Troy is no longer himself. Kidnapped by the aliens known as Pirans, infected with the essence of the dead General Tohmas, Troy grasps at his only hope of survival. He merges his soul with the alien parasite trying to possess him, leaving him forever changed–and not entirely for the worse. Once plagued by crippling phobias, Troy is now fearless, willing to fight his enemies with his bare hands.

But with this new strength also comes a new weakness: women. Tohmas was notorious for his insatiable desires, and Troy finds himself constantly resisting temptation–especially the gorgeous, manipulative Alta. Although Alta has convinced the Pirans she’s helping them prepare to battle the murderous Reptaurens, she’s actually meticulously planning to steal their ultimate power source and then abandon them to their fate.

Alta won’t hesitate to kill anyone in her way, and her deep love for Tohmas is Troy’s only advantage. He convinces Alta that Tohmas has taken full control of his being and thus keeps her trust and his life.

While Alta schemes, Troy covertly struggles to save the Pirans and prevent the Reptaurens from invading Earth–but first he must wrest back control of his own soul.

Troy has plans for revenge on the Reptauran race that annihilated most of the peaceful people of Pira. Even as the alien species prepare for another attack, this time on Earth, Troy races against the clock; he must find a way around Alta’s control over him, save what remains of the Piran people, prevent an attack on his home planet of Earth, and keep his soul intact from alien technology working to destroy him from within. In this action-packed conclusion to the three part series, Essence Chronicles, Troy realizes he loves Septima, but the merger with the essence of the dead general, Tohmas, has brought strong, insatiable desires Troy cannot control. Will love win in the end or will his Tohmas half destroy the one thing that anchors Troy to his better side?

Troy, with his irrational fears, is the least likely person to lead a war. But that doesn’t mean he can escape his destiny.

A trip to New Orleans with his friends turns deadly when aliens called Pirans kidnap him. A perfect doppelganger for their dead general Tohmas, Troy is thrust into the front lines of battle against Reptauran invaders. To do that, the Piran leaders hatch a plan to convince their own that “Tohmas” rose from the dead and will lead them to victory.

As it turns out, the Piran leaders aren’t totally wrong. Tohmas isn’t quite gone–and his lingering essence has found Troy a suitable host. Troy must fight with everything he’s got to save both Pira and Earth, the Reptaurans’ next likely target. As he fights to maintain control of his own destiny, Troy knows that no matter the outcome, his life will never be the same.

Explore the mind of this unlikely hero in Essence, the first book in a new science fiction series by Nick Braker, a coming-of-age tale full of action, adventure, and aliens!