First published 2023
Van works as a slave in the mines when a pack of diseased dogs tears through his crew. He wakes up changed, his body now possessing incredible power that lets him snap his shackles like twigs. Only one other person survived the carnage: a young girl who stands watching him. Van takes her with him as they flee the mining site. Their captors give chase while a plague spreads through the region. Van must protect the girl and himself as they run from both human enemies and the deadly sickness that threatens everyone around them. The disease follows them wherever they go. Van discovers his new abilities come with a price he doesn't yet understand. The girl holds secrets of her own that could change everything. Together they face a world where survival means staying one step ahead of death itself.
Genres: adventure, fantasy, action, manga
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, slave
Setting: Africa
Period: 21st-century
308 pages · Paperback · Yen Press
Content warnings: violence