Across the planet from one another, in a post-apocalyptic world fraught with constant peril, Mei and Rom fight for survival. Mei, hovering over China’s desolate landscape in a community of refugees living in hot-air balloons, struggles to find her purpose in her world’s highly ritualistic social order. Rom, fighting to save his sister in the caves under what is left of Las Vegas, must learn the complex rules of a decadent and demented society. These two exceptional young people find comfort when they discover they can communicate with each other through the assistance of the magical Tree Book, which holds sinister secrets of its own. The theme of balance threads together the tales of the two complex protagonists. Mei must learn to balance her physical body as she maneuvers herself on the ropes that weave together the Sky Village. Rom’s challenge is to balance his emotions as he conjures his inner demons (literally) into reality in order to survive in the vile underground gambling arena. Much what these compelling heroes work to control, however, is internal. They both carry the unique kaimira gene that connects them and allows for communication with the world’s warring factions, the maverick machines (meks) and the packs of ferocious, fearless beasts. With strong characters of both genders, terrifyingly unpredictable villains, frightening futuristic settings, and wonderfully written action sequences, this book, first in a planned series of five, should have crossover appeal for fans of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy. Reviewer: Lynne Farrell Stover