Beneath the Cloudline

A story about repairing what was built together.

In a city divided by altitude, the towers harness power and the ground holds them up. Both sides have forgotten how they depend on each other.

Jax was raised beneath the towers, among the Rooted who keep the city alive. Elira was born in their heights, taught never to look down.

When they meet across the Cloudline, they uncover a truth buried by fear and passed down as law. To save the city, they'll have to trust what the towers buried... and what the ground remembers.

Beneath the Cloudline by Patrick LaJuett

A YA science-fiction fable about fractured societies, inherited stories, and the long climb back to unity.
A story of repair, not rebellion. Of roots that remember, and systems worth saving.

Character Guide

World of Halidom

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The Divided Sky

Act I of Beneath the Cloudline

Jax was raised on the ground, among storytellers, riggers, and keepers. He swings from scaffold lines, cleans tower glass, and hums the hymns of the Rooted. Then a girl from the towers sees him. Sees herself in his reflection. The divide finally looks back.

Elira was born in the clouds, engineered for obedience and groomed for power. But one question sparks a fire: What was buried to build the sky?

Together, they uncover a secret that could unravel their world. One rope line, one memory, one echo at a time.

High above the clouds, the ten towers of Halidom gleam with filtered air and glass walls. Beneath them lies a living city—rooted in stories, sweat, and song. The Rooted keep the towers breathing. The towers forget they exist.

Now the system that erased Jax is watching again. The climb back doesn’t start with rebellion, but with remembering who the system was built to serve.

The Eleventh Spire

Act II of Beneath the Cloudline

Before the towers reached for the sky, they were built to survive the ground.

To protect Halidom, Jax and Elira descend into the one spire sealed before the others rose: the Eleventh Spire. Exiled. Erased. No longer empty.

With them: Wren, a seedbinder's child from beyond the mist, and Zinn, a climber who's scaled more towers than he's followed rules.

The Bloom, an engineered seed that nearly ended the world, stirs through the roots. The rain is changing. Someone has tampered with the Cloudline's core.

Some roots wait. Some remember. And some roots climb.

Skywoven

Act III of Beneath the Cloudline

A city of song. A sky stitched against the dark.

Above the mist, the Skyloom, a city woven from nine great airships. Drifting in unison.

Held together by ancient harmonics, its song shields the valleys below from the Rootbanes' return. But the harmony is fading. One of the ships has gone silent.

When Jax joins the phase-runners of the sky, he uncovers a forgotten truth: the towers below were never the whole system. They were the anchors. The real safeguard was sung.

As the melody falters, the threat isn’t rising; it’s listening. And the ground must remember how to sing.

Perfect for fans of

The Giver
Skyward
Hayao Miyazaki-style worldbuilding
Class-divided sci-fi with a hopeful heart

Themes

Found family
Revolution without war
Identity, legacy, and re-learning truth
The power of story, rhythm, and memory

About the Author

Patrick LaJuett is a storyteller, designer, and lifelong explorer of the edges between sky and soil. He writes luminous fables that blend future tech with forgotten myths, always asking: What if the systems we built forgot who they were for?

Beneath the Cloudline is a tribute to second chances. The truths that outlast silence, and the systems that tried to bury them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to like sci-fi to enjoy this?

No. If you love The Giver, Avatar: The Last Airbender, or Studio Ghibli films, you'll feel at home here. It’s sci-fi in setting, but a fable at heart. Focused on people, not tech.

When does Book One release?

Beneath the Cloudline is set to release in Spring 2026. Sign up for updates to be notified the moment it's available.

Where can I buy it?

Beneath the Cloudline will be available wherever books are sold, including online retailers, local bookstores, and digital formats. Signed editions and indie store options will be announced.

Is this a dystopia?

Not quite. It's post-collapse hopepunk—a world rebuilding after the Bloom nearly ended everything. The towers aren't evil; they're a flawed solution. The story asks: Can we do better?

What age range is this for?

This is young adult fiction (ages 13+). It's written for teens but built for anyone who loves hope with consequences, vertical worldbuilding, and characters who choose courage over comfort.

Will there be romance?

Yes—but it's slow-burn and earned. Jax and Elira's connection grows from trust, not tropes. Their relationship is built on shared risk, not instant attraction.

Is this a safe read for all audiences?

Yes. This series contains no graphic violence, sexual content, or profanity. It's not preachy or politically charged—just a story about people choosing unity over division. Readers from all backgrounds and beliefs can enjoy it without feeling lectured or excluded.

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