First published 2021
Crista watches a plague bird kill her mother when she's still a child. These hybrid creatures, part human and part AI, serve as executioners in the ruins of civilization. Their red hair and glowing facial lines make everyone flee in terror. Years later, Crista faces an impossible choice. Her father and village need protection from a group of ancient killers who wield powers that seem like magic. To save them, she must transform into the very monster she has always feared. Crista bonds with an AI symbiote and becomes a plague bird herself. Her first mission takes her far from home to hunt the murderers. She travels through a world of genetically modified humans monitored by benevolent AIs. As she judges criminals and meets other outcasts, Crista discovers a personal conspiracy that puts millions of lives at risk. She must master her new abilities and accept her role as one of humanity's most despised protectors.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, adventure, thriller, action, artificial-intelligence
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Africa
Period: 21st-century
315 pages · ebook · Apex Books
Content warnings: body-horror, graphic-violence, murder