To survive, she followed the rules. To live, she'll have to break them. Eighteen-year-old Nova Stormont was raised to survive, not hope. In Whitebark Haven, straying from your assigned role means punishment—or worse. But Nova has always yearned for more than life in the shadows as a scout. She wants to heal, to grow, to choose When she reveals a hidden talent at her coming-of-age ceremony, Nova risks everything to prove there's more to life than what the Elders expect. But before judgement falls, she slips beyond the borders for one last stolen breath of freedom—only to be captured by the Loxosceles, a ruthless faction where power determines your worth. Trapped behind enemy lines, Nova must rely on her scouting skills, her knowledge of plants, and her sharp wit as she navigates shifting loyalties—and the gaze of a duty-bound commander who is more than he seems. With every step, she begins to question everything she thought she knew—about her enemies, her purpose, and herself.