On an isolated planet where unity is as engineered as its people, Jesse seeks the truth behind the slaughter of his family-starting with the immortal who spared him.
A century ago, two human lines nearly wiped each other out rather than acknowledge their shared humanity. But when Jesse's mining town is slaughtered under mysterious circumstances, it's clear ancient bigotries linger, and rebels have access to some magic or tech capable of wide-scale genocide.
The Red Demon bloodied her swords in that massacre-a bioengineered immortal left over from that century old war. Jesse expected to be upholding his empire's fragile peace, not killing her own. Jesse is too optimistic and stubborn to break. Better days are coming-and he's willing to take on an immortal to ensure they do.
Faruhar, the so-called Red Demon, is not the mastermind Jesse expects. Her fragmented mind is ravaged by guilt over crimes she cannot remember committing, and a code impressed on her by a few kind people she cannot forget.
A fast-paced science fantasy with tense fight scenes, a spicy romantic subplot, and a twisty plot that punches you in the feels. Fans of Pierce Brown's Red Rising and R.F. Kuang's Poppy War Trilogy will appreciate this book.
About the AuthorSpada, Maria: - Maria Spada's life revolves around books. She is a book collector, book seller, and a book cover designer from the tropical island of Cebu, Philippines.
Christopoulou, Danai: - "Danai Christopoulou Danai Christopoulou is a Greek author and editor. Danai's writing has appeared in Glamour, Marie Claire, kh¿ré¿, Fusion Fragment, Flame Tree Press, Writer's Digest and more, nominated for a Pushcart Prize and for a Best of Small Fictions, and featured on the Nebula and Stoker recommended reading lists - and their debut novel comes out in 2026 from Penguin UK. When not writing, Danai is an editor for Hugo-nominated kh¿ré¿ magazine, a freelance dev and line editor, and an assistant literary agent at The Tobias Literary Agency. You can find them on social media at @danaiwrites or work with them at https: //chronovoros.com/?page_id=279"
Bihagia, Sill: - Sill is a parent, sword afficionado, data analyst and suburban chicken farmer from Maryland. Many of their stories come from vivid dreams with fight scenes and recurring characters. After over twenty years of my brain haunting them, writing is now a primary priority in their life. They love mature approachable prose, witty dialog and twisty enemies-to-lovers subplots. Expect complex characters, emotional devastation, and (eventually) hopeful themes. Their world building geeks out into neuroscience, genetics, psychology, and mycology.