by Sara Holland
First published 2018
Jules Ember watches her father grow weaker each day. In Sempera, time flows like money. Blood becomes iron coins that buy extra years of life. The wealthy Gerling family hoards centuries while the poor surrender their lifespans to survive. Ten years ago, Jules and her father served at Everless, the Gerlings' grand estate, until one terrible night drove them away. Now Jules faces an impossible choice. Her father will die without more time, and only Everless offers the wages she needs. She returns to the place that cast her out, knowing the risks. The Gerlings still rule from their palace, still drain the kingdom dry. Jules finds herself trapped between old loyalties and new dangers. Violent secrets surface around her. Two figures from her past pull her in different directions, dividing her heart. Every decision Jules makes ripples outward, threatening to reshape not just her own future but the nature of time itself.
Genres: dystopia, romance, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Sempera, Everless
Period: 10 years ago
362 pages · Hardcover · HarperTeen
Content warnings: violence