Esther the Seeker

Seventeen-year-old Esther is nearing the end of high school, her future wide open. She dreams of breaking free from her quiet Mid North Coast town and stepping into a life filled with possibility.
But Esther was born into a small, ostracized Australian community known as Farmer—a group despised by the Towns and the Elites alike. Torn between staying true to who she is and blending into the wider world, Esther faces the impossible: hide her identity, or risk becoming a target.
In a nation where religion is outlawed, strict laws govern every moment, and surveillance watches from every corner, the government claims to have built a peaceful, equal society. In truth, it’s a fragile utopia masking uncomfortable secrets.
As Esther takes her first steps into adulthood—thrilling, terrifying, and unknown—she discovers just how complicated life beyond childhood can be. Relationships, rules, and forbidden knowledge collide, forcing her to confront a question she never expected:

What is religion—and why is it so dangerous that her government had to erase it?Read less