Calumet Editions

Statera

MAY YOU BLAZE OR BURN

To restore the balance of the world, every twelve years humans are chosen for the Equilibrium. Nothing is known about the Ceremony. Except one ultimatum.

No one ever returns.

When the totalitarian state known as FORTE forces Aurora and Lukas to participate, they expect to die for the cause. But inside the Equilibrium, they’ll discover that some fates are worse than death.

Description

In a world where survival is framed as choice, there is no such thing as freedom.

STATERA is a gripping young adult dystopian novel set in Colony Lithuania, a forgotten territory ruled by FORTE, where obedience is enforced and memory itself is a weapon. Every twelve years, teenagers are selected for the Equilibrium—a ritual meant to “restore balance” between the living and the dead. No one who enters ever returns.

Aurora, the daughter of a murdered partisan, has learned to survive through defiance. Lukas, a quiet hunter raising his younger sisters, survives through compassion. When they are captured and forced into a brutal psychological trial that turns them against one another, their lives—and memories—are violently erased. Branded as a Duo, they are thrust into the Equilibrium: a sequence of deadly stages designed to strip away identity, loyalty, and hope.

As Aurora and Lukas are pushed through increasingly merciless trials, fragments of their past begin to resurface. Instead of choosing self-preservation, they choose each other—again and again—challenging a system built on fear, sacrifice, and control. Their bond becomes an act of rebellion in a world that demands isolation.

Dark, emotional, and unflinchingly intense, STATERA explores power, memory, love, and resistance in the face of manufactured destiny. Perfect for fans of dystopian fiction that blends high-stakes survival with deep emotional resonance, this is a story about what remains when everything else is taken—and the cost of choosing humanity in a world designed to erase it.

Product Details

PublishedFebruary 10, 2026
ImprintCalumet Editions
LanguageEnglish
Print length402
ISBN-139781962834667
Dimensions6 x 1.01 x 9 inches

A fast, brutal, can’t-look-away dystopian that hits hard and stays with you.

—George, verified review on Amazon

This has genuinely been one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. From utter heartbreak to staying up late at night just to read “one more chapter”, it takes you on such a journey and you never know what’s coming next.

—Kamile, verified review on Amazon

A terrifying, emotionally powerful read I can’t recommend highly enough.

—Silvia, verified review on Amazon

If you enjoy dark, atmospheric stories where the protagonists are pushed to their absolute psychological limits, STATERA is a strong addition to your shelf. It is gritty, fast-paced, and carries a surprising amount of emotional depth. A great story.

—Ema, verified review on Amazon

Statera is a deeply necessary book. In today’s geopolitical climate, it feels less like fiction and more like a warning about how fragile freedom can be. A powerful and thought-provoking read that invites deeper reflection.

—Jolita, verified review on Amazon