First published 2025
Morgan Enni stands apart at her university. While her classmates blend science with magic, she possesses no magical ability at all. This makes her research all the more dangerous. Her work threatens to devastate aetherworkers across the galaxy and topple what remains of the Stavenger Empire. Faculty members avoid her. Funding committees reject her proposals. No one wants to hear about discoveries that could reshape their world. Morgan refuses to give up. Her persistence finally attracts notice from an unexpected source. A rebel group sees potential in her findings. They believe her research might shift the balance in their fight against the empire. The rebels approach Morgan, hoping to recruit a brilliant young scientist. They discover she brings more to their cause than academic expertise. Morgan harbors secrets that could prove as valuable as her research. Her journey will test whether determination alone can overcome the forces arrayed against her in a galaxy where magic and science collide.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, space-opera, action, academic, alternate-universe
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets, underdog
Setting: Stavenger Empire, Galaxy
260 pages · Hardcover · Dutton Books for Young Readers