Najnovšie - Beletria strana 61 z 500

Shortlisted for the Irish Novel of the YearShortlisted for the International Dublin Literary AwardLonglisted for the Man Booker Prize‘A marvellously engrossing journey, studded with ideas and lyrical treats’ The Times______________________________________In 1919, pioneering journalist Emily Ehrlich watches as two young airmen emerge from the carnage of World War One to pilot the very first non-stop transatlantic flight from Newfoundland to the west of Ireland. In 1845 Frederick Douglass, a Black American slave, lands in Ireland to champion ideas of democracy and freedom, only to find a famine unfurling at his feet. And in 1998 Senator George Mitchell criss-crosses the ocean in search of an elusive Irish peace. Stitching these stories intricately together, Colum McCann sets out to explore the fine line between what is real and what is imagined, and the tangled skein of connections that make up our lives. ‘History comes vividly to life in a majestic work’ Sunday Times‘Beautifully hypnotic ... Those who can’t see the point of historical novels will find their answer here’ Emma Donoghue‘Expertly constructed ... The prose is poetically vivid’ Observer

'Characters who feel really authentic and wholesome...so so funny and I just love every second.' Olivia BeirneHer daughter has just flown the nest and her pensioner mum has dived headlong into internet dating - can Hattie hold on to her sanit? attie is a 47-year-old mother whose daughter, Layla, is just about to head off to university. She's not coping terribly well (Hattie that is - Layla seems to be coping admirably),bursting into tears at the drop of a hat. To add to the angst, Hattie's mother, Meredith, has started online dating -unfortunately it's Hattie who has to pick up the pieces when it all goes wrong. With everyone around her starting new adventures, is it time for Hattie to find one of her ow? n uplifting, relatable and hilarious read that fans of Milly Johnson, Alexandra Potter and Jane Fallon will love. Praise for My Big Fat Empty Nest:‘Funny, heartfelt and oh-so-relatable’ Gillian Harvey'Beautifully observed. Witty, and full of heart.’ Kirsty Eyre

'Superior… an impressive debut' The Times ***** Two murders. Twenty years apart. One truth to be uncovered. 1999. Emily Pierce is at uni in Leeds having the time of her life. On New Year’s Eve her plans to have the best night ever are brutally cut short when she is killed in her student house. The police conclude her murder was a burglary gone wrong and never find the killer. 2019. When Olivia Kavanagh discovers that twenty years earlier a girl was murdered in her bedroom, she becomes obsessed. But her questions end with another dead body. Journalist Kate Marsden is sent to cover the story. She reported on Emily’s murder twenty years earlier and finds the similarities staggering and eerie. She is determined to discover the link. But the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to a murderer. Because this isn’t just a story, it’s a well-hidden crime and there’s someone out there who will do anything to stop her from ever unearthing the truth… For fans of Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell ***** 'Brilliantly layered and utterly enthralling, this is one seriously accomplished debut. I was riveted from page one.' Louise Candlish ‘Thrilling’ Five star review, Heat ‘Must read. We couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ Closer 'The characterisations were so relatable and absorbing. I found this addictive, was repeatedly drawn back to the book and I just loved the reveal!' Amy Jordan ‘This will keep you guessing until the very end’ Prima 'Congratulations Rosa on a cracker of a debut! Wonderfully pacy, suspenseful and authentic. The story’s complex characters, clever plotting and a deftly handled dual timeline played me around like pinball and kept me riveted until the very end.' T. Orr Munro

'Summer days and new relationships are rendered with a grace that is lyrical at times but also ironic and comic, in a tone perfectly-pitched' Colm Tóibín'Compelling, vibrant, and dazzling' Brandon Taylor, Booker shortlisted author of Real Life'Very human, very real but also, fundamentally, extremely fun to read' Rebecca Watson, author of Little ScratchA New Statesman 25 best books to read in 2025. London, 2012. Johnny Voghel is stuck. He has a dead-end job at a small university and a wilting relationship and is grieving the death of his parents. When his half-brother Lawrence returns to the old family home from Chicago after a period of estrangement, Johnny decides to do everything he can to win back his affection. It's a quest he pursues with the help of Lawrence's childhood sweetheart and a pair of mysterious and seductive students adrift in the city during the height of Olympics fever. A generational saga that takes place over a fortnight, and a comedy about confusion and loss, The Boys follows Johnny as he revisits old grievances, cultivates new friendships - and tries to take control of his fate.

Two ex-boyfriends. One perfect holiday. Can they leave their baggage behin? hen influencer Brady Gibson is asked to be a global travel ambassador, he’s thrilled. Poolside cocktails. Gorgeous views. Designer boutiques. What could be better? And it might just heal the pain from his break-up with Hayes Carter, nine months ago. None of Brady’s followers know about the split, as Brady’s relied on a backlog of photos to keep posting. But the company want the “perfect couple” they see online and that couple no longer exists. Hayes has given up on Brady and social media altogether, using his broken heart as motivation for medical school. But school is expensive, so when Brady calls with the lucrative proposition that will pay his fees, he accepts – as long as they promise to keep things platonic. But after a hot summer travelling the major European cities, will this couple find their fake dating turning to real lov? f you can't get enough of the spice of Heated Rivalry or the glamorous locations of White Lotus, don't miss this spicy, fake-dating, second-chance romance!'A sweet and slightly spicy escape' Publishers Weekly

* LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2025 ** A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK MARCH 2025 *Sara is at the airport, travelling home from a work conference. Out of nowhere she’s pulled aside by agents from the Risk Assessment Administration. Their algorithm has determined that she’s an immediate threat to her husband, and must be kept under observation at a retention centre for twenty-one days. The evidence? Data collected from her dreams. When she arrives at the centre, she discovers that each deviation from their strict and ever-changing rules – loitering in the hallway, a ‘non-compliant hairstyle’ – results in her stay being extended. Desperate to return to her family, Sara must make a choice. Does she play by their rules, or risk taking matters into her own hands?

'Saying "just one more chapter" at 3am – that's when you know you're reading a 5* book' Reader review ? Don't miss this fake dating rom-com from million copy bestseller Portia MacIntosh! What happens in Vegas… When Georgie discovers that her fiancé has been cheating on her, only a few days before they were meant to attend a wedding together, her whole world explodes. Facing a romantic trip to Vegas alone, she decides to go out and have some fun… But Georgie never expected to wake up wed. And even worse, she can’t remember who to. So when gorgeous Jack reveals himself as her husband, she can’t believe her luck – he’ll be the perfect wedding date. Even if it is their very accidental honeymoon, can the newlyweds can keep their emotions in check for just a few days more? Praise for Portia MacIntosh 'Smart, funny and always brilliantly entertaining, every book from Portia becomes my new favourite rom com.' Shari Low 'I laughed, I cried – I loved it.’ Holly Martin 'The queen of rom com!' Rebecca Raisin ‘This book made me laugh and kept me turning the pages.' Mandy Baggot 'A fun, fabulous 5-star rom com!' Sandy Barker 'Loved the book, it's everything you expect from the force that is Portia! A must read' Rachel Dove 'A heartwarming, fun story, perfect for several hours of pure escapism.' Jessica Redland

'A hypnotic, heat-drenched romantasy' Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author'A deliciously sexy paranormal romance set in the Black South' Demi Winters, bestselling author of The Ashen Series'With enough romantic tension to make Hell itself look like tundra, this sizzling romance is an absolute delight' Shalini Abeysekara, bestselling author of This Monster of MineGalilee Kincaid is haunted by the pull of something ancient, a secret too vast to name. Raised in the shadow of the Kincaid legacy, a formidable clan of Black women rooted in the weeping willows and rushing creeks, a hollow ache has always pulsed inside her . . . Until she meets him. Lucifer Helel. From the moment Gali lays eyes on him, something stirs within her. His gaze burns like fire, a predator's hunger concealed behind the mask of a mortal. In an instant, Gali knows he is not human. From their very touch, Lucifer sees the truth about Gali - she's not human either. Enter Leviathan, Lucifer's most trusted prince of Hell. A creature of shadow and fury, Levi has one mission: destroy Galilee before she unravels the delicate balance that binds Heaven, Hell, and Earth. Because Lucifer and Galilee's unstoppable attraction is more than forbidden - it's powerful enough to tear apart the very fabric of existence. As the world teeters on the edge of eternity, will Galilee embrace the untamed force within her and risk everything to reclaim her true self?

An exhilarating debut novel about a life-changing romance in the long shadow of European history, inspired by the author's real discovery‘Stunningly good’ Julia Boyd‘You won’t be able to put it down’ Samantha Rose Hill‘Worthy of reading and rereading’ BookpageHarvard, 1996. Anna is about to graduate when she falls in love with Christoph, a German student visiting campus. As she visits Christoph in Germany and tries to understand the young, elegant man who fascinates her, he reveals his country to her. Germany is still reckoning with the Holocaust and its pretty new squares belie the war’s destruction. Anna wants to believe in Christoph and the future he promises her but as their relationship becomes increasingly unsettling, she must face up to everything she has been unwilling to see, and everything Christoph has chosen to ignore. 'As if a Sally Rooney novel merged with Richard Linklater's film, Before Sunrise' Booklist'A swiftly-moving, molecularly perceptive, singular portrait of intoxicating young love' Aube Rey Lescure'An elegant, unsettling novel about the burden of history and the illusions of love' Sana Krasikov'A masterpiece' Rebecca Donner

'Feels like watching a master painter at work' Ann Napolitano'Wonderful. A moving portrait of an imperfect family' Jennie Godfrey'I adored it' Claire Lombardo'A gorgeous, sprawling family saga' Literary Hub Summer, California, 1970s. Sally Samuelson is eight years old, and the course of her family's life is about to change. When Ellis, her older brother, tragically fails to return from a week up the coast, the world of the Samuelsons never spins on the same axis again. Especially when Julia, Ellis's girlfriend, shows up pregnant on their doorstep. And over the next four decades, the family fractures and rebuilds again and again - in a story that takes in grief, love affairs, illnesses, late-in-life marriages and long-hidden secrets, to show one complicated but loving family trying to make sense of the world. 'Crackles with compassion . . . I inhaled this book in a weekend, regretting only that it would ever end' Leslie Jamison'Like a narrative love child of Alice Munro's stories and Elizabeth Strout's novels' New York Times Book Review'Huneven is a literary sister to Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler and Tessa Hadley' Raffaella Barker'I couldn't stop reading this story of a beautiful, broken and quirky family who feel utterly real' Ericka WallerReaders love Bug Hollow . . . ? 'This book broke my heart and put it back together' ? A beautiful portrait of a complicated, ordinary, and extraordinary family' ? 'May be one of my favourite books of all time' ? 'The perfect nostalgic summer book'? 'So real and heartwarming. I loved every character, flaws and all' ? 'Best book I read this year!' ? 'This novel just wedged its way into my heart and soul' ? 'If you're a fan of Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Strout, you will love this'

One song for the dying... sung by the dead... When the body of a young woman is discovered at the home she shared with her disabled daughter, DI Tom Janssen and his team must investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. The woman was a single mother, well regarded and popular among the group she frequented, but she had a chequered past... a life she kept secret from those around her... a life that may, ultimately, have led to her death. Friends, past lovers, and confidants offer conflicting descriptions of the deceased... did anyone know her at al? he team realise the daughter is missing and, away from her medication, the little girl's life hangs in the balance. Unless the team can solve a seemingly calculated murder, an innocent life will be lost... Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Norfolk, this fast-paced British detective novel is a dark murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed. The Raven Song is the eleventh novel in the Hidden Norfolk series of thrillers from the million-copy bestselling British crime writer, JM Dalgliesh, the author of the Dark Yorkshire books. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, JD Kirk, Angela Marsons, Simon McCleave and Damien Boyd. Readers love J M Dalgliesh: ‘Fantastic’ FIVE-STAR READER REVIEW‘The best detective series I’ve read’ FIVE-STAR READER REVIEW‘You can’t put these books down’ FIVE-STAR READER REVIEW‘J M Dalgliesh never disappoints’ FIVE-STAR READER REVIEW‘Like watching Shetland on TV’ FIVE-STAR READER REVIEW‘So much tension’ FIVE-STAR READER REVIEW

Skate into the world of Puckboys, the hot mm gay ice hockey romance fiction series for fans of Heated Rivalry and Emily Rath. Ayri Quinn is as bad at hiding his injury as he is at hiding his feelings for the man treating it. After finally making Buffalo's team, Quinn's terrified his latest injury will take it all away. The last thing he needs is the added anxiety of making a fool of himself by getting tongue tied and awkward while receiving treatment from his crush and the team's PT, Vance Landon. Vance has his own secrets when it comes to Quinn. And when a disastrous night out worsens Quinn's injury, he has to be more hands-on than ever. Vance won't let him lose his career over an injury like so many sportsmen he's seen before. Except Quinn isn't like the rest of the jocks - he's innocent, clumsy and sweet, and he needs to get better soon. Otherwise Vance's restraint might snap, and his massage bed won't be the only one Quinn ends up in. The delightfully funny and sweet, age-gap romance ideal for lovers of Common Goal and Rachel Reid. Puckboys Book 1: Egotistical Puckboy Book 2: Irresponsible Puckboy Book 3: Shameless Puckboy Book 4: Foolish Puckboy Book 5: Clueless Puckboy Book 6: Bromantic Puckboy Book 7: Forbidden Puckboy Book 8: Possessive Puckboy Book 9: Stubborn Puckboy Book 10: Charming Puckboy

Nu Earth: a battle-scarred, poisned world where Nort and Souther forces fight for control of a nearby black hole. Genetic Infantryman, Rogue Trooper is the sole survivor of the Quartz Massacre.Together with the bio-chipped “ghosts” of his dead comrades he wages a one-man war against the vicious Nort forces. A Souther war veteran called Macinrow, Captain Nygaard and a group of fresh recruits, set out for Nu Earth in search of Macinrow's friend, Sgt White, would could hold the key to winning the war... introduce an all-new adventure Alex de Campi (Smoke, Full-Tilt Boogie) and Neil Edwards (Spider-Man, Superman) introduce an all-new Rogue Trooper adventure that delves into the secret history of the Genetic Infantrymen.

Two bored, obsessed teenagers break into – and secretly live in – influencers’ houses. But when they choose the wrong home, their twisted experiment turns deadly. A darkly funny, breathtakingly tense thriller from 'one of the most original writers in Britain’ (Daily Express)…‘A darkly funny and twisty thrill ride’ Mirror‘Skewers the vacuous narcissism of influencers and reality TV with trademark acerbic wit … darkly funny and twisty’ Express‘A blistering skewering of influencer culture’ Crime Monthly‘Social media has never been this deadly. A brutally brilliant story!’ Satu Rämö‘His best yet!’ S.J. Watson‘Biting, acerbic, darkly funny and, most importantly, it shines a spotlight on the ridiculousness of modern living, the importance of social media and how we see ourselves’ Chris McDonald‘Will Carver uses his unique voice to skewer the vacuous world of wannabe influencers and reality TV … a savage, scathing, compelling but deeply funny take-down of a fake, narcissistic world’ Trevor Wood––––––Two bored teenagers. One stupid game. The wrong place to play…Alyssa wants to be seen. Less wants to be someone. She takes two buses to class, posts pictures of her lunch, and pretends it’s all effortless. He hides his privilege beneath thrifted clothes and a sketchbook full of impossible designs. Together, they are inseparable – two outsiders constructing a version of themselves the world might finally applaud. Then Alyssa stumbles upon the hidden world of phrogging – living unnoticed inside other people’s homes. She and Less slip through Los Angeles’ glossy veneer: influencers, producers, pop stars, all so busy performing their perfect lives they don’t notice the shadows in their attics, the scratching in their walls. An act of rebellion. A harmless thrill. A social experiment. Until they choose the wrong house. Until the influencer they idolise catches them in the act. Until the cameras, already rolling, capture everything. What begins as a reckless adventure becomes a nightmare of lies, power … and murder…____________‘Will Carver follows Kill Them With Kindness with another satirical look at the world we live in and he does it brilliantly. He has captured the zeitgeist of 21st-century culture and I cannot wait to see where he goes next’ Michael Wood‘One of the most exciting authors in Britain’ Daily Express‘A smart, stylish writer’ Daily Mail‘Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce‘Unlike anything you’ll read this year’ Heat‘Impossibly original, stylish, sinister and heartfelt’ Chris Whitaker‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times‘Ambitious, dark and funny’ Mike Gayle‘A highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review‘Oozes malevolence from every page’ Victoria Selman‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent‘Mesmeric’ Guardian‘Memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph‘Perceptive and twisted in equal measure’ CultureFly‘Pitch-dark, intelligent and utterly addictive’ Michael Wood‘Unflinching, blunt and brutal’ Sam Holland‘Equally enthralling and appalling’ James Oswald‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North‘Brilliantly original’ Sam Holland‘Clever, compelling, funny’ Daily Mail‘Superbly paced and remarkably inventive, a book that demands to be read in a single sitting’ M.W. Craven‘Delightfully dark and wickedly inventive’ S.J. Watson‘Multi-layered and masterfully written’ Heat Magazine Book of the Month‘A blistering skewering of influencer culture’ Crime Monthly

‘A gut punch of a novel’ BOBBY PALMER ‘Thrillingly alive’ ANDREW McMILLAN ‘A storm of a novel’ LUCY ROSE ‘Truly propulsive writing’ IRISH TIMES ‘One of the most gripping novels I've read in a long time’ SAMIRA AHMED, Front Row, BBC Radio 4 A powerful new novel following a young man as he weighs up the life of safety that his parents want for him and another path on the streets outside his door, from the acclaimed author of Good Intentions. Amir has grown up in Alum Rock, Birmingham, under the care of his sensible older brother, Bilal, and his cousin Saqib, born just a few days before Amir. Alum Rock can be a troubled place, but Amir has managed to keep his head down, worked hard and stayed out of trouble … until now. When Saqib is killed in a gang fight and Bilal announces his engagement, Amir suddenly loses the two men who keep him grounded. Amir’s university grades are collapsing, he’s running out of money, and pressure mounts from every direction. As tensions flare, the friends left around him start to draw Amir into their more dangerous pursuits, and the family ties that have bound him so completely begin to unravel. Amir decides he only has himself to rely on and must take his future into his own hands. This is a blistering story of social expectations and social condemnation, of dead ends and divided loyalties, and of what’s left behind when you have nothing left to lose. ‘An unflinching meditation on fractured loyalties … Reminiscent of the great modernists, Ali has written a quietly seething novel’ Zain Khalid, author of Brother Alive ‘A stirring story of love and loss… will stay with you forever’ Saima Mir, author of The Khan ‘A powerful story exploring cultural expectations and what it means to go against them’ Hyphen ‘One of the most exciting writers working right now’ Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg ‘I was blown away … Heartbreaking, captivating and real’ Justin Myers, author of The Glorious Dead ‘Devastating … propulsive … Ali once again wields his enthralling, singular voice’ Gaar Adams, author of Guest Privileges ‘Brilliantly involving … Mesmerising’ Harriet Vyner, author of Among Ruins

*Prima Book of the Month for June 2026* 'Witty, laugh-out-loud funny, and genuinely heartwarming' Reader review ? 'I truly didn't want to put this book down' Reader review ? 'I was moved to tears and laughter' Reader review ? Beth didn't expect to get pregnant at seventeen. Nor did she think she'd lose the name and address of the father of her child. Swept up in romance on her French exchange, all she remembers is that his hair smelt like mangoes. Now, in 2026, at her school reunion, she opens the time capsule she wrote to herself at that time. Inside she finds a letter that alters everything Beth thought she knew about her past, and provides an all important clue for finding the father of her 19-year-old daughter, Maisie. Hit hard by the difference between the life she hoped for and the one she’s living, Beth is faced with a choice: chase the adventures she once dreamed of, or embrace the new opportunities life presents? PRAISE FOR CHARLOTTE BUTTERFIELD 'Charlotte Butterfield writes intelligent headstrong female characters who don’t baulk at the fact their life may have turned out differently to how they perceived it. Sprinkled with sentimentality and a huge dose of humour I highly recommend this read.' NINA POTTELL, PRIMA MAGAZINE 'Absorbing and poignant, The Life I Didn't Plan is a story about love, hope, and following your heart. This gorgeous novel perfectly captures the magic of discovering that sometimes, the joy of life lies in the unexpected. Filled with humour and warmth, it's book club fiction at its brilliant best.' HOLLY MILLER 'You know it's good when you are snorting with laughter one minute and ugly crying the next!' AMANDA PROWSE ‘Funny, warm, poignant – totally brilliant… Another triumph.’ BECKY HUNTER 'Charlotte Butterfield is a Queen of Contemporary Women's Fiction… An absolute must read.’ JENNY BAYLISS 'Funny, heartwarming and oh-so-relatable… a fabulously comforting and uplifting read!' FIONA LUCAS 'Extremely funny. This was a joy to read.' BELFAST TELEGRAPH 'You know that rare kind of book that makes you laugh out loud, swoon uncontrollably, and maybe rethink all your life choices because you’re that invested? Yeah, this is that book.' ? 'I LOVED this! I was in a reading slump for a while and this has 100% pulled me out of it. I couldn’t put it down! I read it in one day.' ? 'From start to finish, this novel does not lose momentum and I could not put it down. The characters are so well rounded and relatable and the plot is funny and realistic.' ? 'I devoured this in a day! A perfect light and funny read.' ?

Discover the heart-pumping new thriller from the Sunday Times best-selling author... An unmissable psychological suspense about the dark side of love and obsession – if you enjoyed The Divorce by Frieda McFadden, you need to read The Lover. ‘Beautiful, dark, visceral.’ ANDREA MARA'Now THIS is what you call a thriller. I was hooked from the start.' ? ?YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS... Rafe seems like your perfect man – intelligent, charming, attractive. You think you've met the one. You go back to his house one evening and falls asleep in his arms. When you wake, you reach out for him. But something feels cold beside you…Rafe is dead – murdered in bed as you lay next to him – and everyone is going to think you did it. *Everyone is talking about Mary Watson*‘A masterclass in tension.’ Jennie Godfrey, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things‘A heart-thumping thriller packed with exciting twists.’ Daily Mail'A gripping domestic thriller.' My Weekly'Packed with mystery, secrets, obsession and plenty of twists. Constant tension.' ? ?'A must read. I loved it.' ? ?'A fast paced psychological thriller that kept me enthralled from start to finish.' ? ?'I could not put this down!' ? ?'WOW! A must-read... I felt everything!' ? ?'Absolutely thrilling - kept me guessing until the end.' Edel Coffey, #1 best-selling author'This book gets under your skin. An unputdownable thriller.' Jen Bray, author of The Lies Between Us'Tight, tense, beautifully written - my favourite kind of thriller.' Kitty Murphy, author of the Dublin Drag Mysteries'Intricately plotted, engrossing and twisty. A riveting read.' Amy Jordan, author of The Dark Hours'I was hooked from the first page.' Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me'Hooky, twisty, page-turning.' Fiona Gartland, author of the Beatrice Barrington series'I DEVOURED The Lover!' Michelle McDonagh, author of There's Something I Have to Tell You

In the next book in the romantasy Moon Chasers series from New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan, two werewolf hunters play a sexy game of cat and mouse in an exhilarating blend of romance and adventure—now with a stunning new cover!Love and let die... After a savage lycan attack destroyed her parents, Kit March has ignored the rules saying only men can be hunters and dedicated her life to destroying lycans. Her profession is hell on her love life, but she’s been resigned to the lack of romance until she meets sinfully sexy European werewolf hunter Rafe Santiago. Unfortunately, Rafe is a man with a mission: eradicate rogue hunters from the American branch...and the foremost name on his list is Kit March. Rafe has always put business before pleasure, but something about this feisty yet vulnerable woman is doing strange things to a man who has never before allowed his emotions to get the better of him. The merciless hunter excels at eliminating threats, but he doesn't know how to handle the threat Kit poses to his heart. The world of lycans has always been black and white. But now, suddenly, the rules are changing. Forces that have been brewing for generations put Kit and Rafe in terrible danger, and nothing they confront is quite as it seems...including each other. Is the passion between them just as illusory? Or is it the only thing real?

One hundred and twenty years after The Fall, and a hundred years after the grays swept in to pick over the last dregs of humanity, John has found himself bonded to Martok Barden nee Black Hand, one of the "good" grays. Sure, Martok is broke, homeless, and borderline manic, but he’s always treated John like an actual person, and sometimes like a friend. But when Martok puts John’s bond up as collateral against a house in the woods that he hopes to turn into a wilderness retreat for wealthy grays, John learns that there are limits to Martok’s friendship. Soon he finds himself caught between an underworld boss, a girl raised by feral humans who has nothing but contempt for John, and Martok himself, whose delusions of grandeur seem to be finally catching up with him. Oh, and something in the woods has been killing people. John has sixty days to buy back his life before Martok’s loan comes due, all while avoiding getting butchered by feral humans, killed by the thing in the woods or having his head crushed by an angry gray. Easy peasy, right?