Shannon Cramer

When a financial crisis in 1850s New York leaves three orphaned sisters nearly destitute, the oldest, Elise Neumann, knows she must take action. She's had experience as a seamstress, and the New York Children's Aid Society has established a special service: placing out seamstresses and trade girls. Even though Elise doesn't want to leave her sisters for a job in Illinois, she realizes this may be their last chance.

Orphaned twice over, Pan has spent his life under the control of the cunning and ruthless pirate captain, Lesard. Though desperate to both retain his morality and gain his freedom, he lives in constant fear of the consequences his choices could have on Smee, the only friend he has. When the enigmatic Hook joins Lesard’s crew and hatches a plot to help the captain break into the royal vault in Montaigne, Pan is offered his chance: if he helps Lesard gain entry to the vault, he and Smee will be allowed to leave the pirate life behind.

There is a world. One of endless night, surrounded by an even deeper darkness. Filled with nightmares come to life, twisted shapes that slink to windows and ease open doors, sliding across floors to look down on helpless faces. There is another world. A bright world, so bright it burns. Filled with stacked stones that call forth miracles, raised by callused hands that tremble in their work, drained with each stone lifted, settled, lifted again.