Still Water, Skin

The Scouthood has one directive—suppress dangerous emotions and suffocate all expression. To show strong emotion is to be unnatural by dictate of the Cathedral. Punishment is promised for those who refuse to repress their emotions—like Odomi and her son, who was executed by the Cathedral's enforcers, the Scouthood. Determined to abolish the Cathedral, Odomi searches for a powerful spirit who can unify the unnaturals against the repressive order. And she must do so while working as a medic under the Scouthood's surveillance. The Scouthood is bolstering its efforts with the help of its newest cadets. And they must sacrifice their humanity to carry out their duties—and fulfill their dreams. Raki, a stickler for the order, is tasked with mentoring an orphan whose wild emotions endanger those around her. Eager to prove herself, Yaw'dus investigates incidents of people seeing things others cannot. And volatile Esera is recruited into a secret force created to hunt unnaturals. Through their training, they clash with Odomi's machinations, threatening to uncover her plot. The unnaturals stand a chance of eliminating the Cathedral if Odomi succeeds in finding the right spirit. But if the cadets expose Odomi before she can, she will be executed next, destroying any hope of the unnaturals gaining freedom. Fans of Children of Blood and Bone and The Gilded Ones will be immersed in this sweeping young adult fantasy!