Alexandra Sirowy introduces a chilling excerpt from her new YA thriller, First We Were IV. Plus, enter for a chance to win signed books!

In First We Were IV, Alexandra Sirowy (author of The Telling and The Creeping) presents a twisted tale of childhood loyalties, secret societies, and the cost of losing — and holding on to — love.

Determined to preserve their lifelong friendship as college approaches, Izzie, Viv, Graham, and Harry secretly form the “Order of IV.” But what begins as a private settling of scores and mischievous revenge soon begins to attract attention. As the stakes rise and the danger spirals, Izzie and the Order of IV discover the terrifying lengths to which someone will go to save a friendship.

Love, it turns out, can come with a devastating price tag.

Alexandra Sirowy on the opening of ‘First We Were IV’

I wanted to begin First We Were IV with a glimpse of its tragic near-end, a night two months in the future for our four seventeen-year-old protagonists – Izzie, Graham, Viv, and Harry. I love making characters spin out of control in my thrillers, ratcheting up the tension until everyone is near their breaking point. FIRST WE WERE IV begins with that breaking point and it’s the excerpt you’re about to read.

Our four heroes are the inventors of a secret society that was supposed to bond them for life. Invisible forces like friendship, love, revenge, and power have collided with explosive effects. The teens’ invention has taken on a life of its own. And things have gone very very wrong.

The story that unravels after this initial scene, is a story of secrets, lies, rebellion, vigilante-pranks, the search for justice, love, betrayal, and friendship. Thematically, it’s an exploration of how four seemingly ordinary teens end up committing extraordinarily brave, reckless, and revolutionary deeds; how far they go for what they believe in; and how much they’re willing to sacrifice for revenge.

Our excerpt begins with the aftermath.

Hypable is giving away five signed copies of Sirowy’s second novel, The Telling. Enter to win below!

This giveaway is open to readers in the United States and Canada.

First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy will be released on July 25, 2017. Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and your local independent bookstore.