Bloomsbury Publishing

Chapter One: Ice Planet

Chapter Two: Nasty Men

Chapter Three: Alien Eyes

Chapter Four: A Nice Trophy

Chapter Five: Green Slime

Chapter Six: A Storm Coming

Chapter Seven: Real Danger

Chapter Eight: Big Momma

Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman.

a promise was law; a promise was currency; a promise was your bond

“Love won’t feed a hungry belly,”

Forget how you feel,’ she said. ‘Forget what other people think. Pretend you are an actress on the stage. Speak with confidence, do not care how your words land and they will land well. People are mostly thinking of themselves. Decide who you want to be, who you want to show the world, and be that person. You can be anybody, my Violet. You have the power to present yourself to the world exactly how you wish to be seen.’

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This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either

the hydrangea her father had planted, that was to bloom pink or blue depending on the soil. It did not prove to Ruma that her father had loved her mother, or even that he missed her. And yet he had put it there, honored her before turning to another woman

“I don’t understand,” my father said.

“Neither do I,” I replied. “You haven’t wanted a picture of anything in years.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is.”

Of all the nations I have visited the U.S.A. and Russia suit me best. The people seem more ready to talk to strangers without being formal or disapproving. Is this because, like me, they have very little past?

Rhysand knew exactly how I looked—he’d recognized me that day at the manor.