her idea and becomes her rival. Even worse, Kyle gets superbug TB, making his need for scarce antibiotics even more desperate.

When Maz discovers a dark superbug secret at the heart of the Manticore Pharma competition she must decide how far she can trust Felix to help her expose it, even as the lines between competition and friendship blur. And when Professor Wolfson gives Maz a choice much deadlier than she could ever have imagined, will she choose to save her brother or expose the threat. Battling self-doubt and a corrupt system, will Maz find a way to save the people she loves without losing herself?

Praise for People’s Choice

A terrific near-future thriller, full of chilling and believable possibilities, and with a brave and conflicted heroine.
Lissa Evans, bestselling author of Wished, Crooked Heart and Their Finest 

A wonderfully inventive novel about courage and self-belief. Maz’s story is scarily prescient and deeply moving.
Francesca May, author of Wild and Wicked Things

 In this Black Mirroresque YA fantasy, Litty Williams gives young readers an exciting and at times terrifying view into a possible near future where teenagers battle for life chances. A thoughtful, compelling and beautifully-written new addition to the genre.

Nikki Sheehan, author of Swan Boy