Between sun and shadow / Laura Genn.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech.

Featuring fun and stylish case art beneath the hardcover dust jacket!

Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect--an industrial robot she's repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick.

Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents--but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom?

However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori's longing for relationship echoes Adria's own. Granted free rein of Adria's fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria's precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide?

A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 8 Up--In a speculative sapphic retelling of the Hades and Persephone story, the planet of Pagomènos is divided between the Daylands, whose inhabitants wear radiation suits and use implanted chips to fix degrading memory problems, and the Nightlands, full of beings who have embraced the radiation of a crashed meteor to give themselves powerful inhuman mutations. Adria is the newly crowned queen of the Nightlands, and when Kori, heir to the Daylands' throne, crashes into her territory, Adria sees it as an opportunity to leverage the Daylands and unite her people. But Kori isn't what she expected, and as the two get closer, a romance blooms in the darkness. Hoping to build a legacy outside each of their parents' expectations as they uncover sinister secrets on both sides unites them. The people and planet of Pagomènos create a setting that is wholly original and expertly blends aspects of science fiction and fantasy. While a romance at its heart, Genn's debut doesn't lack action, with punchy fight scenes and violent moments of well-placed horror. Kori has a tan complexion and wavy brown hair, and Adria has blue-white skin and dark hair; these descriptions match their contrasting living conditions of sunlight based on where they are on the planet. VERDICT An excellent title for libraries with teens who love genre-blending romance.--Jolie M. Hanlon

Booklist Review

Pagomènos once spun like Earth, but after a great cataclysm, it locked and separated into two realms: the Daylands and the Shadowlands. Daylands heiress Kori is isolated by her overbearing mother. She has no friends save for Aspect, a robot of her own creation that she hopes to install sentience into (despite its illegality). But this desire leads to her crashing into forbidden territory and meeting Adria, the newly crowned queen of the Shadowlands. Adria's title, however, is a tentative one, as the Shadowlands people are unsure of Adria's abilities to rule. To prove herself a fearsome leader, she kidnaps Kori in hopes of getting a ransom. However, the tension between them doesn't remain political. Alongside this simmering romance is a bubbling rebellion, and the two must work together to save their respective realms. While it does occasionally overtell, this is a fresh take on the Hades and Persephone tale. Kori and Adria's dynamic is electric, with both suffering from the weight and loneliness that come with duty. Recommended for fans of sci-fi and Greek mythology.

Kirkus Book Review

On a distant planet, girls from opposing domains overcome obstacles to be together. After colliding with a radioactive asteroid, the planet Pagomènos became "tidally locked"--with one side permanently in the sun and the other in darkness. The dayfolk descended underground, preserving their memories of the before times in implanted microchips. The nightfolk embraced the asteroid's radiation and attendant mutations, including powers of telekinesis and wings that permit flight. Kori, the 16-year-old heiress of the Daylands, is on a hunt to awaken sentience in Aspect, her mech companion, when she enters the forbidden Shadowlands and is captured by its mutant queen, Adria. Seventeen-year-old Adria wants to be the ruthless leader that the Shadowlands needs, but deep down she's merciful. Kori begins as Adria's prisoner, but the pair kindle a friendship--and eventually, romance--as they recognize their similarities. But the turmoil of their respective societies proves to be a significant hurdle. The story is engaging and suspenseful. Kori, whose skin is a "sun-kissed tan," and Adria, who has "blue-white skin," are appealing protagonists, and it's easy to root for their romance. The worldbuilding of the captivating setting leans heavily into the fantastical, but the exposition can be dry compared to the more enjoyable character-centric moments. Aspect is endearing and provides comic relief; their development is heartwarming. At its core, this is an inspiring tale about queer teens conquering the odds to live as their truest selves. A heartfelt Sapphic romance wrapped in exciting otherworldly action.(Science fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.