Battle

In this follow-up to "exciting, clever" (Booklist), the evil game Architect is back with a new partner-in-crime, The MasterMind, and the pair aim to get revenge on the Mirza clan. Twelve-year-old Ahmad Mirza struggles to make friends at his new middle school but is paired with his classmate Winnie for a project. A gift from his sister, Farah, arrives: a high-tech game called The Battle of Blood and Iron. When they unbox the game, time freezes all over New York City, and Ahmad and Winnie must face off with the MasterMind and the Architect to beat them at their own game before the evil plotters expand Paheli and take over the entire world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2020
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

The Gauntlet is a thrilling follow-up to the "exciting, clever" (Booklist) novel. Set in a futuristic Middle Eastern world, it blends elements of Zathura and Ready Player One. Four years after the events of The Gauntlet, the evil game Architect returns with a new partner-in-crime, The MasterMind, seeking revenge on the Mirza clan. Together, they have rebuilt Paheli into a sleek, mind-bending world with floating skyscrapers, flying rickshaws run by robots, and a digital funicular rail that often leads to unexpected destinations.

Twelve-year-old Ahmad Mirza, a newcomer to his new middle school, faces challenges in making friends. However, when he is paired with his classmate Winnie for a project, he is determined to impress her and make his first friend. At home, while they work on their project, a gift from Ahmad's big sister, Farah, arrives. It's a high-tech game called The Battle of Blood and Iron, a hybrid of video and board games, complete with virtual reality goggles. Ahmad believes that this game will solve his friend problem, as all kids love games. He convinces Winnie to play, but as soon as they unbox the game, time freezes across New York City.

With time standing still and people frozen, the fate of humanity rests on Ahmad and Winnie's shoulders as they face off against the MasterMind and the Architect. They must outsmart their opponents and beat them at their own game before the evil plotters expand Paheli and conquer the entire world. The Gauntlet is a thrilling adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, as they navigate through a world filled with danger, mystery, and unexpected twists.

Weight: 222g
Dimension: 130 x 193 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781534428737
Edition number: Reprint