Return to the world of modern dragons and awakened cities in a new stand-alone trilogy from the author of NICE DRAGONS FINISH LAST and MINIMUM-WAGE MAGIC!
In the world's most magical metropolis where spirits run noodle shops and cash-strapped dragons stage photo-ops for tourists, people still think fairies are nothing but stories, and that's exactly how the fairies like it. It's a lot easier to feast on humanity's dreams when no one believes you exist. But while this arrangement works splendidly for most fair folk, Lola isn't one of the lucky ones.
She's a changeling, a fairy monster made just human enough to dupe unsuspecting parents while fairies steal their real child. The magic that sustains her was never meant to last past the initial theft, leaving Lola without a future. But thanks to Victor Conrath, a very powerful--and very illegal--blood mage, she was given the means to cheat death.
For a price.
Now the only changeling ever to make it to adulthood, Lola has served the blood mage faithfully, if reluctantly, for twenty years. Her unique ability to slip through wards and change her shape to look like anyone has helped make Victor a legend in the DFZ's illegal-magic underground. It's not a great life, but at least the work is stable... until her master vanishes without a trace.
With only a handful left of the pills that keep her human, Lola must find Victor before she turns back into the fairy monster she was always meant to be. But with a whole SWAT team of federal paladins hunting her as a blood-mage accomplice, an Urban Legend on a silent black motorcycle who won't leave her alone, and a mysterious fairy king with the power to make the entire city dream, Lola's chances of getting out of this alive are as slender as a silver thread.
BY A SILVER THREAD is a fast-paced Urban Fantasy featuring cunning fae, a kind heroine, and a magic so destructive that using it even once stains your soul forever. Buckle up for a wild ride through a near-future, magical Detroit where urban legends ride the streets, fairy queens have mansions uptown, and the City is an actual deity you don't want to cross. Welcome to the DFZ!

Hello, my name is Rachel Aaron, author of Nice Dragons Finish Last, the best-selling writing productivity book 2k to 10k, and The Legend of Eli Monpress, published by Orbit Books. I'm also the author of Fortune's Pawn, the first book in the rollicking fun Paradox Science Fiction trilogy (now complete) under the name Rachel Bach. Confused yet? I know I am!
I was born and raised in Atlanta, but I currently live a lovely, nerdy, bookish life in Athens, GA with my faster-than-the-speed-of-light son, perpetually understanding husband, and fat weiner dog. I write full time, all the time, but when my family can drag me away from my own books, I love reading fantasy (urban and traditional), Romance (paranormal and Regency), and Science Fiction (all kinds). I also enjoy video games, Minecraft, anime, manga, hanging out at conventions, and overdone, epic things.
Other than my fiction, the internet knows me best for writing very fast. The best way to get to know me is to read my books, my blog, or follow me on Twitter or Facebook. If you don't feel like being all social media-y, I've also done several interviews, which I've linked below for your convenience.
If you have any specific questions about me, my writing process, or my books, please feel free to contact me (rachelaaron.net) and thank you for reading. It's readers like you who enable me earn a living doing the best job in the world. Thank you!