Miss Archer

INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOP EDITION

Dre Archer was always told human history was over. Until the day she is plucked from all she knows, and recruited as governess to an enigmatic five-year-old boy. Albie is rash, emotionally obtuse, and possibly a genius.

He also believes the year is 1884—two centuries before Dre was born. Everyone working at his family’s grand Victorian manor strives to maintain the illusion, keeping the modern world safely outside their doors. Dre is expected to follow along and not ask questions.

At first, Dre works hard to embody her role as ‘Miss Archer’, with comportment lessons and corsets. But somewhere along the way, the performance begins to feel real—as does her bond with this singular boy. Slowly she is overwhelmed by questions: Why the weird adherence to the 19th century, when it’s the dawn of the 22nd? Why has she never met Albie’s elusive parents? Who are her shadowy employers? And what is her job, really?In her mounting determination to unlock these mysteries, Dre finds herself flouting the draconian rules of the house.

As a series of Russian doll-like revelations brings her closer to the truth, Dre must go to dangerous lengths to protect her young charge, who she has, without quite meaning to, come to love as her own.

Returning from a harrowing heist, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor – and she has an offer.

The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo, seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that’s protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that’s where things get a little complicated.

The stones don’t exist. They’re a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough.

To make matters infinitely worse, Grey’s never trusted immortals, and Dalia’s definitely hiding something. Something bad. And if they don’t figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives.