She’s part of a hidden race. Her coming-of-age transformation doesn’t go as planned. Lost and alone will she remain trapped forever?

Kara has never felt such panic. She’d always known she was part of the Secret Humankind and now that she is of age that she’d go through the Change and become an adult. But her parents didn’t warn her that it would hurt this much or have her waking up in the middle of a forest all alone.

Kara tries to make her way out of the unfamiliar woods, desperate to get back home to those she loves. That’s when she finds out her very essence has been tied to a tree, and wandering too far from it will mean her death.

Can Kara find a way to reunite with her parents, or will she remain tethered until she rots?

Kara is the heart-wrenching prequel novelette of The Discoveries of Julia Xero urban fantasy series. If you like plucky heroines, difficult choices, and origin stories, then you’ll love Gloria Oliver’s emotional journey.

Grab your copy of Kara to find your way to freedom today!

Excerpt

“It’s all right. Everything is all right now.” Papa’s voice sounded relieved but also raw. How long had he been calling out for me?

A hiccup came from nowhere, and he laughed at hearing it. He set me down and wiped my face with his handkerchief, even as more hiccups escaped. I touched his tanned face and his bushy black eyebrows to make sure he was real and not a dream. I giggled, full of happiness at seeing him again. My eyes filled with new, unshed tears.

“Let’s get you home, Kara,” Papas said. “Won’t that be nice?”

His words stabbed me in the heart. My tears fell and might keep falling forever. “I can’t, Papas! I can’t leave. I’ve tried!“

His eyes searched my face, his brows drawing together in confusion.

“Papas, I’m a dryad!”

My father’s eyes grew wide and then his face seemed to collapse in on itself. He cried out and took me in his arms again, his whole body shaking. I wanted to run, hide, be anywhere but here. My Papas was crying. But my Papas never cried! He was strong and wise. He could fix anything.

That was when I realized even Papas wouldn’t be able to help me out of this. I was truly trapped here—and it hurt.

ISBN: 978-1957230184