I could not survive as a writer—let alone thrive—without the support of some of the most wonderful and brilliant women I know. Thanks go to Ally Carter, Elizabeth Eulberg, Carrie Ryan, Rachel Vincent, Rose Brock, and Sarah Rees Brennan, for Rose Fest in all of its incarnations, and special thanks go to Rachel Vincent for Panera Thursdays, Ally Carter, who knows exactly how hard thrillers (and series!) can be to write, and Sarah Rees Brennan, for reading an earlier draft of this book on very short notice. Thanks also to my colleagues and students at the University of Oklahoma, Ti30, NLPT, and everyone else who kept me sane during the writing of this book.
Finally, I owe my family more than I could ever say. My mom and dad are among the very first readers of all of my books, and I would not be where I am today without them. I am also extremely grateful to my husband, Anthony, for being my best friend, support system, sounding board, and the love of my life. And thank you also, Anthony, for keeping me from stressing too much when I was doing some final tweaks on this book while preparing for our wedding! Finally, thank you to my wonderful siblings, nephews, and niece: Justin, Allison, Connor, Jeana, Russ, Daniel, Gianna, Matthew, Joseph, Michael, Lindsey, Dominic, and Julian. You guys are the best!
JENNIFER LYNN BARNES has written over a dozen acclaimed young adult novels, including the first two books in this series, The Naturals and Killer Instinct. She has advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science. She received her PhD from Yale University and is now a professor of psychology. You can find her online at www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com or follow her on Twitter @jenlynnbarnes.