Excerpt: 'Torn' by Avery Hastings (and a list of other hot YA sequels)

This summer brings us the conclusion to Avery Hastings' Feuds Series, and we have an excerpt. Torn arrives Monday (July 21). Bonus: After Avery's excerpt you'll find a list of other swoon-worthy, do-not-miss books in YA series that are either out or coming out soon. Enjoy!

About Torn (courtesy of St. Martin's Griffin):

From author Avery Hastings comes Torn, the heart-pounding conclusion to the Feuds Series.

Determined to escape from TOR-N, a corrupt Narxis research center, Davis meets another recovered patient, Mercer, whose sweet smile and quirky sense of humor give her hope in humanity again—and a way out. As they make a perilous journey seeking clues that could lead to a cure, Davis and Mercer's friendship begins to evolve into something more... but she's still struggling to let go of her feelings for Cole, whom she believes is dead.

Meanwhile, Cole has plans to change his identity in order to compete in the Olympiads-where Imps have now been invited to compete against Priors. He begins training with Mari, the intense and rebellious daughter of a retired fighter, but through trials and tests that are both exhausting and exhilarating, he finds himself in over his head—literally.

EXCERPT

The passage of time was incalculable. Davis could tell some hours had passed; the sliver of light was waning. She dozed off briefly, only to awaken to pitch blackness and an eerie silence punctuated only by the deep breathing of sleeping passengers around her. She nestled on the floor, stretching out her legs as far in front of her as she could. She thought maybe she'd fallen asleep again. She couldn't tell; it was impossible to tell what was real and what was a dream. She'd never felt so lost.

There'd been a moment when, boarding the vessel, the guard herding her in had lifted his hand from her wrist. She'd been bound, but it wouldn't have mattered. The urge to hurl herself off the plank and into the water below, hands and feet tied tight, had been more than tempting. It had been nearly irresistible. She still remembered the air, crisp against her skin. It wrapped its tendrils around her cheeks, beckoning her forward into the placid water below. The water had looked cool, inviting. Peaceful, even. It could have all been over then, this suffering and overwhelming despair.

And then she'd thought of the people she'd miss. Her sister's face flashed through her mind. Fia's soft curls brushing against her face in the morning, when Fia snuck into her bed for a snuggle. Cradling Fia close while reading her a story— enacting the voices the way Fia always begged her to, and dissolving in giggles along with her little sister, until they were both gasping for air. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing Fia again. She couldn't give up when Sofia's fate was undecided. She couldn't be responsible for causing her little sister any further pain. It would be too great a betrayal.

But Cole was dead.

She couldn't stop replaying the image of him reaching for her, cupping his hand around her neck and kissing her on the hospital roof deck—the way the sun streamed through his hair in the morning light as she rested her head against his chest. That moment—their night together— had been perfect. It had been the first time they'd told each other how they truly felt. She'd known for sure by then that she loved him. When she watched him fight in the FEUDS, she experienced every punch, as if Brutus's fists were hitting her, and not Cole, square in the heart. Loving Cole had always been beautiful and painful at once, but she'd never have traded it. Losing him was a loss of a large part of herself—the part that felt wide open and innocent.

She was grateful in some ways for that lack of innocence. It was impossible to tell where she was headed, what would happen once she arrived. Whether she'd even still be alive tomorrow, or the next day. She realized she might never know what really happened to her mother. Everyone around her was dying; how long would it be before she followed them?

While we're on the subject of YA sequels, here are nine others that, if they aren't already on your radar, you might want to check them out (courtesy of the folks at Paper Lantern Lit):

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. If you haven't discovered the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas yet, now's the time. The fourth book in the series, Queen of Shadows, is coming out in September … but we're giving some hype to the second book in the series, Crown of Midnight, because that's where the romance between assassin Celaena Sardothian and Chaol, her bodyguard (and best friend to her sort-of ex, Prince Dorian) really heats up! Give Crown of Midnight a try when you're in the mood for some serious make-out scenes.

Winter by Marissa Meyer. The highly anticipated fourth book in the Lunar Chronicles series is almost here, and we can't wait. Another steamy, tortured romance between a princess (Winter) and a soldier (Jacin) as war breaks out around them? Sign us up! Marissa Meyer's book comes out in fall, but you might want to read it when, appropriately, the snow is beginning to fall.

Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski. We love, love, loved this sequel to Marie Rutkoski's The Winner's Curse. In book two, Kestrel and Arin are reunited under dire circumstances: She has agreed to marry the emperor's son, and is totally under his thumb. Arin is trying to keep the peace in his new position as governor … but neither of them can deny their burning attraction to one another, even if it might have fatal consequences! Pick this steamy sequel for a lazy Sunday and finish it in one fell swoop!

Another Day by David Levithan. OK, so if you read Every Day, the first book in David Levithan's duology where 'A' wakes up every day in a new person's body, but then falls in love with one girl … you know this doesn't exactly fit our 'happily ever after' requirements. However, misery must love company, because this sequel examines the events of the first book, but from Rhiannon's perspective. This is definitely going to be your read if you're in for a serious summer cry sesh.

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot. Our childhood dreams have come true! Meg Cabot has taken Mia from the Princess Diaries from a wee teenager to a grown-up princess … who is getting married to her high school sweetheart, Michael. (We like to pretend the second movie didn't happen, right, guys?) Read this while drinking tea with classical music on in the background.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. Isla and Josh in Stephanie Perkins' third book make us sigh dreamily. Here's our checklist: Summer? Check. A jet-setting romance across two continents? Check. True love? Triple check! This is the perfect summer read for your plane ride to your next fabulous vacation destination!

Truly Madly Famously by Rebecca Serle. The sequel to Rebecca Serle's Famous in Love (which, btw, is getting the TV treatment from Pretty Little Liars showrunner Marlene King, starring Bella Thorne) is coming out this fall. It's got scandal, romantic tension, celebrity catfights and more, set against the backdrop of Hollywood. You're gonna want to listen to Taylor Swift's I Know Places when reading it.

P.S. I'll Still Love You by Jenny Han. Jenny Han does contemporary romance like no other. This was a book that we didn't need a sequel to (the ending to book one was so perfect!) but now that we've read P.S. I Still Love You, we're SO glad she decided to return to Lara Jean and Peter one more time. Sweet and romantic, this one is perfect for while you're sipping iced tea at sunset!

The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick. The story of the Garrett family continues in Huntley Fitzpatrick's second book — this time, focusing on sister Alice and her tumultuous romance with troubled bad-boy Tim. This should definitely be your steamy read for a rainy day when it comes out in August!