Additional information
by Lauren DeStefano (Author)
For the first printing only! This special 15th anniversary hardcover features sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts.
A teen fights to escape the wealthy family who kidnapped her to produce their heirs in this first book in the riveting, New York Times bestselling dystopian young adult trilogy reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale. Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. A botched effort to create a perfect humanity has left all males with a lifespan of twenty-five years, and all females with one of twenty--and the world has fallen into a state of panic. Geneticists seek a miracle antidote, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and girls are kidnapped off the streets and forced to serve as wives and bear children for the scions of the rich and powerful. Despite her every precaution, Rhine is kidnapped and forced to become a bride. Kept under tight guard, and tossed into a glittering world of illusion, Rhine is given wealth and luxury beyond anything she's ever dreamed. Her every need is met...every need except freedom. With the help of sweet, caring Gabriel--a servant in the manor--Rhine will do anything it takes to escape, go home, and reunite with her twin brother. But Florida is a long way from Manhattan; her father-in-law, a scientist from the perfect, healthy "first generation" who is obsessed with finding a cure for this early death, is watching her every move and hoarding corpses in the basement; and her husband, Linden, is a far cry from the monster she imagined him to be. But in a world that continues to decay, and with only four years left to fight for, is there any room for someone like Rhine to choose her own path?
Number of Pages: 368
Dimensions: 1.2 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN
Publication Date: January 27, 2026
Accelerated Reader:
Quiz Name: Wither
Interest Level: Upper Grades, 9-12
Reading Level: 5.2
Point Value: 13
