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Ellie is naturally immune to the deadly brain infection caused by the Cordyceps fungus, which wiped out most of the population. Doctors discovered this through testing – she carries the fungus but doesn’t get sick. Because of her immunity, different groups desperately want to study her, hoping to find a cure, and this drives much of the conflict in the story. She’s treated as a valuable and protected person, which dictates her journey and who she can trust.

I’ve always been heartbroken learning about Billie Holiday’s life. She struggled with heroin for so long, all while constantly being on the road and, unbelievably, watched by the authorities. It led to arrests and time in prison, which really disrupted her music and performances. Even near the end of her life, she was hospitalized and treated like a criminal – kept from seeing friends and family, and even denied access to her own money. It’s just devastating to think she died so young, at only 44, with her health and career destroyed by addiction and constant legal troubles.