First published 2022
A doctor whose career has crumbled faces hostile alien species in a desperate attempt to rebuild his reputation and find meaning. Meanwhile, a mother who has lost her child gains unprecedented power over the person who destroyed her family. She can dictate every aspect of the murderer's existence, but this control brings unexpected complications. In another corner of these interconnected worlds, an ancient demon confronts the mundane realities of retirement after centuries of supernatural work. The legendary Eurydice also speaks her truth about Orpheus, revealing that their famous love story masks a far more complex reality. These characters navigate worlds where second chances come with steep prices and where power over others rarely brings the satisfaction people expect. Each story examines how individuals respond when circumstances strip away their familiar identities and force them to confront who they really are beneath their roles and relationships.
Genres: science-fiction, literary-fiction, fantasy, thriller
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
226 pages · Hardcover · Karen Traviss
Content warnings: death, violence