Step one: forget the convention and disregard the binary. Gender? Sexuality? Old words unsuited for new consciousness. The twenty-one stories in this book challenge the imagination as only acclaimed author A. Merc Rustad can. Pages of robots and AIs constructing lives and exploring "humanity"; wasted worlds with monstrous cityhearts; assassins and the perils of enchanted labyrinths; and always the raw truths of love, loss, and devotion. Step two: read these science-fiction and fantasy tales as if they are the only stories you will discover on your bookshelf this day. Step three: dare to feel.

"The stories are all crafted with the deft and loving touch of an author who knows firsthand what it is to live in their characters' skins. Each piece in this unmissable collection shimmers with bright explorations of love, loss, and the quest for hope." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Divergent characters find themselves in startling situations in this debut collection of unconventional sci-fi and fantasy stories.... A sparkling sequence of tales that bends and flips familiar ideas and fantastic visions." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review