Not all heroes wear capes—some adorn crowns of marigolds and shadows.

Esmerelda (or Esme, as she prefers to be called) has no memory of her life before she's abandoned at five years old. She's adopted by the detective and nurse who helped her that day. At fourteen, Esme's adoptive father is shot, and her adoptive mother rejects her. Esme is forced into foster care, where she suffers physical and emotional torment at the hands of her foster father. After two years of surviving this abuse, she reaches a breaking point when her young foster brother's life is in danger, and she can no longer contain her rage. Extraordinary powers of death pour out of her to take down her abuser and protect her brother.

Afraid and left with nowhere to go, Esme is taken in by a family that also has fascinating powers. They try to train her to use her powers, but it all goes horribly wrong, and she ends up orphaned once more. Esme joins a band of misfits and embraces her power to heal—but her powers for good come at a price. Her fierce and seemingly uncontrollable powers threaten to ruin her chances at a normal life, family, friends, and the happy ending she so desperately craves. When becoming the hero leads her to darkness, she must decide whether to risk those she cares about.

Fans of GALLANT by V.E. Schwab and ONLY A MONSTER by Vanessa Len will enjoy MARIGOLDS AND SHADOWS.

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