Title Page

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Dedication

TO EVERYONE WHO LENT A HAND ALONG THE WAY.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Wow. Here we are. The last book in the Amberlough Dossier. We made it! And I do mean we. As always, this book is not just mine—it’s the product of many people’s love, support, and commiseration. Firstly, of course, my editor, Diana Pho, and my agent, Connor Goldsmith. Diana really whipped this book into shape so we’d end the trilogy strong, and Connor shone the light at the end of the tunnel so I had something to aim at as I trucked along. And all the gratitude to Desirae Friesen, publicist of publicists, who basically put this book in your hands.

The rest of this list is probably woefully incomplete. I know there are folks out there I’ve forgotten, and for that I truly apologize. Wherever you are, whoever you are: you have my undying gratitude!

My myriad communities of wonderful writer friends were indispensable as I closed out the trilogy. Special thanks go to Alpha student Zach Nash, who kick-started this plot with the two words “capitalist oligarchy.” To all my friends in the Pub, of course, but most especially Jay Wolf, Andrea Tatjana, Jennifer Mace, Sarah Berner, and Marianne Kirby, who at various points solved particularly thorny problems for me. Also Nicasio Reed, who made me the dopest Amberlough playlist of all time and introduced me to Jidenna.

And Lex Beckett, Kelly Robson, Kellan Szpara, Sarah Pinsker, Jordan Sharpe, Debra Wilburn, and Alexandra Renwick: our Timberhouse retreat was exactly what this book needed in its second draft.

Shout-out to all the Clarion crew who have come on this journey, with special callouts for Patrick Ropp and Huw Evans, cheerleaders extraordinaire.

Kelsey Hercs, you are an inspiration and a joy to be around, not to mention a stellar playwright, and I am so pleased we stumbled into being friends. Eric Mersmann, thanks for being my due process consultant. I owe you some pickle flavored ice cream.

Thank you, of course, to my parents, who planted many words in my head as a small child by reading to me, and cared for the resultant carnivorous swamp plant. You’re my biggest fans and probably have hand-sold enough copies of my books to put them into a second printing.