Queen of Mars — Al Sarrantonio

Young Princess Clara of Mars now wears the endangered crown once worn by the grandmother, Queen Haydn, and her father, King Sebastian--both slain by the warrior-usurper Frane before her birth. As Clara uneasily holds her world together, Frane has resufaced--aged now, but wicked beyond her years--for one last, climactic battle.

But more than just the freedom of her people is at stake. The Red Planet is dying, the atmosphere gradually leaking away. Unless Frans's crazed army is defeated, Clara's scientists will not be able to activate the oxygenation stations left behind by the mysterious Old Ones to replenish the air supply. Now Clara must lead the Second Republic to victory and unlock the long-lost secrets of the Old Ones--or life on Mars will cease to exist...