Books like Lies by Michael Grant

Seven months have passed since the Cheggs disappeared overnight, leaving a desolate landscape and a lingering sense of loss among the children. A girl who died the night of the disappearance now walks among the living, while Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach in a desperate bid to undermine the forces that hold them captive. In the blaze, Sam sees the apparition of Drake—a fellow child and former ally—who, despite being declared dead, returns with a deadly purpose. Alongside Sam and Caine, who believed they had defeated him and the darkness, new battles erupt: Astrid clashes with the Town Council, the Human Crew fights against mutants, and Sam faces Drake again, determined to finish the unfinished business. Amid the chaos, rumors spread like wildfire, fueled by the prophetess Orsay and her companion Nerezza. They claim that death is a path to escape the frightening FAYZ, intensifying the desperation of children eager to leave—yet uncertain whether death truly offers freedom. In this grim reality, the Cheggs, though vanished, remain the dominant force that shapes every decision and hope.

First publish date: 2010