The fire sermon by Francesca Haig

Harper Collins, 2015. ISBN 9780007563067
(Age: 13+) In a post-apocalyptic world set hundreds of years in the future, all births are twins, one an Omega always with a deformity, limbless or worse, and an Alpha, a normal desirable twin. When one twin dies the other will also die no matter the distance or lifestyle they are leading at the time. The story starts with twins Cassandra the Omega and Zach the Alpha. Normally separated at birth Cassandra has hidden her ability to see into the future, creating the two twin as outcastes by others because they can't tell who the Alpha twin is. When they finally are split from each other Cassandra is sent to live with other Omegas while Zach decides to work for the Council where he starts his climb up the corporate ladder. Cassandra is kidnapped and locked into a cell where she is interrogated on how strong her skills really are. She finally escapes the cell only to find a room full of tanks with Omegas suspended in a liquid. One of the tanks holds a boy who makes eye contact with her. She rescues Kip by breaking the tank and together they escape for a mysterious island where Omegas are treated not like outcastes and Alphas are desperate to find them. The power to change the world lies in both Cass and Zach's hands but if they are not careful both will die in the struggle for power.
Francesca Haig has built a bleak and troubled world based on fear and prejudice. Her characters feel fear, insecurity and are not born equipped to wage war, but when push comes to shove, and the heart is involved heroes rise, take risks and learn to believe in the possibility of a better world for everyone. The story is fast paced and quite easy to follow along with. If the reader likes The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner they will enjoy this first book of the series.
Jody Holmes