This is soundly a YA novel, even with some darker themes, so if you go into it expecting that, you'll enjoy it!
Nhika has been living a hard scrabble life after the loss of her family and culture. She gets by pretending to be a homeopathic healer, while she's actually a Heart Soothe, a person with the ability to connect with and heal, or harm, other's bodies.
Unfortunately there's quite the black market for Heart Soothes. People use them as weapons and some believe cannibalizing them will heal them of their ails and give them power. Most are afraid of Heart Soothes and call them Blood Carvers.
When Nhika is caught by those operating a black market, she's bought by an prestigious, wealthy family. They want her to heal an injured family member to uncover the truth of their father's death.
Along the way Nhika tries to find her place among the family, learn more about her culture and soothing, and determine a way forward for herself. However twisted plots based in desperation and the shocking discovery she's not alone throw a wrench in her plans.
Nhika has been living a hard scrabble life after the loss of her family and culture. She gets by pretending to be a homeopathic healer, while she's actually a Heart Soothe, a person with the ability to connect with and heal, or harm, other's bodies.
Unfortunately there's quite the black market for Heart Soothes. People use them as weapons and some believe cannibalizing them will heal them of their ails and give them power. Most are afraid of Heart Soothes and call them Blood Carvers.
When Nhika is caught by those operating a black market, she's bought by an prestigious, wealthy family. They want her to heal an injured family member to uncover the truth of their father's death.
Along the way Nhika tries to find her place among the family, learn more about her culture and soothing, and determine a way forward for herself. However twisted plots based in desperation and the shocking discovery she's not alone throw a wrench in her plans.