Juni is alone.
Far from her family, Juni has fled Arkspire after her battle with the Arcanist Enigma. She’s been in the harsh Badlands outside Arkspire, trying to survive on food scraps left by relic hunter gangs, and avoiding the mutant monsters who burst from the sand in attack.
Full of guilt about betraying her best friend Thea, landing her Papa and Thea’s Grangran in jail, and putting a price on her sister Elodie’s head along with her own, Juni is also reeling at the death of a beloved family member.
The last thing Juni expects to see is Thea arrive in the Badlands as a member of the Tungsten crew. They are the very worst of the Arkspire gangs, and she realises what leaving Thea behind has done.
Suddenly she’s back in the city of her birth, but with Wanted Posters layered on every street showing her and her twin Elodie’s faces, she must keep to the shadows.
She has been given a second chance with Thea, and must face up to her own behaviour to those around her, and work hard on rebuilding relationships.
The desire to beat the Arcanists and save her sister from them, still burns deep, but this time she knows she must listen to others and work together with friends, old and new.
The final showdown involves careful planning and an immense risk to all of their lives. Who will prevail? Juni, Thea, Evenden and Cinder, or Elodie, the Enigma and the Watcher?
This trilogy is one of my favourites for readers 10+
The world building is superb and stands out amongst middle grade/tween reads. The scrappy, fiery characters of Juniper Bell and her Order of Misfits are easy to cheer for as they battle the rich and powerful in the city of Arkspire.
Revenge of the Misfits has a jaw-dropping twist I never saw coming , which also knocks Juni for a six as it changes everything she’s ever known growing up in The Dregs.
The power of friendship, love and belief in others is mighty in this finale and no-one knows if Cinder will help The Misfits or annihilate them, right up to the crux of the action.
An outstanding series for this age group.
Author / Illustrator – Jamie Littler
Age – 10+
See the 1st two books in the series here:
((2025, Penguin Group, Magical Land, Fantasy, Action, Betrayal, Courage, Friendship, Magic, Family, Secret, Series, Poverty, Horror, Arcanists, Badlands, Shadowy Creature, Loyalty, Relic Hunter Gang, Lies, Sisters, Twins, Sibling Rivalry, Trust, Belief in yourself, Revenge)