Thornfruit

Alizhan reads minds but cannot recognize faces, and physical touch brings her pain. Raised in isolation by the wealthy Iriyat, she uses her abilities to gather secrets from the city’s powerful families. Discovering that others share her gift—and may be in danger—forces her to question the protection she has always depended on. Ev, a farmer’s daughter who longs for adventure, knows Alizhan as the intriguing thief who visits her market stall. When that familiar stranger needs help, Ev chooses to act. Their growing trust and attraction become essential as a conspiracy carries them beyond the lives they knew. The first Gardener’s Hand novel focuses on their F/F relationship within a trilogy whose later romance expands beyond that pairing.