Nina Kiriki Hoffman has written novels, juvenile and media tie-in books, short story collections, and more than two hundred short stories. Her works have been finalists for the Nebula, World Fantasy, Mythopoeic, Sturgeon, and Endeavour awards. Her first novel, The Thread That Binds the Bones, won a Stoker Award.

"A Wildly inventive and surprisingly playful sci-fi thriller.”—Washington Post

Roommates Jaimie Locke and Kim Calloway are each looking to find a new life at college. It's Jaimie's first time Outside—away from her large, complicated family and their magical traditions—and she wants to learn what nonmagical life is like. Kim is anxious to escape the depression that's been dragging her down since last year so she can make new friends and create the art she loves.

But almost as soon as they unpack, Jaimie realizes that Kim's depression is different from normal sadness. Something outside of Kim is literally forcing her to be depressed, pursuing and draining her. Just like that, the two girls—along with Jaime's cousins and a Presence named Rugee—try to capture and rout the creature that is following Kim.

No one said that college would be easy....