The Surface Trials

An epic page-turner full of twists you won't see coming, set on an alien planet where, under the watch of a galaxy-wide TV audience, Ammy Antares and her fellow competitors must complete a challenging quest to gain entry into an elite interplanetary academy.

NOTABLE BOOK: 2026 CBCA Book of the Year, Younger Readers

'It's like an interplanetary version of Survivor meets The Amazing Race, but with way more death vines and alien venom.' Better Reading

Three days, three clues, one hungry planet.
Constant surveillance.
The entire universe watching every move.
Some will shatter. Most will fail.
A select few will make it through, instant celebrities.

Welcome to the Surface Trials. The only way into Starquest Academy.

For Amethyst Antares, Starquest Academy offers an escape from the prison of her home planet. For Rian - the uber-famous and expertly disguised heir to the universe's two greatest dynasties - failure to get into his own academy is not an option. And Deneb? Well, he's an outlier.

But this year not everything goes to plan, and Amethyst and her squad find themselves playing for more than Starquest admission. To survive, they'll have to outsmart carnivorous creatures, share dangerous secrets, maintain trust and embrace the most shocking truth in the galaxy.

Set on a fascinating yet hostile alien planet, this pulse-pounding, high-stakes, elimination-quest novel will have readers on the edge of their seats.

'HM Waugh writes completely unputdownable stories that will keep you up late - if she's writing it, I'm reading it.' Amie Kaufman, NYT bestselling author

'A contest, a journey, a mysterious artefact, this novel never lets up the pace or thrills. I loved it! It's the kind of book I longed for as a child. Full of thrills, mysteries and kids out there kicking it!' Bren MacDibble, bestselling author of HOW TO BEE and THE DOG RUNNER

'It has everything I love in a story: high stakes, dangerous secrets, and smart kids facing overwhelming odds. Plus space! A wonderfully exciting new book from HM Waugh.' Lian Tanner, bestselling author of MUSEUM OF THIEVES

'Brilliant! Original, riveting and hugely fun.' Jaclyn Moriarty, bestselling author of the KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES series
'The Surface Trials is exactly what I want in a science-fiction book. I can't recommend it enough.' Dani Solomon, Readings

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.