It was summer in Exana. And if Tennal could have read every mind in this city—in this sector—he still wouldn’t have swapped with any of them in favor of being here, now, kissing Surit under the shade of a tree on this street. On this quiet afternoon, under this patchwork of shade, on this flawed, fractious planet where he was born, Tennal’s own head finally felt like home.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First of all, thanks go to my wonderful partner, Eleanor, for cheering on this book, putting up with me through numerous deadlines, and applying serious medical knowledge to questions like, “Is there a good biological reason to forget about your lungs if you’re in someone else’s brain?”

Also to the fabulous Ali Fisher, who shaped this book into what it is with her editorial insight, enthusiasm, expertise, and a terrific willingness to dive headlong into its weirdness; and to Kristin Temple, who kept the wheels on the whole project with verve.

To Tamara Kawar, World’s Greatest Agent, for supporting it every step of the way, also fully rolling with things like “and then they both sort of mind-merge into space” and “I swear this will make sense in context.”

To the team at Tor US, including the great team of Becky Yeager, Renata Sweeney, Rachel Taylor, and Caro Perny, for their enthusiasm and skill in telling as many people as possible the book exists; Megan Kiddoo, Steven Bucsok, Greg Collins, Katie Klimowicz, and Michelle Foytek for their creativity and attention to detail in making it a beautiful object in both the digital and physical worlds (and especially for allowing a heroic number of last-minute corrections; thank you!); and to Devi Pillai, Eileen Lawrence, Sarah Reidy, and Lucille Rettino. Thanks go as well to the sensitivity readers who worked on this project, including moukies, for their keen eyes and their suggestions.

To the team at Orbit UK, including my wonderful editor, Jenni Hill, and the brilliant and tireless efforts of Nazia Khatun, Nadia Saward, Madeleine Hall, Joanna Kramer, and Anna Jackson. (Due to the nature of book printing schedules, I will have missed some very talented people who worked on this book from this list, for which I apologize!)

To my family, especially Mum and Mark, who both gallantly proofread the manuscript.

To Emily Tesh, A. K. Larkwood, Megan Stannard, Ariella Bouskila, Sophia Kalman, and Maz, who convinced me not to give up several times, and who continue to be unfairly talented and funny, and on whom I intend to take revenge by making them finish their own books.

And lastly, to everyone who supported Winter’s Orbit or this book—thank you.

Tor Books by Everina Maxwell

Tor Books by Everina Maxwell

Winter’s Orbit

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

EVERINA MAXWELL lives and works in Yorkshire, where she collects books and kills houseplants.

Visit her online at everinamaxwell.com, or sign up for email updates here.

Twitter: @Av_Stories

Tumblr: Avoliot

Instagram: @everina_maxwell