The Stranger in the Looking Glass
56 parts Complete Cary has never considered herself anything special. She's just another desert-dweller trying to survive the harsh conditions of Red Valley. But when she's struck by a lightning storm believed to be sent by a Goddess, she finds herself forced to leave her home and embark on a perilous journey to the Golden City--a place spoken about only in legend. On the path, she's captured by a fanatical religious group that demands she unlock a magical power only she can truly understand.
Her only hope of freedom lies in an alliance with Ran, a wealthy boy who seems like Cary's opposite in every conceivable way. Together, they must navigate a world of shifting alliances, unknown magic, and the looming question of who they truly are in the chaos of survival. As Cary's journey unfolds, she discovers that finding what really matters may be the greatest challenge of all.