To my editor extraordinaire, Ashley Hearn. I can’t imagine a better editor match! I seriously think we share a brain. It’s almost uncanny how we’re always on the same page and how deeply you connect with my characters and stories. Thank you for teaching me how to up the tension, quicken the pace, and keep a laser focus on motivations. It’s thanks to you that my books reach their full potential. #PerfectEditorMatch
The entire team at Page Street is such a dream to work with! Thanks especially to our fearless leader, Will Kiester; to my publicists, Lizzy Mason and Lauren Cepero, who take care of literally everything and still manage to find time to chat with me; to my copy editor, Kaitlin Severini, for whipping this manuscript into shape and for pointing out my obsession with the word hiss (can’t wait to get our kiddos together when I’m back in New Jersey!); to editorial assistant Tamara Grasty, and editorial interns Chelsea Hensley and Aimee Lim; to the insanely talented Kylie Alexander, who designs the most gorgeous covers I’ve ever seen; to the wonderful Macmillan sales team; and to my subrights crew at Jill Grinberg Literary Management: Sam, Denise, and Sophia. I’m so blessed to be in such great hands!
I’m very lucky to have my own contingent of magical warriors who rip my manuscripts to shreds with their razor-sharp red pens. Giant hugs to J.C. Davis, Hannah Karena Jones, Jessi Cole Jackson, Nicole Lesperance, Erin Cashman, Maria Hebert-Leiter, and Kristin Hale. Thank you for the countless calls and texts. For screaming and crying with me. For cheering the loudest and encouraging me to take chances. You guys are the BEST!
I can’t imagine navigating the crazy world of publishing without the support and friendship of the Novel19s. I’ve become close with so many wonderful authors, but I’m especially grateful for Jodie Lynn Zdrok, Gita Trelease, Samantha Hastings, Heather Kassner, Kelly Coon, Gabrielle K. Byrne, and Isabel Ibañez (an honorary ’19!). And a shout out to the Utah ’19s for adopting me, even though I’m not local at the moment.
The outpouring of love and excitement from my family and friends has been truly humbling and overwhelming. Thanks to all of you who read my first book and called to gush about the things you loved. Thanks for the texts and cards and sweet messages when I’m buried under deadlines. Extra big thanks to my mom for buying approximately one hundred copies of Poisons to “prove” she is my biggest fan; and thanks to my darling mother-in-law, Marynel, who convinced her nonfiction book club to read my book. I’m sure they were mortified. So many of you have recommended my work to friends or requested it at your local library, and I can’t tell you how much this means to me. Being a published author has always been the dream, but it wouldn’t mean half as much without all of you celebrating with me.
All my love and gratitude to Sam, who puts up with my scatterbrained writerly ways. Thank you for doing all of the laundry and dishes, for enduring my late-night writing sessions, for happily helping with our kiddo, and for not being too embarrassed by my collection of wolf T-shirts. Your faith in me and my writing has never wavered; I’m so lucky to have a partner who supports me so completely.
To my constant ray of sunshine, Kaia. You are my best tiny friend and the cutest little barnacle. You are never allowed to grow up. And thanks to Kato for dancing with me every time we get good publishing news.
I would never hit my deadlines if it weren’t for the Kids Academy at Life Time Athletic, who takes fabulous care of my girl while I write. I know I’m technically supposed to use that time to exercise, but thankfully they don’t judge me too hard when I sit in my pajamas and eat snacks while everyone else sweats.
And last, but never least, thanks to the wonderful community of librarians, teachers, booksellers, bloggers, reviewers, and readers. Your support and enthusiasm mean the world to me. It’s thanks to you that I get to continue doing my dream job! I’d send you all winterberry pies if I could.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ADDIE THORLEY IS THE AUTHOR OF AN AFFAIR OF POISONS, which earned a starred review in School Library Journal and was named a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in journalism, she decided “hard news” didn’t contain enough magic and kissing, so she flung herself into the land of fiction and never looked back. When she’s not writing, she can be found galloping around the barn where she works as a horse trainer and exercise rider. She currently lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with her husband, daughter, and wolf dog. You can find her online at www.addiethorley.com or on Twitter @addiethorley.
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraph
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 Addie Thorley
First published in 2020 by
Page Street Publishing Co.
27 Congress Street, Suite 105
Salem, MA 01970
www.pagestreetpublishing.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
eISBN 978-1-62414-889-7
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension. 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019944173
Cover design by Kylie Alexander for Page Street Publishing Co.
Author photo by Jordan Wallace
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