Stigma

It turns out that breaking into a government facility to retrieve your found family's past isn't the best idea, and it certainly comes with consequences. Poppy's been beaten, tortured, and abused— her last shreds of humanity forcefully stripped from her while her friends look on, mere miles away. After spending months in prison, Poppy's ready to escape by any means necessary. Before she gets the chance to, she meets an unexpected ally who offers her a deal: her freedom in exchange for her friends' privacy. Poppy knows she shouldn't question it, but she can't resist. Wary of the manmade devil in a half-botched suit, she searches for answers she's not sure exist. When mysterious artifacts appear across town, she desperately tries to connect their stories to her friends' lives and save them from their imagined fates. Poppy's world is turned upside down as she realizes the true cost of her freedom— the world around her is not what it claims to be. Poppy can't turn back time or unsign the contract. She can only make the best of a bad situation, siding with Alwin, the man who left her in prison. Together, they pick apart a lost love letter and a forgotten family. All the while, Poppy runs from a reality she can't accept. Not every question deserves an answer. Content warning: This book discusses topics like self-harm, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation. It contains limited cursing including the F-word. Stigma's intended audience is ages 14 and older. However, readers of all ages may find these topics triggering and uncomfortable. Please read with care.