Novas

by Lou Vane

Novas is the thrilling second instalment in the young adult apocalyptic survival series, Fortune Falls. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Tomorrow, When the War Began.

Struggling in the aftermath of the devastating attack on the Fortune Falls community, Jess fears history will repeat itself when a new group of survivors arrive. With supplies stretched thin, their only hope is to send an expedition far from the safety of the plateau.

Jess joins a team on a perilous journey to find out if other communities have survived. Determined to go with her, Matt and Ethan have to find a way to put aside their growing rivalry, adding further tension to an already volatile situation.

Can the group find the supplies their community needs? Or will the success of their mission be the least of their worries?

Genres: Dystopia, Romance, Young Adult, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Apocalyptic

276 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2022

About the author

Lou Vane is a New Zealand–born, Adelaide-based author of young adult post-apocalyptic fiction. She is best known for the Fortune Falls series, a character-driven survival story that blends high-stakes adventure with found family, loyalty, and the resilience of young people forced to grow up far too quickly.

Inspired by rugged landscapes, mountains, and remote wilderness, Lou’s stories explore what remains when the world falls apart — not just survival, but humanity, connection, and hope. Her writing is known for immersive settings, emotionally grounded characters, and friendships that feel as real as the danger they face.

When she’s not writing (or obsessing over timelines, translations, and audiobooks), Lou can usually be found planning the next adventure, working with her incredible reader community, or daydreaming about hidden valleys and end-of-the-world scenarios.

The Fortune Falls series is available in multiple languages, with audiobooks currently in production.

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️...❀⋆.ೃ࿔*NOVAS°❀⋆.ೃ࿔* Is the thrilling second full length instalment in the young adult apocalyptic survival series (Fortune Falls) by author Lou Vane.

Much like the previous book, I enjoyed this one also, the only niggle is that we only got a glimpse of the time Jess was away from the group for 24 days, nearly the full month that was agreed upon by the group. I really wanted to see her struggles and triumphs whilst she was banished..

This one was faster paced than the previous book. Still barely a glitch in the book when it comes to the romance side of things, even less than the 1st book if that’s even possible. Though love has been declared. I expected a little it more. Many authors tend to shy away from the romance side of things when it comes to this genre, I’m guessing this is the same with this author.

Still a solid 4 star book.

Enjoyed seeing the small group of volunteers leave the mountain refuge, and getting their first glimpse of a changed ravaged world, barely any survivors, but a group is trying to take over what survivors have been found and eliminating others.

Still invested to jump into the next book..

[syd morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this one even more than the first #teamethan sorry not sorry he is just spicy 🤌🏼and I love him 🤌🏼 get lost matt you seem like a good person it’s nothing personal

[Keianna Raee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y'all this book had me in shambles! I'm still not recovered after the things these characters endured together.

I discovered a newfound love for this series, Novas is the second installment to a young adult apocalypse story. In this we get to discover new characters and the complications and solutions they bring to our main group. I never caught myself getting bored as every page had brought on something new.

I truly enjoyed Novas a lot better than the first. Don't get me wrong I liked Fortune Falls it was the perfect foundation. But I found myself more engaged with the characters especially with jess after what her and Dean were put through. I adore the both of them with everything I have, they're such characters.

The plot stacks higher and stronger, delving deeper with the virus and the effect it has.

This love tringle this book has going on will be the death of me. I honestly couldn't choose between them, they're both perfect for Jess. She shares the best moments with each of them and it gets me choking on air. They both have their own special relationship with Jess, and I just can't stop loving them.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an ok read but the ending left me intrigued so gonna continue with the series even though I said I wouldn't 😂

[Carly W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this book was good! Fortune Falls was a perfect first installment to this series and laid a perfect foundation for the plot and character’s relationships and personalities, but this second book was nerve-wracking. The stakes were so much higher and the group wasn’t safe in the confines of the bunker ! I loved reading more about the situation in society and how messed up the virus has made things.

Gosh, it must really suck not knowing what has happened to your loved ones but having to persevere regardless!

I really think Ethan is perfect for Jess and I’m obsessed with his wittiness and caring nature! I’m sorta leaning towards him a tad more, but Matt is just so sweet and I have a soft spot for sweethearts<3 Freaking love triangles😂

That cliffhanger was intense, but I can’t wait to pick up the next book!

[Mary-jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy in return for an honest review.

I love this book, its a great follow up to fortune falls.

New survivors, new challenges and plenty of action following the group.

It was worth the wait, I'm already looking forward to more.

[BookD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’M LOVING THIS SERIES!!

Another action-filled, hard to put down book in this series!! I love the characters and the world building in this Survival/Post Apocalyptic series!!

I love Jess! Also Dean, Ethan, Matt and I’m starting to like, and trust, Aaron (although I still worry he’ll let me down). They’re now out in the world, away from the isolation of the mountains, and it’s a cruel world that they find. There are two groups to fear - The Chosen (the immune) and The Royals (those who survived the virus and are forever changed). These two groups are at war, and our NOVA group (Jess, Katie, Aaron, Dean, Ethan & Matt) are caught up in the middle of it all.

Left off on another cliff-hanger, I need book 3 NOW!! I ordered it and am waiting for it to arrive!! This is an AWESOME and pretty ADDICTIVE series! If you enjoy Post Apocalyptic and Survival Stories, I highly recommend this one!!

*FYI…a strange thing. The paperback copy I bought of this book from Amazon came with 2 pages from Dracula, upside down, at the start of the book. I could have exchanged it, but I was impatient to read it. Too bad, because I hate having it in my library. Someday I’ll get a better copy, but I’m restricting my spending right now and need to get the rest of the series. I just wish I could have bought it from B&N because Amazon has sent so many physically messed up books and B&N never has. Oh well…

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t a bad series, 4 stars for the storyline but I’m not going to continue because it’s just too YA for me in the interaction lol

[Whitney Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really good. It had a good plot line with good characters, and the love triangle continues, overall so far a good distopian apocalyptic book

[Jasmijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Started a bit slow and since I forgot what happened in the first book, I was a bit confused with al the names. Halfway through, the more exciting part started and it was a lot of fun to read.

[Amy (Sun) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was somehow better and worse than the first one for me. Better because I liked the plot better and it felt like a lot of things were happening. Worse because the love triangle stuff seemed a lot more... pointed and pointLESS. I'd say I wish she'd just pick one of them, but she HAS, yet we still keep getting the second guy pushed at her. Ugh.

Anyway I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. I enjoy apocalypse stuff in general, though I do think the people in these books (especially Jess) make a lot of dumb decisions. And the end was a bit abrupt. I'll probably read the last one, if only to see what happens.

[Jason Marchingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cliffhanger! This second installment of Fortune Falls - Novas, introduces so many new characters at different intervals, and provides an insight in to the intense reality of what is happening in the real world.

As the group of young adults adventure away from their newfound comforts and safety (well, partially) from book 1, they really step up to the plate and take on board their new responsibilities with next to no complaints.

The introduction to different perspectives and survivors which was to be expected, was really enjoyable in that their demeanour and behaviours were quirky, humour filled and almost made you want to stay with them for longer than we did.

Like the first book and novella, this is action packed and is also relatable and gave so many moments of ‘what if this was real’ and ‘what would I do in that situation’.

The ending was one that had my mouth drop to the floor in anticipation and anxiety and I can’t wait to dive in to book 3 - The Ark.

Lou, thank you again for sharing this experience with me, and the rest of the world..you deserve as much recognition as you can get. Needless to say I’ll be venturing further in to this universe very soon, and have a feeling that you’re going to rip my heart out when this comes to an end.. I’m so invested now!!

5 stars. Go and pick up Fortune Falls, book 1, asap, and join me on this adventure!

[Carrie O'Dell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novas

I am totally hooked on these books! So well written, I just adore Jess. Not sure why, but I’m rooting for Ethan and not Matt.. for some reason Ethan stands out more 🤷🏼‍♀️ and I love Dean.. he’s so funny. Great series so far.. off to read book 3

[Rosalinda Valdez · Rating 4 out of 5]

hate the love triangle but i like the plot fav guys are dean and aaron ! jess has improved a bit i like her more now #teammatt

[Krisztina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️

[Sineade Mcgrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, I had been looking for something that was similar to the hunger games or the 100 and this was perfect. One of my new favs, I have already started the second book Novas!

[Mélody Bourgeault · Rating 5 out of 5]

C’était TELLEMENT bon! Honnêtement, dès que je lis plus qu’un chapitre, je ne peux pas m’arrêter. Il faut que je sache ce qui se passe dans le prochain😂

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay so im kinda mixed on this one but overall i still liked it. in the first book i absolutely hated the love triangle content but in this book, i love it. it seemed natural and was not overdone. it was much more believable and i was able to relate to it a lot more.

in my review of the first book i said there were a lot of "immature" relationships and interactions, i dont feel the same in this book. i did also read somewhere that the first book in the series was the authors first book, so that could explain the change in writing style a bit. i feel like this helped me connect and relate with the characters a but more which resulted in me being way more engaged in the book.

the first book also hardly gave us any information on the virus, which makes sense because the characters didnt know much, BUT i wanted them to talk about it more because i sometimes forget there was even a virus and would find myself forgetting why they were even in the situations they were in at times. this book though focused on it a lot more and truly made it feel like an apocalyptic series. so learning more about the virus was a huge plus for me.

one thing i didnt really like was how i felt that not much happened. the first book seemed like there was a lot going on and a lot of different side things going on. this book was just one plot line it felt like, which is fine, but it left me waiting more to have happened in this particular book.

with that being said however, I AM OBSESSED with how it ended. such a cliffhanger. i cant wait to start the next one.

[robyn dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really need to go back and review the first book...

....which I didn't do. I have to say that overall these stories are very, very well-written with well drawn characters and actually believable action. Very little of what happens in either the first or second novels reads as forced or... well, made up. They are quite good. And even though it is billed as a young adult book, the characters are quite sophisticated. I believe there was a warning in the first novel's description about "zombie-like" characters in future books, so I was hesitant to read them but the zombies haven't shown up yet.
One small criticism is that I never knew where I was. What I mean is was this the United States? England? Australia? Or some invented world or a future time. I strongly suspect that the author is English or Australian, based on the word choice in some case (motorway, torch, paracetamol). These aren't words used in the States. This isn't exactly critical but does leave one mentally floundering sometimes and really makes all the dispiciously places superfluous. This. especially true if these towns aren't real in any country.
Nevertheless it is a great read. Well worth the time.
Respectively,

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Fortune Falls series and while it was slightly better and ending with more intrigued, it was still a tad cumbersome to get through.

The stakes are higher for Jess and the team, with the community within the bunker getting bigger, supplies getting low and tensions between individuals getting higher. They embark on an expedition back into the suburbs and city, which leads to some answers, but even more questions and unexpected danger.

I enjoyed the virus, lab and vaccination details that came with this instalment, along with the introduction of the Chosen ones and the Royals. The abilities that come from the vaccination, I thought was pretty cool too.

It is however slightly too dramatic in parts and the characters are a bit too resilient and perfect, while it did show a bit more emotion, things were just a bit too unrealistic, especially being that they are all teenagers. The love triangle between Jess, Matt and Ethan also annoyed me and had rolling my eyes over and over again - I feel this part in the story brings down a notch.

The ending with the Chosen Ones has left me intrigued emought that I’ve decided that I will continue on with the series - so up next is The Ark.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novas is so much more suspenseful than Fortune Falls. Of course now that they know what happened in the world, they decide its best to stay at the bunker. They work to build the indoor gardens and just staying alive until new people show up, the owners of the bunker.

Things change now that these extra people are there, especially because they brought children with them. Of course, things get tense as the original group things they might get kicked out of the bunker. Beside it comes to that, they get hit with something unexpected. A possible cure. Now they are have a reason to fight and continue.

I really enjoyed this book. The original group become like a family, some more than others. They realize they are the odd ones out and have to stay together no matter what. I love that it become a found family, with friendships, relationships, and pain. I can’t wait to see what the third book has to offer.

[Marie Spring · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my remembrance:
So in the last book Jess was sent to the cabin for a month. 21 days ish in this, a group of people approach the cabin and she bolts back to the bunker. Turns out this are some of the Jacobs family who own the bunker so they start to share it. Then Jess and a group get a vaccine from the main Jacob’s guy who’s made it. They then go into the city to find more of the cure components. They find out some people are immune and some have gotten infected but survived with zero memory and purple eyes. An attack ensues and Jess is shot in the arm but all good. They things it’s all happy days as they make their way back to the bunker however they’re kidnapped by a group of people who kill those who aren’t true immune and they basically say they’re going to decided whether they’re accepted into the group, even if they don’t want to, or they’re going to be killed. Then it’s the next book.

[Starr Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Lou Vane! I haven't read a book this quickly in a while and found it hard to stop turning the pages.

After the owners of the bunker arrive to take over, Jess and her friends realize their lives could be in danger. But a potential cure could change everything...assuming they can find everything necessary to make the cure and distribute it. Jess and a handful of companions leave the safety of the bunker and venture into the world. What greets them is far from hope-inducing.

Character dynamics are intensified as the stakes become even more dangerous for everyone. If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories with a lingering sense of hope (something rarely found in books like this), you need to read this series. Some of the reactions and themes to the outbreak ring far too close to reality, and it will give you chills to think how our world could have ended.

[Bek ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m hooked! Novas, the second installment in the Fortune Falls series, has me invested.

This young adult apocalypse story introduces new characters, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The pacing is relentless, with every page turning up the ante.

I enjoyed Novas slightly more than the first book, Fortune Falls. The character development shines, particularly with Jess.

The love triangle is skillfully woven, leaving me torn.

The plot intensifies, raising stakes and deepening the world-building.

But, be warned: Lou Vane ends Novas on a heart-stopping cliffhanger! I’m eager to dive into the next book.

If you’re a fan of YA dystopian fiction, add Novas to your reading list. Prepare for an emotional ride!

[Jennah Sobevski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Maze Runner meets Insurgent

This series is absolutely amazing, a real page turner!

Jess has been exiled from the safety of the bunker, but when her life is in danger from an outside threat she decides ‘better the devil you know’ and returns to warn her friends.

What comes next is a mission to be able to mass-produce the vaccine that will protect from the outbreak.

This is by far one of the best apocalyptic series I have ever read and I am desperate for the next book to come out. Every plot-line has been well thought out and executed. I am so invested in these characters right now…it’s going to be impossible to wait for the next book!

[Michelle Ebraheem · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s no waiting to get into the action in this book. All characters have been introduced in the first book, and the author is not making us wait any longer.

Exciting from beginning to end. The throuple continues but with one main pair as the focus. I loved the way their relationship was presented in the book. Still individuals but providing unconditional support and love.

The author did a great job transitioning the reader from one friend group to another. You will fall for the “Novas” as a whole.

Ends with the perfect setup for the next book. Get ready to NEED to read #3 after this one.

[Saffad Jian · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 word. ADDICTIVE.
This book…actually this series is going to be my new favorite. I just know it is. The deeper I get into the series the more addicted I am to the plot and I’m very very attached to the characters. I’m currently delusional because I keep thinking they’re my real friends……anyway, this series is very captivating and it’s such an easy read. If you’re in a reading slump and need something to read, this series is it. It’s very easy to understand and the author has a way of writing that makes it such an easy book. it’s not boring at allllllll. I’m 100% going to be continuing this series.

[Camelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend it!!! I like how the new friends are formed, and the triangle between Jess, Ethan and Matt is delicious. I haven't laughed so hard at a book series in a long time. Dean is hilarious at what he says. When they all got vaccinated, I would have liked more of the scenes, especially with Ethan and Jess. It's clear that I have a favorite. And the friendship that develops between Aaron and Jess is unexpected. Oh, and I forgot about the scene with the kids on the plane and when they arrived in the bunker and Charlie recognized them. I really didn't expect it. However, I'm thinking about this vaccine and if the kidnappers have a grain of truth or something. It remains to be seen.

[Lisa Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

And it continues! A great sequel by Lou Vane to continue the story of Jess and her companions in the new world. Lou's style of writing makes for easy reading that seamlessly flows. The story line kept me hooked to the very last page ... and beyond. I cannot wait to read book three and find out what's happening next! I loved the progression of the plot as well as the character development. We see a more mature Jess as she tackles new obstacles in a world we can only imagine through the vivid imagination of this author. A must read for those who love dystopian!

[Jacqueline Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't decide if I'm #teamethan or #teammatt !! Is there anything more delicious than a love triangle between different but equally awesome characters?
Lou Vane has masterfully layered so many elements in this apocalyptic story, and I completely binged book 2. There are the expected hurdles associated with facing the end of the world, but there's also so much more; morality, relationships, survival. Jess' growth as a character was exceptional and the world-building is superb - I lived in this book!
I can. not. wait. for book 3!