Caught in the midst of World War I, Lila is a young Polish orphan living with an immortal being known as the Count. After witnessing the tragedies unfolding across Europe with Jörg, a German soldier who serves as her bodyguard, she resolves to use the Count's powers in a desperate bid to protect her homeland. However, to help Lila and save humankind, Jörg will be forced to make a decision that will change him forever..."The winds of war don't distinguish between adults and children. They turn everyone into monsters."SAYURI UEDA Born in Hyogo Prefecture. Her debut novel, The Martian Dark Ballade, won the 4th Komatsu Sakyo Award in 2003. She later won the 32nd Nihon SF Taish¿ Award in 2011 for The Ocean Chronicles and was nominated for the 159th Naoki Prize in 2018 with The King of Ruin. She enjoys writing across a wide variety of formats and genres, with some of her other works including Fin and Claw, The Descendants of Lilienthal, The Ocean Chronicles II: The Crimson Epitaph, The Fragrant Canopium, Dreaming Reed Pipe, The Peace Feelers, and Tales from Harima Province.