First published 1998
The war is over, but Aiah's troubles have only begun. Constantine, the leader she helped create, now demands she recruit plasm divers for his ruthless mission to eliminate the Silver Hand. She must work alongside a monstrous being who emerges from hiding only to bring death and destruction. As Constantine's methods grow more extreme, Aiah finds herself caught between loyalty and conscience. The political machinations threaten to consume everything she values, while dangerous secrets about her own background surface. Behind the Shield, ancient mysteries wait to be revealed. Aiah discovers truths about her heritage that change everything she believed about herself and her world. She must navigate treacherous alliances and face the consequences of the power she helped unleash.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Shield
Period: post-war
563 pages · Mass Market Paperback · HarperCollins Publishers
Content warnings: violence