THE LISTENER

The world is divided – the vitriers and the lowlanders, slaves and masters. Vitriers work the mineral vitreite, adapted for rejuvenation and prolonging life. But also for weaponry against the mysterious nasterea, creatures living among poisonous clouds outside the shields protecting habitable land.

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One vitrier child can hear the shield.

 

Ilan is disguised as a boy to avoid the brothels of the lowlanders. Although too young to be an apprentice, her latent gifts draw the attention of stonecutters and she is trained to work on vitreite. Swiftly adept, she is embraced by the influential Twenty-Five, whose unique vitreite swords are the only weapons to threaten the nasterea.

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But Ilan is a girl, and this they must not discover.

 

Ilan is taken to visit vitrier cities, crossing dangerous lands and encountering treachery and distrust. She will learn that lies have been told about the nasterea, their story deeper than known. But the greatest secret is still to come – the truth behind the war which devastated the world and led to the enslavement of her kind.

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And perhaps some things are best left unheard.