The Poison Season

Praise for Mara Rutherford: "Dripping with bloody opulence, A Multitude of Dreams creeps up on you like a sly shadow." --Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows "A beautiful, enchanting tale of a young woman coming into her own powers. Luminous shines as brightly as its heroine." --Joan He, New York Times bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find "A fabulous interweaving of fantasy, politics, and sisterhood." --#1 New York Times bestselling author Tamora Pierce, on Crown of Coral and Pearl Outsiders are always given a choice: the Forest or the lake. Either way, they're never heard from again. Leelo has spent her entire life on Endla, coexisting with the bloodthirsty Forest and respecting the poisonous lake that protects her island from outsiders who seek to destroy it. But as much as Leelo cares for her community, she struggles to accept that her younger brother will be exiled by his next birthday unless he gains the magic of enchanted song so vital to Endla. When Leelo sees a young outsider on the verge of drowning in the lake, she knows exactly what she's supposed to do. But in a moment that will change everything, Leelo betrays her family, her best friend, and Endla by making an unthinkable choice. Discovery could lead to devastating consequences for both Leelo and the outsider, Jaren, but as they grow closer, Leelo realizes that not all danger comes from beyond the lake--and they can only survive if Leelo is willing to question the very fabric of her society, her people, and herself.