by Laline Paull
First published 2014
Flora 717 belongs to the sanitation workers, the most despised caste in her orchard hive. Unlike other bees of her station, Flora possesses unusual size and intelligence. Her exceptional abilities catch the attention of higher castes, eventually earning her access to the Queen's private chambers. There she uncovers disturbing truths about how the hive operates and maintains its rigid social structure. These revelations force Flora to question everything she has been taught about loyalty, duty, and her place in the colony. As she learns more, she begins to act in ways that violate the most fundamental laws of bee society. Her choices put her at odds with the entire system that created her. Flora must decide whether to accept her predetermined role or risk everything to forge a different path. The story explores themes of individual agency within oppressive systems and the price of challenging authority. Flora's journey from obedient worker to rebel reveals the tension between personal desire and collective survival.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, literary-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, rebellion
Setting: Orchard Hive
515 pages · Hardcover · Thorndike Press