First published 2014
Kevern has never understood why his father drew two fingers across his lips whenever he spoke a word beginning with J. In this future world, the past has become dangerous territory that no one discusses. When Kevern meets Ailinn, she carries her own mysteries. She grew up knowing nothing about her origins, and bruises mark the skin beneath her eyes. On their first date, Kevern kisses those bruises without asking who caused them. Violence has become ordinary in their world. As their relationship deepens, both wonder whether their love developed naturally or whether unseen forces pushed them together. Someone or something may have orchestrated their meeting, but the reason remains unclear. Above everything looms What Happened, If It Happened, a catastrophic past event that society has buried under layers of suspicion, denial, and apology. Kevern and Ailinn must navigate their feelings while living under the shadow of this forbidden history, never certain whether their choices are truly their own.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, literary-fiction, mystery
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Africa
Period: Future
272 pages · ebook · Random House
Content warnings: violence