Aeritheria: Dawns Prelude (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798227612014)

In the 22nd century, Earth bears little resemblance to its past. The discovery of Athenium, once heralded as a revolutionary clean energy source promising prosperity, became humanity's downfall when it was weaponized, leading to unparalleled devastation. From this post-apocalyptic backdrop, Aeritheria emerges, a vast metropolis dominated by an authoritarian collective, the Ministry. Within its confines, emotions are stringently monitored, individuality squelched, and the Reclamation, a chilling event, is orchestrated to purge those labeled "imperfect," whether due to genetic anomalies, criminality, dissent, or mere non-conformity.

Zane, a young citizen of Aeritheria, finds solace in the stories of a brighter past shared by his elderly uncle during his clandestine trips to his uncle's farm beyond the city's walls. There, the roar of an ancient red Corvette stands as a testament to a bygone era of freedom and defiance. Zane's life takes a pivotal turn when he unearths his mother's treasured artifacts: a well-worn copy of "In Search of Lost Time" and a recording of "Rhapsody's Echo," her favored melody. These innocuous items, as Zane discerns, conceal cryptic clues left by the erstwhile resistance, leading him on a quest to decipher the tragic downfall of the past rebels, the plan to use DAWN, a virus to hijack Ministry broadcasts and the harrowing truths concealed about Aeritheria and the true purpose of the Reclamation.

Guided by this newfound knowledge and emboldened by his mother's legacy, Reyna, Zane seeks out the scattered remnants of resistance in the northeast. Encounters in the desolated regions known as "the Flare" and the secluded haven of "Hawthorn Blossoms" reveal surviving members of the former resistance. Together, with an eclectic ensemble of allies, Zane faces the relentless might of the Ministry's security force, the Astralus, in a high-stakes game of subterfuge and confrontation.

As the battle lines are drawn and tensions mount, a staggering revelation emerges: Zane's mother, long believed to have perished in the Reclamation, still breathes. In truth, those "reclaimed" were never executed; they were enslaved, forced to toil in the perilous Athenium mines. With this revelation, Zane's mission evolves. It is no longer solely about personal redemption or unearthing historical truths; it's a fervent quest to free his mother, ignite a rebellion, and liberate Aeritheria from the tyranny of the Ministry.