THE PATCHWORK HERO - Book I (The Gathering Shadows). Young Adults, #1

In a world where perfection is the law, being different is a death sentence. The Great Wetland of Cloud Creek demands absolute conformity. For generations, the Purity Council has enforced a rigid hierarchy where snow-white feathers are the only measure of worth. Anything else is a genetic anomaly-an error to be erased. Gilbert, a young goose born with striking chocolate-brown patches and a dark collar of feathers, has spent his entire life enduring the cruelty of the Elite.
He has kept his head down, surviving the shadows of the pristine marble pavilions. But when the vicious leader of the Senior Wing decides that Gilbert's mere existence is a threat to the flock's flawless ledger, exile becomes a hunt to the death. Forced into the treacherous, unmonitored expanse of the Borderlands, Gilbert's desperate flight for survival leads him to an unlikely ally: Billy, a brilliant, neon-yellow duckling targeted by the same ruthless syndicates.
As the two outcasts navigate a deadly underground of rogue mercenaries, cartel-run swamps, and corporate conspiracies, they uncover a horrifying truth. The Council isn't just seeking perfection-they are preparing for an industrial purge. Cornered in the toxic, inescapable trap of the Deep Mire and hopelessly outnumbered by the heavily armed Vanguard, Gilbert can no longer hide his differences. To save his only friend and ignite the spark of a rebellion, the patchwork outcast must awaken an ancient, earth-shattering power hidden deep within his bloodline.
He must become the monster they always claimed he was. The Patchwork Hero: Book I - The Gathering Shadows by Akain Kulasinghe is a gripping, high-stakes dystopian thriller. Reimagining the classic animal fable as a gritty, pulse-pounding epic of survival, espionage, and found family, this explosive series starter will leave you breathless. Grab your copy today and join the resistance!