The Scorpion Rules

The children of world leaders are held hostage in an attempt to keep the peace in this "slyly humorous, starkly thought-provoking" ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) novel. Greta is a Duchess and a Crown Princess. She is also a Child of Peace, a hostage held by the de facto ruler of the world, the great Artificial Intelligence, Talis. This is how the game is played: if you want to rule, you must give one of your children as a hostage. Start a war...