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Beneath the Cloudline
Beneath the Cloudline
A Young Adult (YA) sci-fi by Patrick LaJuett about a vertical city divided by an engineered canopy of mist. Above the clouds, people prize efficiency. Below them, the Rooted build their lives around work and survival.
When Jax crosses the Cloudline, he finds a city that has been lying to everyone, including itself. His journey pulls him into buried labs, forgotten spires, and airships that have been holding the world together with sound. What looks like division is really a broken system.
What does it take to unite people who were never meant to be apart?
PART 1: The Divided Sky
PART 1: The Divided Sky
The city's towers harness power while the ground holds them up. Its people have forgotten they depend on each other. Jax has spent his life climbing ropes that weren't meant for him. When he and Elyra cross the Cloudline, they uncover a truth buried by fear and sealed into law.
PART 2: The Eleventh Spire
PART 2: The Eleventh Spire
The rain begins to change. The Cloudline has been tampered with. Beneath the soil, the Bloom stirs. Following a Seedbinder named Brae, Jax, Zinn, and Elyra journey to the spire Halidom erased from its maps. In its abandoned labs, they find a betrayal that began inside the Council itself.
PART 3: Skywoven
PART 3: Skywoven
High above the wasteland, the phase-runners move as one. Eight airships tethered to a central cradle, their song holding the Rootbane back. But the harmony is breaking. When Jax and Zinn reach the Skywoven, they discover the towers were only part of a larger system.
Hopepunk with Roots
Hopepunk with Roots
The Great Weathering scattered them, and the Cloudline sealed the divide. Now the systems holding Halidom together are beginning to break. Seeing the world from different skies, four kids discover what it will take to put it back together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What's at the heart of the story?
At its heart, it's a story about people choosing unity over division and learning from their mistakes.
Is this a dystopia?
It's post-collapse hopepunk. World rebuilding after bad science nearly ended everything.
What age range is this for?
Young adult (ages 13+). It's written for older teens but reads well for adults.
Do I need to be a sci-fi fan?
No. It's sci-fi in setting, but a fable at heart. Focused on people, not technology.
Appropriate for all audiences?
Yes, it's safe for all audiences. No graphic violence, no sexual content, and no profanity.
How long is it?
Just under 60,000 words, it's a fast-paced read most teens finish in a weekend.
About the Author
About the Author
Patrick LaJuett is a storyteller, designer, and lifelong truth seeker.
Found family
Revolution without war
Hope in a fractured world
The Giver
Skyward
Miyazaki-style worldbuilding
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