A girl chasing freedom. A boy bound by duty. A rebellion that will change everything.
Tonight, Ava must set sail to escape the life of servitude that awaits every child who comes of age. All that stands between her and freedom is one last job: stealing the pharmaka to pay for her passage. She’s stolen from the temple priestesses countless times before. What could possibly go wrong?
Outside the temple walls, Dom bids a final farewell to his childhood home. The priestesses say he’ll find purpose in the life of hard labor that lies ahead. He hopes they’re right. What other choice does he have?
When their paths collide in the dark forest, Ava and Dom discover the stolen pharmaka has some unfortunate side effects. Like it or not, they’re stuck with each other now. But what future could exist for a girl determined to escape her bondage and a boy who’s never imagined the possibility of freedom?
On their journey together from a mythic past to a digital future, Ava and Dom must answer the question facing every generation coming of age in a world ruled by the powerful: do we submit, or rebel?
Fans of character-driven romantic fantasy series like Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses and Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing—as well as fans of literary magical realism like V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Madeline Miller's Circe—will love The Artifex and the Muse’s relatable young adult heroes, richly-imagined mythic world and thought-provoking themes.
