Keepers of the Flame: Origins Series by Cate Morgan

Aika Lareto's life comes apart at the seams during one fatal trip to London. Just as her fiancé's career as a photojournalist comes together, chaos and destruction ends all their dreams. Suddenly everything she thought she knew turns to smoke. And there's a lot of smoke these days, as London is systematically destroyed in what is becoming known as the Second Blitz... moreAika Lareto's life comes apart at the seams during one fatal trip to London. Just as her fiancé's career as a photojournalist comes together, chaos and destruction ends all their dreams. Suddenly everything she thought she knew turns to smoke. And there's a lot of smoke these days, as London is systematically destroyed in what is becoming known as the Second Blitz. Then a mysterious old man reveals she's a Keeper of the Flame, a champion destined to fight for humanity in the coming apocalypse. Aika isn't interested; what she wants is to return home to Ireland to grieve a broken heart. When she can't get out of London, joining the city militia seems the next best thing. It is there The Agent find her, and recruits her into Dreamtech--would be government conglomerate with a plan to save the city. The question is, are they saving it from war--or for themselves? less

He may be her first Greater Demon–but he will not be her last. Then, on Valentine’s Day 1929, seven men are lined up against the brick wall of a garage on North Clark Street and massacred—and it isn’t long before Callie realizes she could have stopped it. But by the time she discovers the full truth it’s far too late to extricate herself from its effects as a mere human. Taking a bullet meant for Johnny Sinclair is not her idea of a roaring good time... moreHe may be her first Greater Demon–but he will not be her last. Then, on Valentine’s Day 1929, seven men are lined up against the brick wall of a garage on North Clark Street and massacred—and it isn’t long before Callie realizes she could have stopped it. But by the time she discovers the full truth it’s far too late to extricate herself from its effects as a mere human. Taking a bullet meant for Johnny Sinclair is not her idea of a roaring good time. Neither is learning he’s not the “business man” he purports to be, but Mestopheles—demon of the Crossroads, collector of souls. But finding out she’s a Keeper of the Flame, champion for humanity in the coming apocalypse, gives her the strength and drive to pursue him in a hunt that spans five decades and two cities—even as he hunts her in turn. less

It's the Seven-Year War, what no one dares call World War III, and Tara Fitzpatrick is a young immigrant lost in the child welfare system of New York City during a series of devastating attacks. It is there she meets Stephen Mitchell, a scrawny but brilliant orphan who attaches himself to her almost immediately, proving himself a good and loyal friend. But Tara is simmering in grief and righteous anger, and it's only growing worse... moreIt's the Seven-Year War, what no one dares call World War III, and Tara Fitzpatrick is a young immigrant lost in the child welfare system of New York City during a series of devastating attacks. It is there she meets Stephen Mitchell, a scrawny but brilliant orphan who attaches himself to her almost immediately, proving himself a good and loyal friend. But Tara is simmering in grief and righteous anger, and it's only growing worse. It is this anger that leads her to the decision to follow the example of the city's war refugees to re-establish themselves in the growing shanty villages of Central Park. On the day of her and Stephen's escape, more attacks curtail their plans, until a group of school misfits persuade her to let them come, too. A trek across the city leads turns dangerous for them all as they are repeatedly attacked or ambushed on the way, and not always by things strictly human. And even Central Park isn't as safe as she initially hoped. A would-be kingpin of the Park takes exception to Tara's independent leadership of the Children's Shanties, and he soon proves more dangerous than anything she encountered on the streets. less