The Stricken - by Morgan Shamy

About the Book

Short Summary: Every day, a dark cloud descends upon Clara's town, erasing everyone's memories. Everyone except Clara. But after Clara's dad mysteriously disappears, the Diviners, captive souls who feed off memories, come for her. She flees to Khalom, a city in a parallel world, where she hopes to find safety. Forced to live the Noble life, Clara faces going to school with peers who want her dead.

Book Synopsis

A 2025 Reading the West Book Award Nominee
"The Stricken will keep you guessing with new twists on every page." --Rosalyn Briar, USA Today bestselling author

"[A] unique, page-turning tale." --Foreword Reviews

What if our spirits walk to another life while our bodies sleep?

Every day in Clara's world, a dark cloud descends upon her town. The storm comes like clockwork, erasing everyone's memories. Everyone except Clara. But after Clara's father mysteriously disappears, things change. The Diviners, captive souls who feed off memories, come for her. With the help of a mysterious figure, Clara escapes the Diviners and flees to Khalom, a city in a parallel world, where she hopes to find refuge. There, Clara discovers that she is a Noble--one of the few people to have knowledge of both worlds, along with the ability to venture between the two.

Forced to live the Noble life, Clara goes to school with peers who want her dead. Meanwhile, a rare and dangerous power begins to stir inside of her. The power of Death. And it grows until she's not sure if she can control it. When the Diviners break through the city's defense and students begin to turn up brain dead, Clara must find a way to harness her newfound power in order to stop the attacks before the city--and her mind--is wiped clean.

For readers who enjoy A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab, Crave by Tracy Wolff, House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, and A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik.

Review Quotes

"[T]his intriguing read by Shamy (The Dollmaker, for adults) provides much in the way of unique and interesting concepts that turn many classic high-fantasy genre beats on their heads." --Publishers Weekly

"An adventurous fantasy with twists and turns you'll never see coming and characters that breathe life into the pages. A unique experience to be had!" --Carly Spade, USA Today bestselling author

"An original and fun read from start to finish, The Stricken by Morgan Shamy will be an especially attractive pick for young readers with an interest in Sword & Sorcery style heroic fantasy fiction with an element of romance and dark magic. Exceptionally well written and a compulsive page-turner from beginning to end, The Stricken is highly recommended . . ." --Midwest Book Review

"Layers of self-discovery across multiple dimensions make The Stricken a unique, page-turning tale." --Foreword Reviews

"Riveting with its unique magic and world-building, The Stricken will keep you guessing with new twists on every page." --Rosalyn Briar, USA Today bestselling author

"The original premise stands out, and the worldbuilding is meticulous." --Kirkus Reviews

"VERDICT: The novel adds parallel worlds to the magic and love story of this romantasy. Readers will adore the strong female protagonist and her mission to save her world and those she loves." --School Library Journal

About the Author

Morgan Shamy is a former ballerina turned writer. She has been immersed in the arts since the young age of four, where she performed various roles alongside a professional ballet company for over seven years, and has danced on prestigious stages like soloing at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She currently lives with her X-Games gold-medalist husband and four children in Salt Lake City, Utah.