Liberated

Calculated #4

by Nova McBee

From Young-Adult author Nova McBee comes LIBERATED, the 4th book in the gritty, action-filled Calculated series.

Jo Rivers and her PSS team prevented a global disaster in Finland, but her mission is far from over. Especially after Terra Liberata made things personal. With Chan in a coma, Kai’s undercover identity threatened, and a former PSS prod helping Terra Liberata, Jo must go rogue in order to protect the world and save her friends.

Determined to find a cure for Chan and help Kai—and win him back—Jo discovers that Palermo plans to release a deadly bioweapon if his organization isn't stopped.

To uncover their secrets, Jo must once again become “Double-Eight” and navigate both a dark prison world and the tropical cities of Thailand to infiltrate Terra Liberata. But when the ruthless council demands the ultimate penalty from anyone who dares to get in their way, Jo must make an impossible choice: trust her numbers, or bet on something greater.

If she's wrong, she'll lose everything.

Genres: Young Adult

Paperback

First published August 8, 2026

About the author

Nova McBee, a Seattle native, has lived nearly half her life in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. When she is not writing, she thrives on complex plots, deep conversation, ends of the earth adventures, and spending time with her family and friends.

Calculated is currently in development to become a major motion picture. Emmy-Award winning screenwriter, Ann Peacock, best known for The Chronicles of Narnia, will adapt the novel for the screen in partnership with One Door Studios and Apelles Entertainment, who owns the rights to all of the books.
For more info visit:
www.novamcbee.com or www.onedoorstudios.com

*Calculated Awards: Winner of Best Young Adult Novel by the Independent Press Awards; Finalist for Best Young Adult by the International Thriller Awards

Reviews

[Caitlin Miller]

started and finished this almost 500-page book within 4 hours. it was so good. I am unwell. and will 100% be reading this book again soon because it’s an experience worth reliving 😮‍💨

[readwithmegan]

6 star series!! I’m honestly not sure how to put into words how much I loved this book and series 😭
I was genuinely so sad I would never be able to read these books again or see these characters again. They had felt like family and I cried so much at the end of this book and when it was over 😭😭

The way this story was weaved and crafted was absolutely beautiful and amazing and a true masterpiece. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a series where each book was more amazing than the last and if there were 100 books in this series I would keep reading them 🥹

I loved the ending of this series so much and it’s so hard not to have spoilers but I was very happy with the romance and plot and of course there was an amazing happy ending 🥹😭

[Adeline]

I’m sobbing bye
AND THEY GOT MARRIED AT THE END
LIKE THAT’S HOW ROMANCES SHOULD END OKAY
EVEN IF IT’S A SUBPLOT

[Katylin]

A thrilling and very satisfying conclusion to the Calculated series. Don't miss it!!

[Joy Burkholder]

This is by far my top favorite book!! Nova McBee has once again captured my heart in this epic finale.

Jo Rivers - I mean Double Eight, must make her hardest choice yet. After all, Red has taught her 3 things in life and she has learned 2 of them. The final lesson might be her tipping point.
Will she and Kai get their happily ever after? Probably but then again I can’t spoil it for you!! Go read, experience and enjoy their final chapter, I have no doubt you’ll love it. Highly recommend!!!! This is by far the best book in the series!!!

[Keira Mueller]

I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review, and all thoughts are my own

If you know me, you know that I adore the Calculated series and talk about it quite frequently, so I preordered Liberated as soon as I could, then was absolutely honored when Nova reached out and asked if I would like to be an ARC reader!

I did, in fact, read this in one day (12 hours exactly), and it was so worth it. It was everything I loved from the other books, only more exciting, more fast-paced, and more heart-pounding (if that's even possible?!)

It's definitely darker than the other books in the series, and the stakes are so much higher. For some reason, I didn't love it quite as much as the previous books in the series, and the climax was not quite what I was expecting...but in hindsight it made more sense.

I just marvel at the fascinating cultures in our world that Nova brings to life on the pages, and Liberated was just as heart-poundingly exciting as the rest. The romance was phenomenal, the plot even more so, and all our favorite characters are back and better than ever. Again, there is so much profound wisdom and technology in this series that makes it a delight to read and activates your brain in so many places.

The ending itself was actual perfection, and I was SO happy because I've been rooting for these characters (you'll have to read the book to find out what I mean :) I want to gush about absolutely everything, but no spoilers!

Language: None!
Romance: Several kisses, but not very detailed.
Violence: Quite a bit. Lots of hand-to-hand fighting, threatening, dangerous serums (think Activated but a little worse)
LGBTQ: None!

[Patrycja]

Thank you Nova McBee for the early copy.
(I am waititng for the physical copy to arrive).

My head is absolutely spinning after finishing Liberated! First of all, I refuse to acknowledge that this is the final book. Even if the numbers tell me it’s over, my heart says otherwise.

No spoilers here, but I have to say: this book kept me on the edge of my seat. The action, right out of a James Bond movie, was incredible. The romance completely held my heart captive.
The globe-trotting settings—stretching from Thailand to Italy, and everywhere in between—literally made me pull out a world map so I could follow along with where the action was happening!

Nova McBee delivers a story that is incredibly rich, balancing, important topics with moments that make you laugh out loud. Catching up with beloved characters like Jo, Kai, their fathers, and the PSS prods—while meeting brilliant new faces like Rayne—was pure joy. Every single character feels so wonderfully layered.

An incredibly entertaining conclusion to a phenomenal series. I can’t recommend it enough!

[Lizzie Jane]

This one isn't quite as good as the last three. The first 150 pages could have been drastically reduced or cut; the pacing was very slow and took a while to get to the actual plot, unlike the previous three, and spent a lot of time on flashbacks and meeting up with different characters front from the series who don't play a big role in this story.

Once the book reached the actual plot, it picked up and started improving a good bit. Narration is occasionally repetitive throughout the book, and a few scenes near the end felt a little rushed. Otherwise, the last third was up to the quality of the last three. The setting started feeling immersive and unique like in the other books, and the ending was satisfying. We finally get a resolution to some series long arcs, with hints that maybe Jo, or members of her team, could someday have more adventures. There were a few redemption arcs, including a surprising one that I liked. Kai and Jo's chemistry is always good.

Overall, despite the slow start, I give four stars as the last third was as good as the rest of the series.

[Wendy Dolch]

Great conclusion to the Calculated series! There was only one thing I was disappointed by and I feel like I'm the only one that feels this way. I was truly hoping that after what happened to Noble in Activated that he would get a happier ending, but no! He just got the short end of the stick this whole series and he was my favorite character! Grrrr! Lost his father in a horrible, traumatizing way and got utterly rejected by the girl he loved days later, and then put on house arrest...and there is hardly any mention of him in Liberated!!! He swoops in for one little ten second cameo (which completely saved the whole operation by the way) and nobody even gives him another thought! Poor Noble!

[Ava Hall]

I started this series 4 years ago and I was soooo glad when this last book was finally released after sitting on that cliff hanger for so long. Honestly I had such a fun time reading this and it was a pretty satisfying conclusion (though maybe a little too cheesy/sappy for my taste). I'm kinda in love with Chan Dao Kai though 🤭

[Megan]

I don't know how I'm supposed to be okay after this book.

[Jodi Thompson]

I absolutely loved this entire series!

[Emma Wright]

Loved this series! It's got all the good elements, suspense, romance, and adventure. I loved seeing the characters overcome. Action packed and fun. I also loved the spiritual elements woven in.