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Nearly a decade after the Covid-19 pandemic, a more virulent virus emerges and decimates the global population. When seventeen-year-old Leanne Khoury falls victim to the deadly Century Virus, her parents are among the select few who have the connections and resources to cryogenically preserve their dying loved ones. Driven by desperation and determination to save their only child, Leanne’s parents ignore the potential risks and ethical implications of this new medical technology. When a cure for the virus is found, Leanne is revived, only to discover that there are many severe side effects of suspended animation. She soon realizes that recovery will be a difficult, lifelong journey. She works to strengthen muscles that have atrophied while battling bouts of profound depression and glitches in consciousness. She also struggles to accept a post-pandemic reality in which billions died, nations fell, and infrastructures collapsed. Now, Leanne must acclimate to a new world fraught with danger.
This is a cleverly crafted tale that explores the ethical boundaries of medical advancement, AI technology, and the definition of human life. The book forces readers to consider how far they would go to save a loved one and where to draw the line between life-saving medicine and total disruption of the natural order. The author delivers a storyline interwoven with historical facts and current events to create a realistic glimpse of the future. She skillfully tackles controversial topics such as the brutality of North American colonialism, climate change, animal rights, same-sex parenting, and the volatile nature of radically conservative politics. Well-written and emotionally evocative, this book asks profound questions that will shape the future of medicine, politics, and society. Martin takes readers on a pulse-pounding, heart-in-the-throat journey and leaves them asking for more.