Mark of the Cursed World

On the storm‑scarred planet Ysleta—where acid rain burns, green skies loom, and magic makes you a target—seventeen‑year‑old Isabel hides four rare powers she barely understands. Abandoned at three and raised by an elder who later died in her arms, Isabel has survived alone ever since, dreaming of escaping the world that wants to claim her. Her only ally is Jaxson, a boy trapped in a violent home and clinging to her as his last safe place. Together, they begin building a ship from junkyard scraps, hoping to reach Earth—a world Isabel has only heard about in stories. But Ysleta is watching. Gangs stalk her. Hunters steal powers. And the Academy has sent Lila, a young operative torn between duty and guilt, to track Isabel down. As storms rise and secrets from Isabel’s past begin to surface, she must decide who she can trust, what she’s willing to risk, and whether she can outrun a planet determined to control her… or destroy her for what she is.