Book excerpt: They say if you tell a lie long enough you'll start to believe it. But Akiko will never forget who she truly is. Akiko Susumu is not what she seems. Her life as a normal teen living in a coastal Canadian town is a complete sham. The old man she lives with is not her grandfather, he's her captor. And Akiko isn't a teen. In fact, she isn't even human. But Akiko isn't allowed to share the reality of her true nature with a single soul. Not even her three best friends know of the power she could wield, given the chance. So, when she's sent back to her homeland to steal an ancient samurai sword, she jumps at the chance to secure her freedom, only to get caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the most dangerous crime syndicate in Japan. Can Akiko escape with her life and her soul, or is true freedom as elusive as the Aether she was born from? Born of Aether is the fourth book in The Elemental Origins, a series of captivating YA urban fantasy novels that can be read out of order. If you like new twists on ethnic folklore, simmering romance, and strong female characters, then you'll love A.L. Knorr's urban fantasy adventure. Embark on a deeper dive into the story's lore with The Wreck of Sybellen, a companion novel included with the book. Buy Born of Aether to lose submerge yourself in an enchanting coming-of-age tale today. Don't wait!