Part of Pern, book 19
First published 1987
A devastating plague sweeps across Pern while Kindan trains as a harper at the Hall. The invisible killer claims lives without mercy, and not even the mighty dragonriders can stop its advance. Kindan joins his fellow apprentices in a frantic hunt for a cure as death counts rise around them. The young harpers push themselves to exhaustion, understanding that their world faces extinction if they fail. Amid this chaos, Kindan falls for Koriana, whose higher social rank makes any relationship between them forbidden by Pernese custom. Their growing attraction challenges the rigid class system that governs their society. Threadfall looms as an additional threat, forcing Kindan into an agonizing choice between pursuing love and fulfilling his obligation to save his people. The relentless pressure tears apart friendships among the apprentices. Romance flourishes even as mortality stalks every corner of their world. Kindan confronts a heart-wrenching dilemma that will shape his destiny and determine whether Pern survives.
Genres: drama, science-fiction-fantasy, romance, adventure, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: dramatic, emotional, epic, high-stakes, romantic, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, class-divide, coming-of-age, forbidden-romance, love-vs-duty
Setting: Pern
304 pages · Hardcover · Del Rey
Content warnings: death