"The Gods made their Words into flesh, giving privileged individuals the powers of creation . . ."

In Eden City, a member of the illiterate wordless class would never dream of meeting the all-powerful Words . . . much less of running away with one. So when a gorgeous girl literally falls into his lap during a routine trash run, seventeen-year-old Tavin Barnes isn’t sure if it’s the luckiest or worst day of his life. That girl is Khaya, the Word of Life, who can heal a wound or command an ivy bush to devour a city block with ease. And yet she needs Tavin’s help.

By aiding Khaya’s escape from the seemingly idyllic confines of Eden City, Tavin unwittingly throws himself into the heart of a conflict that is threatening to tear the world apart. Eden City’s elite will stop at nothing to protect the shocking secret Khaya hides, and they enlist the other Words, each with their own frightening powers, to bring her back.

Praise:

"A fast-paced blend of sci-fi fantasy with scary real-world implications...Brilliant."
—Chelsea Pitcher, author of The S-Word

"The right amount of pizzazz in the form of cinematic action."—KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Fast-paced debut."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Impressive mythology and fast-paced adventure."—BOOKLIST

"The action is exciting, the setting is interesting, and the characters somewhat compelling."
—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL