The Aviary

A girl of sixteen, Serenity, has been kept hidden for her whole life so that she would never reach the moment she is finally seized. In a society where people are traded openly like merchandise, she is snatched away and auctioned to the highest bidder. That buyer is Luc, a secretive and perilous man who runs The Aviary, an exclusive museum where young women are put on display as living artworks during the day. At night, the same women are made available to wealthy patrons. Inside this cutthroat establishment, the girls take on bird names such as Raven and Nightingale and compete relentlessly to be the top Bird. Luc is fixated on Serenity's innocence and plans to make her his most prized exhibit, a centerpiece called The Swan. She quickly becomes the most sought-after attraction the place has ever had. Serenity learns that Luc knows how to locate her parents, so she commits to performing the role of the Swan flawlessly, hoping to earn his trust. Along the way she begins to develop feelings for him, which complicates her situation. She must decide whether to flee and risk losing her only lead to her parents, or remain as Luc's Swan and surrender her own identity. The book deals with abuse, manipulation, dissociation, pornography, Stockholm syndrome and drug use within the industry. It was inspired by accounts from survivors and rescue workers, and it contains no graphic violence.