Mikanical is a reluctant hero in a galaxy where the line between flesh and metal has long since blurred. Half-human, half-machine, he drifts the arid frontiers of dead planets, scavenging to keep his failing systems alive—and to outrun the memories that still haunt what's left of his heart. In Rust and Blood, the first installment of the Mikanical saga, Mika touches down on a sun-scorched world to hunt for the part that will save his life. Instead, he finds something unexpected in the ashes: a young girl with a robotic eye, chained by cruelty, and carrying secrets dangerous enough to ignite a war. Forced into an uneasy alliance, the pair navigate a maze of slave traders, enforcers, and treacherous outposts. When betrayal strikes and all hope seems lost, a daring escape offers one chance at redemption—and one step closer to freedom among the stars. This is the beginning of an unforgettable journey across hostile worlds, where nothing is as it seems, and salvation may lie in the strangest of bonds.