Everything she wanted. Everything to lose.
She has never felt this strong. So why does it feel like everyone's trying to hold her back?
Olive is so close to realising her dreams. With her final year of high school looming, she’s got a lot on her plate, but she can handle it… right?
Her training. Her boyfriend. Her schoolwork. Her friends. But then a new boy arrives, showing her a different world, and a different side of herself. As she prepares for the fight she’s risked everything for—the same stage where her mother once competed—the past refuses to stay buried.
A stranger who isn't quite a stranger, holding a secret that will change everything Olive and Boyan thought they knew about where they came from.
In this powerful second book of the 'OSU Rising' series, Sensei Sarhn returns to the dojo with an empowering and gripping story of ambition, family secrets, and the challenge of forging her own path without losing herself in the process.
Because for Olive, the hardest fight was never going to be on the mat.
Perfect for fans of:
- Sarah Dessen’s heart-tugging character arcs, the empowering ambition found in Ali Hazelwood’s YA novels
- Karate Kid and Cobra Kai
- Uplifting teen fiction with a heart-pounding edge
- YA contemporary fiction books that stay grounded in reality
- No spice books for YA readers who prioritise emotional depth and intense character arcs over adult content
- Stories about coming of age for girls and boys who are wanting to take control of their own future
Tropes:
- Inner Warrior
- Found Family
- The Coming-of-Age Crossroads
- The Overachiever’s Wall
- First Love vs. Next Chapter
"Touching story of a teen finding peace and power in karate."
- BookLife by Publishers Weekly
