Flicker and Mist by Mary G. Thompson (review)

It’s easy to discriminate when two groups look different from each other and one of them holds all the power; Myra has grown up in just such a culture, and she inherited her Leftie mother’s looks and the ability to flicker or disappear, an ability that the powerful Plats (her dad included) view with suspicion and hostility. Nevertheless, Myra has a fiercely loyal best friend in Porti, a hot new boyfriend, and a great hobby racing wetbeasts in the Games, so life is still pretty good until mysterious attacks suggest that either the flicker ability may be more widespread than realized or that Flickerkin are coming in from outside the region to wreak havoc. Myra is flawed all over the place, insecure when she should be strong, slow to forgive when she desperately needs allies and loved ones, but it all makes perfect sense within the context of this world, where her own mother once said she wished Myra had never been born because of all of the discrimination she would face. Porti is equally compelling, cheerful and simple until a tragedy awakens her to new depths of fortitude. The world building and history are a bit muddy, so readers will just have to take a few plot points on faith, but the rest of the novel compensates with gripping characters, a sharp, quick pace, and a satisfying conclusion.