First published 2025
Angilly grows up in occupied Jarokir, daughter of Palleseen soldiers who serve an empire spreading "Perfection" across the world. At twelve years old, she doesn't yet understand how accidents and poor decisions will pull her into Outreach, the diplomatic arm of the Pal war machine. While Palleseen legions conquer through force, Outreach agents work through persuasion. They convert enemies into allies and convince the oppressed to topple their rulers before the armies arrive. Angilly's journey takes her from Jarokir through Bracinta, Cazarkand, Lemas, and the Holy Regalate of Stouk before reaching Usmai. Along the way, she discovers that her nation's victories demand painful compromises and missed opportunities. The rain that falls ahead of conquest will always taste bitter.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, contemporary, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, moral-dilemma
Setting: Jarokir, Bracinta, Cazarkand, Lemas, Stouk, Usmai
Period: 20th-century
126 pages · Hardcover · Head of Zeus -- an AdAstra Book
Content warnings: colonialism, war