Ether's Shadow

On planet Sanred, human beings treat native species as disposable labor, like Eos, a half human, half nanus, who overworks in a textile factory. When her supervisor drains the essence of a dying coworker to convert it into fuel, Eos understands that the system has no intention of being nice to her. All of that thanks to ether, a substance humans use to manipulate matter and suppress native powers. However, the attack triggers something that has been dormant inside Eos: fire. Guided by that awakening, Eos connects with a group of forest nanus led by Talos, an elder who knew her missing father and guides her new powers into the flame that may free her people, but the plan has too many moving parts, and any of them can fail. Ether's Shadow is a science fantasy about colonialism, mixed identity, and the real cost of choosing freedom when the world would rather you stayed still.