Shadows in Dream Stone: A Sapphic Dystopian Science Fiction (Dark Stars)

Shadows in Dream Stone: A Sapphic Dystopian Science Fiction (Dark Stars)

"Dystopia with a heart. I loved it." - Best-selling author, Stephanie Butland (The Lost For Words Bookshop) "This feminist story delivers an indelible hero and a powerful, timely message." - Kirkus Reviews What if the laws of nature resulted in imprisonment at the hands of political tyrants? Abaddon Ordell is a teacher, fighter, sister, and wife turned prisoner. In the wake of a devastating miscarriage-a crime in this era-Abaddon is cruelly handed over to the law and condemned to nine years in the brutal Dream Stone prison. Hemmed in by aggressive inmates, guards steeped in misogyny, and a warden whose sympathy is nothing but a sham, she grapples with her consuming grief and a deep rage over the oppressive forces that placed her in prison to begin with. Just when all seems lost, an unexpected female ally offers her the strength and love she needs to endure this darkness, but trusting her could be the best thing for her heart, or the deadliest. As the dangers of Dream Stone escalate, Abaddon plots to assassinate those at the heart of the oppressive regime. If Abaddon survives Dream Stone, she becomes proof the system can be broken. But if she fails, she'll never have the chance to dismantle the regime that put her there. If you enjoy feminine rage books, sapphic dystopian books, and LGBTQ+ science fiction books, Shadows in Dream Stone is the book for you. The story encourages not only enjoyment but a thought-provoking discussion about current issues revolving around women's reproductive rights and human rights. Readers captured by the themes within Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and the character depth in Sarah J Maas's Crescent City series, will enjoy Shadows in Dream Stone and the rest of the dystopian book series. "This feminist story delivers an indelible hero and a powerful, timely message." - Kirkus Reviews Kelly K. Branyik is an award-winning writer, painter, and photographer. Kelly grew up in Colorado and has lived there for most of her life. She holds a B.A. in English (Creative Writing) from Colorado State University. Kelly is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) and served in Chongqing, China from 2014 - 2016 at Chongqing Tourism School in the Dadukou district. She operates a boutique marketing agency in Southern Colorado, often volunteering her skills to support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and authors in online success. Kelly lives in Southern Colorado with her partner, DJ, and their four fur babies, Milo, Cooper, Zwicky, and Astro. She speaks Mandarin Chinese and loves playing video games, taking long adventures, and helping others. Follow her online and subscribe to her newsletter at kellybranyik.com.