From the prize-winning author of the Mirror Visitor quartet comes a standalone YA dystopian novel set in a world where every life is assigned a purpose--and no one is free to question it.

★ "Demanding, unsettling, and deeply rewarding."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Deluxe hardcover edition with spot gloss and sprayed edges

In a world ruled by "We" each person has a role, a direction, a mission assigned by their Instinct. No deviation. No freedom--Instinct is irrepressible and serves the Collective. But if young Goliath, a shattered Protector, saves lives, it's also because he dreams of becoming a Saint. And Claire, hiding behind her Instinct as a Confidant, bears a secret that could shake the entire system.

When some students begin disappearing into silence, Claire and Goliath find themselves questioning everything. Determined to uncover the truth, they follow forbidden trails, escape a murderous Archangel, and discover that "We" is not at all what it seems. The Instinctive Bureaucracy is impenetrable, and the detractors of the Collective work in the shadows, but one thing connects them all: their certainties are about to be shattered.