“A striking, thought-provoking YA dystopia”- The Guardian“Fabulously detailed world-building”- Patrice Lawrence, author of Orangeboy and Eight Pieces of SilvaLonglisted for the Jhalak Prize 2025A powerful dystopian thriller from a stunning new voicein YA, set in a world divided by race where life itself must bepaid for if you want to survive... Filled with suspense and romance, ideal for fans of Noughts& Crosses, The Hunger Games and ShatterMe.Six years ago, seventeen-year-old Mora survived the terrifyingSkøl invasion. They stole her land. They took her family.And now not even her life is her own.Skøl culture revolves around one motto: Life is Golden.You must pay the government for the right to survive. If you can't,you're cast out at best - at worst, culled. Records of everycitizen are held at the hallowed, highly secured Life Registry, whichtracks who lives and who dies, who pays and who fails.Colonized survivors like Mora face endless servitude, repayingthe 'debt' of their years lived before the invasion. Mora is resignedto her fate, finding glimmers of joy in her tentative friendshipwith another repayer, the handsome, elusive Kit.But then she finds out that twelve-year-old Zako, the closestthing she has to a brother, is to be put to death by the dangerousnew Skøl Governor. Finding the courage to fight back, Moraand Kit conspire to smuggle Zako to safety. But their plan drawsthem into a dark mystery - and to a heart-pounding mission atthe Life Registry itself. They must ultimately ask themselves: whatare we worth to each other? Gripping, moving and suspenseful storytelling with afriends-to-lovers romance that crackles with tension.A girl driven by unthinkable grief. A boy targeted forhis unimaginable ability. A compelling story exploring the powerof hope, courage and connection from a stunning new voice in YA.A richly imagined fantasy world that illuminates topicsof colonialism, racism and societal structures that demand productivityand disenfranchise the poor. “An intricately-crafted world with characters who liveand breathe beyond the pages.” - Aisha Busby,author of A Pocketful of Stars“Utterly captivating... The world Keats has createdis terrifyingly believable... Keats' writing was lush and evocativetoo.” - @_ashortbooklover, readerreview
