This isn't brain rot; it's a brain workout. Barnes knows exactly how to hook readers with the 'found family' trope while keeping the intellectual stakes high.

It's the fourth book, so don't jump in here—start at book one—but for fans of the series, this is a solid expansion that doesn't feel like a cash grab. It handles the transition from the original trilogy well by focusing on character depth rather than just bigger explosions. If your kid is into mysteries, this is about as good as modern YA gets.