First published 2014
A mysterious plague called Herod's Syndrome sweeps across the world, killing every child within days. Parents everywhere bury their sons and daughters, but their grief turns to shock when the children claw their way out of their graves. The dead children return with one desperate need: blood. When they drink it, they come back to life, becoming themselves again. They laugh, play, and remember their parents. But the resurrection is temporary. Without fresh blood, they die again. Each human body contains ten pints of blood, enough to bring a child back for a while. Parents must decide how much they will sacrifice to keep their children alive. Some give their own blood until they collapse. Others hunt for victims. As the children's hunger grows stronger and more frequent, families discover that love can drive people to unthinkable acts. The choice becomes clear: let their children stay dead, or feed them at any cost.
Genres: dystopia, horror, supernatural, thriller
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, moral-dilemma
343 pages · Paperback · Gallery/Permuted Press
Content warnings: child-death, violence