A dark, cerebral adventure of plague, power, and the dangerous illusion of control.
A battle-hardened pilot becomes entangled in a conspiracy when the machine she uncovers doesn’t just preserve life but also begins to change those who survive it in Hurst’s electrifying third installment in the Lily Starling series. Lily Starling is no stranger to crisis, but a deadly outbreak and the return of forbidden tech pull her into something far more complex. Tasked with uncovering the truth, she navigates power, secrecy, and shifting alliances with Xynn and the altered Datch. What she finds challenges everything she believes about survival, forcing her to see the cost behind every solution.
Fast-paced sequences are paired with thoughtful exploration of identity and the ethics of survival. The narrative shines brightest in its character relationships and understated moral conflicts, which anchor its broader ideas. Though exposition can occasionally feel heavy-handed, the story’s central vision holds together with clarity and purpose. Thematically unified and emotionally driven, the book offers a thoughtful exploration of control, survival, and the fragile line between life and imitation. A winner.
***
Pub date April 30, 2026
Outpost Books Se
ISBN 979-8993932705
Price $17.99 (USD) Paperback, $7.99 Kindle edition
