Relationships get complicated when you don’t know who—or what—you really are. Esen must find a way to rescue a hapless group of chimeras, beings who are a new and unique blend of species she knows, when she can’t become one herself. When Evan Gooseberry tries to help, he is shattered to learn he himself isn’t entirely Human and begins to suspect his new friend Esen isn’t what she seems.
Complicating matters, a mysterious contagion has killed the crew of the ship that brought the chimeras—and Evan—to Botharis. Everyone’s been quarantined inside the All Species’ Library of Linguistics and Culture, including over a hundred disgruntled alien scholars.
The risks climb as Skalet and Lionel continue their quest to solve the disappearance of Paul’s mother’s ship, the Sidereal Pathfinder, only to find themselves caught in a tangle of loyalties as Skalet is betrayed by her own Kraal affiliates, who infiltrate the Library.
All of which would be quite enough for one Web-being’s day, but Paul Ragem hopes to rekindle the romance of his first love. A shame Esen hasn’t told him who’s hiding in their greenhouse.
Author
Julie E. Czerneda
An unabashed romantic and optimist, Julie E. Czerneda finds something remarkable wherevershe looks. Dragons and magic—and house toads—hold a special place in her heart—and in the heart of her Night’s Edge series. As a former biologist, her studies of the natural world heavily influence the imaginative landscapes in these books. A Turn of Light and A Play of Shadow—the first two books set in Julie’s magical world of Marrowdell—won international Aurora PrixAwards for Best SF/F novels. Shortly thereafter, she was awarded membership in the prestigious Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Julie sends her earnest thanks to you, her dedicated and kind readers, as well as to the tireless and passionate team at DAW Books who have shepherded both her fantasy and science fiction novels into bookstores for over twenty years. She is represented by Sara Megibow of Megibow Literary Agency and can be found wilderness camping, gardening, or online at: www.czerneda.com
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