Love is a game Ren never wanted to play. Growing up in the desert biodomes of Province 5-9, there is little room for individuality and choice. Every part of life is dictated by the Council. At seventeen, Ren knows her path in life has been determined for the betterment of humanity. Her permanent job placement, her relationship status, and even the number of children she will have are out of her control. Like it or not, she is expected to marry a complete stranger who was assigned to her based solely on their combined genetic diversity. When the pressure of spending the rest of her life shackled to someone else overwhelms her, she makes a choice that will change the course of her entire life. Signing up for the yearly lottery could buy her the time and freedom she craves…or she could be condemned to her worst waking nightmare. The odds she’ll win the right to choose her own spouse are so low she decides it’s worth risking everything. The last thing Ren expects is to be chosen. Ren is thrust into a house with seven pre-selected men. She must play the game while the whole country watches. As Ren’s journey progresses, she learns the heart can be a fickle thing, and the road ahead might lead to a destination she never expected. Can she find a way to break the rules without leaving a path of shattered hearts behind her? Or is all fair in love and survival?
Author
For as long as Tennessee native Brittany Hester can remember, she has always been enchanted by nature, magic, and powerful stories. Hester’s love of storytelling and active imagination would often lead her to explore the galaxy as the other Earth Sailor Scout, join the rebel forces in her own Gundam, lend her sword and bow to the fight for Middle-earth, use her wild magic for the betterment of Tortall, or simply exploring the beautiful fantasy landscapes that enchanted her. Her only wish was that there were more characters that looked like her in the books she loved reading. Determined to blaze a path for diverse, strong, and authentic characters of color to enter the forefront of popular fantasy and science fiction in every medium, Hester put her imagination to work and began writing. Now, she hopes to inspire the next generation of readers, writers, and creative thinkers by creating a window for experiencers to try and answer life’s questions for themselves. In every story, Hester aims to remind people that there is light and goodness in the world, we are never as truly alone as we feel, and that through the power of narrative, we can find hope, connection, and acceptance. When not writing, you can find Hester adventuring with her toddler tornados, enjoying her favorite foods, or being very nerdy with her husband.
