A wall isn’t the only thing dividing the ruined city of Ignis.

In a post-apocalyptic world of gleaming towers and crumbling slums, the high-tech Inner Ring thrives while the Outer Ring fights to survive. Political corruption runs deep, and the government’s grip tightens daily. Rebels like The Outsiders are branded as terrorists—except for those trapped in the shadows, they’re the only hope left.

For Theopold Kraken, a genetically-engineered Recombinant with enhanced abilities, rebellion is more than survival. It’s a cause worth dying for. When Yin, a mysterious woman who may not be entirely human, crashes into his path, everything changes. She’s secretive, strange, and dangerous... and Kraken can’t walk away. As their fragile alliance deepens, he sees in her not just a failed experiment, but someone who longs for freedom—just like him.

Yet trust is lethal. And saving her may cost him everything he’s fought to protect.

Yin doesn’t remember much, but she knows she’s being hunted. Built for a purpose she’s no longer sure of, emotions were never part of the design. Though Kraken’s loyalty and stubborn compassion stir something unexpected in her: curiosity, respect, and the terrifying whisper of humanity. As she strays from what she was made to be, Yin faces a choice: embrace the humanity she was programmed to ignore or run from it forever.

Two broken souls. One chance at freedom. In a world where trust can kill you, choosing each other might be the most dangerous act of all.

Tasha He is a speculative fiction writer whose work explores both the escapism and deeper meaning found in fantasy and science fiction. They have been writing since childhood, when they would proudly print out “chapters” from the family computer to share with relatives, and their love of storytelling has only grown since.



In addition to their writing, Tasha is the founder of Disenfranchised Writers’ Voices, a nonprofit supporting low-income and disabled authors. As a disability advocate, they are committed to educating others about the realities of disability and amplifying underrepresented voices in publishing.



When not writing, Tasha enjoys video games, spending time with their pets, and finding new worlds—real and imagined—to explore.