Book Series · 2 Books

Skyhunter Books

In order from Skyhunter to Steelstriker.

Marie Lu's completed YA duology follows refugee soldier Talin as she fights an expanding empire and its terrifying experiments in a world shaped by war.

Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated August 13, 2026

Reading order

How to Read the Skyhunter Duology

Read Skyhunter first and Steelstriker second. Steelstriker begins after the first book's major defeat and concludes Talin and Red's continuing fight against the Karensa Federation.

Sources: Macmillan's official Skyhunter Duology page, Marie Lu's official Steelstriker page.

For parents

What Parents Should Know

War violence is frequent and consequential. The books include combat deaths, executions, weapons, explosions, grief, imprisonment, torture, forced betrayal, human experimentation, engineered monsters, and some disturbing transformations. Refugees also face prejudice and exclusion.

A slow-building romance includes kissing but is secondary to the military story. Loyalty, disability and communication, resistance to authoritarian rule, and the cost of treating people as weapons provide substantial discussion material for mature teen readers.

Where the story begins

First Book in the Series

Sale price

$1999

Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2020

Skyhunter

By Marie Lu

A mysterious prisoner may hold the key to saving or destroying the last free nation in a war-torn world.

371 pages· 111,954 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

Hardcover

Summary: In a world ravaged by war, Talin, a fierce Striker, defends Mara, the last free nation, against the oppressive Federation and its mutant beasts. Seen as an outcast, Talin's resolve is tested when a mysterious prisoner arrives, potentially holding the power to change everything. Is he a spy or the key to victory? As the Federation closes in, Talin must uncover the truth before time runs out. Dive into a gripping tale of survival, loyalty, and hope, where every decision could mean the difference between salvation and annihilation.

In reading order