The only thing worse than being invaded from outer space is being invaded by conquerors who are themselves on the verge of a civil war.

The Illyri, who rule a near-future Earth in Conquest by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard (Headline, £12.99), are close enough to human to be indistinguishable in a poor light. Their brand of imperialism is familiar too - a veneer of cultured civilisation and noblesse oblige is used to legitimise ruthless and bloody exploitation.

In Scotland at least the resistance fights on and, in this first instalment of a new series, one of its young leaders finds his life inextricably entwined with that of the first Illyri ever to be born on Earth - the embattled Governor's teenage daughter. Exciting and satisfying all the way through, this might be the book you're looking for if you're hoping to infect a young reader with the SF bug.