Predestined is steady-paced, thrilling, and action-packed … Rachel Byrne’s writing is fascinating and made every second I spent reading from cover to cover in one day worth it. This book is a must-read for lovers of sci-fi, mystery, thrillers, and young adult fiction. — Mimie Odigwe, Readers’ Favorite 5 Star Review
IN A PLACE WHERE NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS, WHO CAN BE BE TRUSTED?
Mysteriously invited to attend the elite Haverford Pines Academy, sixteen-year-old Lina Jamison feels out of place. With mediocre grades and no special talents, she questions why she was chosen to be among her generation’s brightest and most promising teens. Only after Lina saves a fellow trainee’s life does she begin to glimpse her own potential.
Settling into the academy’s training, she starts to uncover secrets and question Haverford Pine’s motives. Why is HP monitoring its trainees’ conversations? How were they selected? And what’s behind the alarming rumors of former trainees meeting dark fates?
As the term progresses, Lina realizes that her presence there may not be a coincidence. With danger lurking around every corner and her own destiny hanging in the balance, Lina must uncover the truth before it’s too late.
AWARD-WINNING
Young Adult Mystery Thriller
2025 IAN Book of the Year
First Place for YA Mystery
Finalist for YA Fiction
First Place for YA Fiction
PREDESTINED
Book Trailer
What Readers Are Saying About PREDESTINED
A Must-Read for Lovers of Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thrillers, and YA Fiction
Predestined is steady-paced, thrilling, and action-packed. The training, testing, rivalry, and friendships are realistic, and the characters are well-written and stay true to themselves … Rachel Byrne’s writing is fascinating and made every second I spent reading from cover to cover in one day worth it. This book is a must-read for lovers of sci-fi, mystery, thrillers, and young adult fiction. Read more “A Must-Read for Lovers of Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thrillers, and YA Fiction”
Kept Me on the Edge of My Seat
The writing style immediately drew me in, and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. I was hooked from the start by the fast-paced action and was turning the pages as fast as I could…The story is well-written and is one of the most thrilling young adult mysteries I have read in a while. Read more “Kept Me on the Edge of My Seat”
Must-Have for All YA Mystery Fans
It’s a must-have for all YA mystery fans who love immersing themselves in a story about a place where nothing is as it seems, one that draws them deeper into its labyrinth of secrets and mysteries, and where the truth becomes tangled and dangerous. Read more “Must-Have for All YA Mystery Fans”
Jaw-Dropping Plot Twists
This story gets better and better as it excels in jaw- dropping plot twists and character development. It blends action with mystery, high tension, and conflict to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Lina is an eminently likable protagonist due to her sometimes relatable, flawed, curious, and ambitious nature. Read more “Jaw-Dropping Plot Twists”
A satisfying and ingeniously constructed debut.
Byrne’s debut is a briskly paced SF thriller bolstered by strong characters and skillful plotting; the author is a naturally gifted storyteller who skillfully weaves references to real people and events into the narrative to construct the convincing conspiracy at the heart of the story.
