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Litmus #2

Protecting William

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William has always been destined for great things. With his family being one of the most respected in the country, he has a lot to live up to.

All Will wants to do, just for one night is to forget about responsibility and obligation. He wants to go out, have fun, and enjoy being a regular teenager; to forget he has the surname Daniels. Maybe that's why his older sister, Nuka, ran away and hasn't been seen since - the family pressure breathing down her neck got too much.

Sneaking out with his best friend, Seth, Will finds himself in the depths of the exclusive underground fight club, Litmus. The plan was to watch. The plan definitely wasn't to compete. Finding Nuka among the competitors changes that.

***

Litmus is a spin-off of The Institute Series. While it is set in the same world, and characters from The Institute make appearances, it can be read as a separate series.
Protecting William is upper YA, suitable for people fifteen years and older.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2016

43 people are currently reading
52 people want to read

About the author

Kayla Howarth

8 books189 followers
As a writer, I lead an extremely exciting life. When I'm not base jumping, playing my guitar and singing for a sold-out crowd, or having tea with the queen... Okay, all of these things are lies.

The truth is, I live on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, with my husband and son and you'll most likely find me with my laptop on my lap and a coffee in my hand.

Obsessed with YA fiction, I'm still a teenager at heart and live all of my exciting experiences through reading and writing.

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5 stars
122 (62%)
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53 (27%)
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18 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for SheReads.
700 reviews91 followers
August 25, 2016
Oh my gosh - this book is so amazeballs! Losing Nuka ends on such a crazy cliff hanger that I wanted to strangle the author, but this was worth the wait.

It picks up right where we left off in the nightclub for people like Nuka and William, defectives - although they aren't called that anymore. And just as I imagined in all that time waiting, the reunion of brother and sister is explosive, almost literally. What follows is a story that so crazy I read it in two sittings. Everything moves so quickly that you have that constant "oh mer gerd!" Feeling. No joke.

I didn't think it was possible, but I like William and Sasha even better than Nuka and Brett.
Profile Image for Michelle Bryan.
Author 33 books221 followers
September 4, 2016
Losing Nuka was incredible, so I couldn't wait for this next book in the series. I was not disappointed.
Protecting William starts out with a bang and does not lose momentum. The fast paced action and Howarth's trademark sassy humor is in fine form. William and Sasha's relationship is one of the best aspects of this book. I loved them as a couple. I think they are by far my favorite out of the whole Institute series.
The plot is amazing, the writing spectacular, and the characters well developed. This is definitely an author to watch. I cannot wait for the final book. I know it's gonna be epic! 5 out of 5 shiny stars.
Profile Image for Kai.
74 reviews24 followers
September 13, 2016
Ok, I'll admit I liked Nuka's story better than Will's. I think that has more to do with the fact that the Litmus world was so new. With this second book I already knew wheat to expect. I did really like how this story developed. We got to know Will who is definitely his mother's child with a little bit of Chad sprinkled in. It was also good seeing more of Sasha in all her badassness.

This ending has my mind thinking of all kinds of possibilities. Hmmmm.. I bet the one who Will considers the hero is involved. (Not going to say his/her name). Definitely staying tuned for book 3.
Profile Image for Christine Bishop.
525 reviews
May 4, 2017
Awesome

Well I didn't think I could love these characters as much as I loved kaylas`s characters from the Institute but I love them just as much if not more. Nuka, William, sasha, Brett are all awesome and I can't wait to read about Illy. I love this whole world and cant wait to read book 3.
Profile Image for Dawn.
214 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2017
Will and Sasha. So glad the story stayed true to the first one and we got to know Nuka's little brother and see him fall for her sister. Oh what a tangled web with drama and action continued from Nuka's story.
270 reviews6 followers
February 3, 2020
Awesome Read!

William proved to be a contender in the Arena, just like Nuka! This book will keep you on your toes, til the end of the book! I highly recommend this book to everyone ! Very Entertaining!
978 reviews2 followers
November 10, 2019
Excellent

Wow, another action packed and exciting book in the Litmus trilogy. I feel as though I know all of this incredible extended family. Now, for book 3...
Profile Image for Wendy Shores.
82 reviews10 followers
February 8, 2025
I have devoured this series and its beyond good! Its kept me reading long after I should have gone to sleep and I love the characters. I am on the last book of the series now and still reading! I cant help but wonder, what comes next!? I hope the author is either writing another book for the series or this last book ends with a finality to the story. Love this series!
Profile Image for Bethany.
Author 22 books98 followers
August 27, 2016
After the way Losing Nuka ended, I couldn't wait for this one and wasn't disappointed. I love the way each book is from a different POV. The first one was obviously Nuka's and this one was William's. It gave us insight on the Defective society and Litmus through different eyes.

William goes into Litmus with the intentions to let loose and enjoy a night out with his friend Seth. However, that all changes when he finds himself in the fighting ring and is reunited with his sister, Nuka, who he thinks just ran away. It isn't long before he finds himself entangled in the spiderweb that is Litmus. Wanting to get his sister along with the feisty Sasha out, he joins as a permanent fighter while looking for evidence to bring Litmus down for good.

William discovers friends and enemies while in Litmus and struggles to uncover the evidence he needs, especially when he finds himself distracted by Sasha. I love the relationship between them two and it kept me turning the pages quickly, wanting to see what happened.

Kayla Howarth did an amazing job on this one too and I love the world she's created. I can't wait for more from this author. Fans of the Institute won't want to miss out on this series.
Profile Image for Patrick Hodges.
Author 48 books122 followers
September 25, 2016
I'm a huge fan of Kayla Howarth's Institute Series, so when I found out she was switching gears slightly yet staying in the same universe for the Litmus Series, I was stoked. Despite having a plethora of familiar characters, Losing Nuka was a completely different kind of story, yet it still retained Ms. Howarth's unique brand of crisp writing, unique plot-lines and snarky (oh, SO snarky) humor.

Several years after his big sister Nuka left home to become the equivalent of a super-powered MMA fighter in an underground (read: illegal) fighting league known as Litmus, William it taken aback when he runs into her quite by accident. This encounter triggers his own super-power, and soon he is swept up into the same dangerous world that Nuka is unable to escape. She is not happy, and him Mum, Allira, is even less enthused.

What he doesn't count on is falling ass-over-teakettle-in-love with Sasha, Nuka's (biological) sister. What could possibly go wrong? (Answer: A LOT.)

I won't spoil anything, save to say that I got what I've come to expect from Ms. Howarth - a fun, easy-to-read, rollicking story with great characters, action, romance and plenty of twists. I am a fan for life. Saving Illyana, the sure to be gripping conclusion, can't come fast enough for me.



Profile Image for Ms. Just One More Book  (Kris Miller).
154 reviews16 followers
January 28, 2017
William hasn't seen or heard from his sister Nuka in over four years. He had all but given up hope that he would ever see her again. That is, until the night he and his best friend Seth sneak out to find the infamous, and highly illegal, fight club Litmus. Finding Nuka, knowing she and her sister Sasha are prisoners, and learning that his family has known about this for years, is more than William can take. Despite their warnings for him to stay away, William involves himself, leading to a dangerous and deadly path.

This book, now told from William's POV, picks up exactly where 'Losing Nuka' left off. With the fast pace action that I've come to expect from Kayla Howarth, the thrills never stop. Nor do the unexpected twists and turns. The cast of characters are well rounded, and just completely work together. Filled with a great combination of tension and humor, the story flies by leaving you wanting more at the end. And while I loved Losing Nuka, this one was even better!
Profile Image for Dawn.
56 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2016
Okay, so I really, really liked Losing Nuka, and the ending left me waiting for William’s story. Now I'm so happy that the day finally arrived!! And I'm rewarded with yet another amazing story from Howarth.

This book has everything in it that I like INCLUDING romance. Yay! I loved the developing relationship between the two main characters as much as I loved the main storyline. It was well thought out and just worked.

I'm not recapping on anything else because I'm afraid I'll spoil it. I will say, I didn't think Losing Nuka could be beaten, but I enjoyed Protecting William even more. I'm so ready for the last installment.
Profile Image for L.J. Higgins.
Author 25 books46 followers
August 26, 2016
After being left on a cliff hanger at the end of Losing Nuka, I couldn’t wait to read Protecting William and it didn’t disappoint.
The story picks straight back up where we were left at the end of Book One and the long anticipated reunion of William and Nuka is better than I could imagine. Williams’s introduction to Nuka’s new life is definitely a baptism of fire, which drags you straight back into the story.
Although William’s story has the same setting and fast pace as Nuka’s, the story remained interesting and I loved how Williams relationship developed with Sasha.
All I can say is bring on Book Three of the Litmus Series!
Profile Image for Kelly.
16 reviews
August 2, 2018
Amazing read

This book is wonderfully written, with a great plot and cast of characters. Ms. Howarth has done it again with Protecting William. I'm eagerly awaiting the 3rd book. What happened to Illiyana?
11 reviews
May 26, 2017
I have enjoyed this entire series and was not disappointed with this last episode.
The characters are beautifully drawn and although it might help if you had read the preceding books, this stands alone quite nicely.
Would recommend to those who like an easy read with a great plot.
Profile Image for Manu Puri.
1 review1 follower
April 13, 2017
Boogey oogey

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Nsbwhjsnsbsj she said she s s s s s I am going to go outside around. I am. Can u. play Xbox. soon soon soon. soon as I am. in going. to to go to. 7 11. I can. Can u play Forza I. am am going. to to go to 7 11 and and I. have a. good good. I. am. am am. I. am. am am going. I am going. to to to to go. I. I have. the to. do u have. school tomorrow. but your your parents. drop. off my. data. E. Can u. play Xbox soon. I am
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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