First published 1987
Kindan trains as an apprentice at Harper Hall when a merciless plague sweeps across Pern. The disease kills without discrimination, and even the mighty Dragonriders prove helpless against this invisible foe. Amid the chaos, Kindan finds himself drawn to the beautiful Koriana, but their budding romance breaks the rigid social rules of their society. With Threadfall looming as an additional threat, Kindan teams up with his fellow apprentices in a desperate race to find a cure. The young harpers push themselves to exhaustion, knowing that failure condemns their entire world to death. Their mission strains both their abilities and their friendships to the breaking point. Kindan faces an agonizing choice between pursuing his feelings for Koriana and dedicating himself completely to saving everyone. The plague tests every survivor's endurance while romance flourishes against a backdrop of widespread death and fear.
Genres: science-fiction, romance, historical-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Pern
304 pages · Hardcover · Del Rey
Content warnings: death