Magical realism

Book SynopsisIn early eighteenth-century Lisbon, Baltasar, a soldier who has lost his left hand in battle, falls in love with Blimunda, a young girl with visionary powers. From the day that he follows her home from the auto-da-fe where women are burned at the stake, the two are bound body and soul by love of an unassailable strength. A third party shares their supper that evening: Padre Bartolomeu Lourenco, whose fantasy is to invent a flying machine. As the Crown and the Church clash, they purse his impossible, not to mention heretical, dream of flight.Trade ReviewA mighty novel, variously bawdy, elevated, angry and tender, combining erudition, comedy, heresy, surreal science fiction and countless good stories. -- Robert Farren * Sunday Independent *Original and brilliant...Lovers of Marquez and magical realism will be enchanted by the wonders of this novel, for the colour and vivacity of Saramago's imagination inspires and entertains. -- Kate Figes * Sunday Times *Jose Saramago affirms the simple truths as only a writer of rare stature can. -- Christopher Wordsworth * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisAn anomalous kiss. A white turtle ferrying the dreams of the dead. A working siesta in a five-star hotel. A woman’s twelve-metre hair trawling corpses from a river. Or a queue of longings in Darlinghurst. These enigmatic tales are stories of chance and hope. Alternately mythic, wistful or quirky, Merlinda Bobis’ tales resonate with an original and confident storytelling voice. Published as The Kissing in the United States.Trade Review"Merlinda Bobis writes like an angel. Her characters whisper to you long after they've told their bittersweet tales." --Arlene J. Chai, author, "Eating"Fire and Drinking Water"

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Book SynopsisIt's a warm summer's afternoon when young Alice first tumbles down the rabbit hole and into the adventures in Wonderland that have kept readers spellbound for more than 150 years. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is brought to life by Sir John Tenniel's legendary illustrations in black and white, and with an afterword by Anna South.Collected here are Lewis Carroll's two classics - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass - in which Alice encounters the laconic Cheshire Cat, the anxious White Rabbit and the terrifying Red Queen, as well as a host of other outlandish and charming characters.Trade ReviewI revelled in all the logical games, and the wordplay. It made me laugh till my sides hurt -- Richard Cohen * Independent *‘Alice’ makes the logic of the everyday world appear nonsensical and the absurd make glorious sense -- Mark Hudson * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisIt's a warm summer's afternoon when young Alice first tumbles down the rabbit hole and into the adventures in Wonderland that have kept readers spellbound for more than 150 years. Collected here are Lewis Carroll's two classics - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass - in which Alice encounters the laconic Cheshire Cat, the anxious White Rabbit and the terrifying Red Queen, as well as a host of other outlandish and charming characters.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is brought to life by Sir John Tenniel's legendary illustrations in colour, and with an afterword by Anna South.Trade ReviewI revelled in all the logical games, and the wordplay. It made me laugh till my sides hurt -- Richard Cohen * Independent *‘Alice’ makes the logic of the everyday world appear nonsensical and the absurd make glorious sense -- Mark Hudson * The Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisSet during Carnival in Haiti 1938, a young and beautiful woman named Hadriana drinks a mysterious potion on her wedding day and collapses at the altar. She is buried and later resurrected by an evil sorcerer and, as a zombie, enters the collective memory of her town of Jacmel. Hadriana's conversion serves as the inciting incident into an exploration of the strange and esoteric on the island, where Voodoo and Catholicism keep a symbiotic relationship, young women turn into zombies, young men turn into lascivious butterflies and nothing is quite what it seems. Hadriana in All my Dreams is a frolic through mystery and eroticism that reveals vital truths about the nature of humanity.

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Book Synopsis'I guess we've always preferred hiding away than sharing our problems. Us versus the world.' When Sam is woken in the middle of the night by the sound of his mother crying, he is reluctant to get up and discover the reason for her distress. When he finally discovers what has happened, even his worst fears cannot compare to the truth, and he realises that both their lives have now changed irrevocably.Sam and Jude struggle to cope with their shock and grief and are powerless to stop their family home descending from a place of refuge into one of dread and danger. As their world begins to resemble a horror movie, events from the past surface once more bringing with them painful memories of betrayal and public shaming.Can Sam and Jude recover from the trauma of what has happened or have their lives been devastated forever? Do they share their secret with the outside world, or do they retreat into a life of seclusion and fear? And is either one of them brave enough to make the ultimate sacrifice, for the sake of their family and potentially the rest of the world…?Trade Review‘One of the brightest prospects among a thriving breed of fresh Scottish writing talent.’ –EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS on Swim Until You Can't See Land ‘Catriona Child has a pitch perfect ear for contemporary dialogue and a professional’s eye for the detail of a city that tourists rarely notice’ – NORTHWORDS NOW on Trackman

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Book Synopsis"Extraordinary and unforgettable characters" WORLD LITERATURE TODAY"Rich and many layered . . . fascinating" CHRISTOPHER MOSELEYWhen Baroness Valtraute von Bruegen's officer husband's body is severed in two she is delighted to find that the lower half has been sewn onto the upper body of the humble local Captain Ulste. She conceives a child only to see the return of her husband in one piece. What happens next is both indescribably funny and darkly painful. A beautifully written Surrealist novel-cum-political allegory, Flesh-Coloured Dominoes transports the reader between 18th-century Baltic gentry and the narrator's life in the modern world. The connection between the two narratives gradually becomes clear in a mesmerising fantasy of love, lust, and loss as Skijuns creates a work of sublime art that is funny, moving, enlightening and philosophical in equal measure.Translated from the Latvian by Kaija StraumanisTrade ReviewSkujins is a master at personae and a cosmopolitan writer, filling his landscapes with extraordinary and unforgettable characters * World Literature Today *

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Book Synopsis An enchancting, lyrical novel from the acclaimed author of A Light Between Worlds! 'Weymouth's prose is lush and evocative, filled with palpable descriptions and compelling mystery' KIRKUS 'With lush prose and an eye for atmospheric detail, Weymouth adeptly spins a tale in which thge heroine is torn between passion and purpose, destruction and duty.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY When her father is convicted of high treason, Violet Sterling is exiled. Seven years later she has a chance to return to her beloved Burleigh House and to Wyn, the boy she left behind. But Burleigh – one of the six great magical houses of England – has gone wild with grief after the death of Violet’s father and now the capricious King of England has threatened to raze it to the ground. Vi must decide whether her destiny is set in stone, before Burleigh destroys everything she loves. The second novel by acclaimed YA talent and author of The Light Between World, Laura Weymouth. A curious and original alternate history of living great houses, set in a vividly imagined, enchanting world.

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Book SynopsisWINNER of the James Tait Black Prize 2021.WINNER of The Republic of Consciousness Prize 2021.Lush and frothy, incisive and witty, Shola von Reinhold's decadent queer literary debut immerses readers in the pursuit of aesthetics and beauty, while interrogating the removal and obscurement of Black figures from history.Solitary Mathilda has long been enamored with the 'Bright Young Things' of the 20s, and throughout her life, her attempts at reinvention have mirrored their extravagance and artfulness. After discovering a photograph of the forgotten Black modernist poet Hermia Druitt, who ran in the same circles as the Bright Young Things that she adores, Mathilda becomes transfixed and resolves to learn as much as she can about the mysterious figure. Her search brings her to a peculiar artists' residency in Dun, a small European town Hermia was known to have lived in during the 30s. The artists' residency throws her deeper into a lattice of secrets and secret societies that takes hold of her aesthetic imagination, but will she be able to break the thrall of her Transfixions?From champagne theft and Black Modernisms, to art sabotage, alchemy and lotus-eating proto-luxury communist cults, Mathilda's journey through modes of aesthetic expression guides her to truth and the convoluted ways it is made and obscured.Trade ReviewIt's funny and weird and dazzlingly clever. -- Alice Winn * The Guardian *a celebration of eccentric esprit -- Houman Barekat * The Guardian *Lote is a magical, revolutionary piece of writing * FRIEZE *An inspirational, cutting, exquisitely written, multilevel excavation of forgotten Black lives and an Afro-queer celebration of art, aesthetics, literature, and society. -- Paul Mendez * author of Rainbow Milk *An inspirational, cutting, exquisitely written, multilevel excavation of forgotten Black lives and an Afro-queer celebration of art, aesthetics, literature, and society. -- Paul Mendez * author of Rainbow Milk *

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Book SynopsisA bewitching novel set in contemporary Japan about the mysterious suicide of a young woman. Miwako Sumida is dead. Now those closest to her try to piece together the fragments of her life. Ryusei, who always loved Miwako, follows her trail to a remote Japanese village. Chie, her best friend, was the only person to know her true identity — but is now the time to reveal it? Meanwhile, Fumi, Ryusei’s sister, has her own haunting secret. Together, they realise that the young woman they thought they knew had more going on than they could ever have dreamed.Trade Review‘The gap between the private pain we suffer and the public image we project is explored with sensitivity and tenderness.’ -- Claire Allfree * Daily Mail *‘Vivid and intriguing — an elegantly cryptic, poetically plotted Murakami-esque whydunit.’ -- Sharlene Teo, award–winning author of Ponti‘An offbeat, tender exploration of the secrets we keep from others … Goenawan is clearly a talented and creative storyteller … She excels at suspense, keeping the reader guessing with left-field plot developments and forays into magic realism that somehow seem in keeping with realities on the ground.’ -- Sarah Gilmartin * The Irish Times *‘Clarissa Goenawan’s style is effortless and emotionally charged, and it’s particularly heartening to see a trans character depicted in a lead role, written in a real and sympathetic way.’ -- Prudence Wade * Press Association *‘A novel in three voices about the inner turmoil — and beauty — that people keep walled behind flawless surfaces.’ -- Tiffany Tsao, author of The Oddfits and The Majesties‘Dazzling.’ * Foyles Bookstore *‘She has created a Murakami-inspired novel that does away with all of his problems and tells a story far more rounded, pleasing, and sophisticated.’ -- Will Heath * Books & Bao *‘From the first page of Clarissa Goenawan’s The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida, we know that the titular Miwako has taken her own life, but we don’t know why. This same question plagues Miwako’s close friends as they grieve her death and search for answers. In this elegant and haunting novel, Goenawan deftly explores the messiness of grief, the pain of lost chances, and the way a life can collapse under the weight of secrets. Miwako and her friends are under my skin, and I’ll be thinking about them for some time.’ -- Kathleen Barber, author of Truth Be Told and Follow Me‘An exquisite tale about the way secrets shape and transform young lives. Behind Goenawan’s crisp, spare prose lies a world of emotional complexity.’ -- Mira T. Lee, award–winning author of Everything Here Is Beautiful‘Written in clear, simple prose, Goenawan’s novel presents the intriguing mystery of Miwako Sumida through the eyes of three characters who try to piece together her puzzle while struggling with their own questions of meaning and identity. This story about youth, friendship, grief, and trauma invites us through secret doors, ready to discover more.’ -- Intan Paramaditha, PEN Award–winning author of Apple and Knife and The Wandering‘Miwako is a powerful, memorable character … The way these characters’ lives intersect makes for a complex and satisfying tale, one that’s sad at the same time as it’s lively and warm.’ -- Rebecca Hussey * Book Riot *‘As three stories interlink, rich plot, description, and dialogue make this fiction seem like reality. While readers may be aware they’re not a part of the novel, through Goenawan’s enthralling writing, they will nonetheless become immersed in her fictional world.’ -- Budi Darma‘Tender and tragic … Goenawan’s luminous prose captures the deep emotions of her characters as they grapple with questions about family history, gender, and sexuality. The tug of Miwako’s strange, troubled spirit will wrench readers from the beginning.’ -- Publishers Weekly‘Goenawan, like any skilled novelist, manages to elegantly reveal both the pain and beauty of unraveling a life after loss. This is only her second novel to date, and she’s already been compared to the wizard of world-building, Haruki Murakami.’ * Lambda Literary *‘[Goenawan] raises an age-old question on the fine line where literature ends and life begins ... [she] has her own distinctive voice, as she sensitively explores traumatic sexual experiences through a woman’s perspective.’ * The Jakarta Post *‘A compelling protagonist ... Like Japanese brush painting, the author’s simple, clear prose captures Miwako’s vulnerability and complexity. Also vividly drawn are Fumi and Chie, each having built their own unusual protective personas that are gradually revealed. An eerie and elegant puzzle.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘Like Goenawan’s previous Rainbirds, this is more literary fiction than conventional mystery, featuring exceptionally well-drawn characters facing adversity in a narrative written with an elegance and delicacy.’ -- Michele Leber * Booklist *‘Goenawan does an expert job of getting to the core of this university student with a mysterious past, and on how people grapple with the death by suicide of a loved one.’ * Alma *‘This haunting tale of grief and tragedy by the author of Rainbirds might appeal to new adults who remember John Green’s Looking for Alaska. The leisurely narrative uncovers a world of Japanese customs, ghosts, and grief.’ -- Lesa Holstine * Library Journal *‘[A] a complex, interpersonal mystery … [A] tremendous examination of sadness … [A] book with heart about the mysteries of the heart.’ -- Benjamin Welton * New York Journal of Books *‘Goenawan’s prose is transportive in its directness and evocative in its simplicity. In Miwako, she has succeeded in an intricate character study of a perturbed soul … An immersive, haunting tale.’ -- Walter Sim * The Strait Times *‘If her debut novel brings Murakami to mind, her second, with its winsome tone, harkens to early Banana Yoshimoto. However, with her blend of mystery, magic and social issues — in this case, sexual abuse, transgender awareness and suicide — Goenawan is developing her own distinct brand.’ -- Suzanne Kamata * The Japan Times *‘A quietly powerful meditation on the destructive power of secrets, as well as the power of truth to heal even beyond death.’ -- Christina Ladd * The Nerd Daily *‘[A] subtly fantastical story, driven by themes of love, loss, and grief. It toes the line between YA and literary fiction, and it does so effortlessly … [A] three-dimensional story that moves seamlessly from the distant past to the recent past to the present, painting a colourful image of Miwako Sumida that grows in detail as the story gains momentum. Despite not having been written by a Japanese novelist, The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida strongly and elegantly echoes the style and tone of manga like Erased and Orange, and most vividly the novels of Haruki Murakami … There are mysteries that tease at you and lies you’ll be told, all in service of a complex, intense story that ebbs and flows so beautifully. It’s a wild ride, and a delightfully satisfying one.’ * Books & Bao *‘This novel is both familiar and unusual. It is written in English by an Indonesian-born Singaporean author, but summons the atmospheres of Japanese fictions (both written and cinematic) … Clarissa Goenawan is an emerging talent … Compassionate and compelling.’ -- Alison Huber * Readings *‘Powerful and compelling.’ * Reading, Writing and Riesling *‘Very absorbing and incredibly well written … Highly recommended and I’ll be looking out for more from this author.’ * Theresa Smith Writes *‘A novel that examines a tragedy from three sides … Ultimately very readable and enjoyable.’ -- Emily Paull * The AU Review *‘What a beautiful, heartbreaking book … the language is reminiscent of Japanese books The Travelling Cat Chronicles (Hiro Arikawa) and If Cats Disappeared from the World (Genki Kawamura). In these stories, as in Goenawan’s, beautiful language and scenes are used as backdrops for a gentle uncovering of what it really means to be human.’ -- Kaylia Payne * Lip Magazine *‘This is a bittersweet tale of abuse and identity, of the potentially destructive nature of secrets and of the value of having people around who can understand and help process painful or traumatic events.’ * Pile by the Bed *‘This is a deep-cut examination of what happens to a life left behind.’ * Keeping Up with the Penguins *‘This is Murakami without the male gaze – a feminist Murakami, perhaps … An engrossing tale clearly influenced by Japanese women writers such as Risa Wataya and Banana Yoshimoto, The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida is about the crushing weight of secrets and how the long arm of history returns to haunt a person. In this novel, young women straitjacketed by the standards of mainstream society demand: give us a closer look.’ -- Cher Tan * The Saturday Paper *‘Quietly quirky in the manner of Haruki Murakami, including shades of magic realism, The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida focuses on the subtle intricacies of social interactions and sexuality, particularly in Japanese culture at the time … This is a lingering fable about learning to accept yourself, even in the wake of grief.’ -- Doug Wallen * Big Issue *‘The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida is a vibrant and at time surreal exploration of lost love, death, trauma, and friendship in Japan in the 1980s/90s … This novel is beautifully created and provides a mature look into suicide and its impacts on those left behind.’ FOUR STARS -- Akina Hansen * Good Reading *‘Captivating and sometimes heartbreaking … The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida is hard to put down and despite its tragedy is a thoroughly enjoyable read.’ -- Vittoria Bon * Gold Coast Bulletin *‘A novel that lingers in the mind thanks to its poetic delivery, layering of ideas and an engrossing tale, all led by vivid characters.’ * Bad Form Magazine *Praise for Rainbirds: ‘​A murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognisable.’ * San Francisco Chronicle *Praise for Rainbirds: ‘A​ transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm.​’ * The Japan Times​ *Praise for Rainbirds: ‘Clarissa Goenawan spins a dark, encapsulating story that will certainly reel you in completely.’ * Bustle *Praise for Rainbirds: ‘Mysterious and dark.’ * Daily Beast *

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Book Synopsis'Immensely captivating and original’ The Guardian'A poetically written domestic drama with a wonderful magical-realist twist' Daily MailHow do you make sense of the loss of those you love the most? Delia Rabbit is already struggling to juggle three wayward children, a damaged relationship with her mother and an ill-advised affair with one of her students. Then her sixteen-year-old son Charlie vanishes in the middle of a blistering Brisbane heatwave. The family reels from the loss, as twenty-year-old Olive descends into hedonism and eleven-year-old Benjamin clings ever tighter to his superhero obsession. However, Charlie’s disappearance is stranger than it seems. And while his family search desperately for him, he may be closer than they think . . . A multigenerational tale of motherhood, grief and the tribulations of adolescence, The Rabbits weaves a thread of magic into a classic family drama novel.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2020 Penguin Australia Literary Prize‘A unique and captivating tangle of magic and mystery… [a] deliciously unsettling debut’ The Guardian 'I love an unsympathetic heroine and, here, two brilliant ones come along at once: art teacher Delia Rabbit and her surly daughter Olive. [... The Rabbits is] a poetically written domestic drama with a wonderful magical-realist twist', Wendy Holden, Daily Mail‘Overett brings a fresh eye to the suburban novel’ Booksandpublishing.com.au ‘A book that compels you to keep reading… deft and agile’ Readings.com.au

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Book SynopsisShipwrecks, dive bars, possession, and science—this is where contemporary horrors and ancient terrors meet.In Fresh Dirt from the Grave , a hillside is “an emerald saddle teeming with evil and beauty.” It is this collision of harshness and tenderness that animates Giovanna Rivero’s short stories, where no degree of darkness (buried bodies, lost children, wild paroxysms of violence) can take away from the gentleness she shows all violated creatures. A mad aunt haunts her family, two Bolivian children are left on the outskirts of a Metis reservation outside Winnipeg, a widow teaches origami in a women’s prison and murders, housefires, and poisonings abound, but so does the persistent bravery of people trying to forge ahead in the face of the world. They are offered cruelty, often, indifference at best, and yet they keep going. Rivero has reworked the boundaries of the gothic to engage with pre-Columbian ritual, folk tales, sci-fi and eroticism, and found in the wound their humanity and the possibility of hope.Trade Review"Rivero confidently and credibly gives voice to characters in harrowing situations." —Publishers Weekly"These are visceral tales of betrayal both personal and societal, some of which cross over into the realm of the uncanny.”" —Words Without Borders"An intriguing and discomforting set of stories, each with its own particular bite, and more than a twist or two along the way." —Tony's Reading List************Praise for Giovanna Rivero

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Book SynopsisNáufragos, origami, posesión y ciencia: estos cuentos encarnan el punto de encuentro entre los horrores contemporáneos y los terrores antiguos.Seis relatos de una belleza oscura que laten con temáticas perturbadoras: la legitimidad de la venganza, el incesto como medio de supervivencia, brujería indígena versus tradición japonesa, el cuerpo como la víctima fatal que habitamos. Los cuentos de Rivero perforan al lector como una herida, ofreciendo también posibilidades de amor, justicia y esperanza. Narrados con un lirismo frágil y feroz, los cuentos de Tierra fresca de su tumba punzan los abismos del alma humana, y a la vez reforman los límites del gótico para incorporar ritos precolombinos, leyendas, ciencia ficción y erotismo.Shipwrecks, dive bars, possession, and science—this is where contemporary horrors and ancient terrors meet.In Fresh Dirt from the Grave , a hillside is “an emerald saddle teeming with evil and beauty.” It is this collision of harshness and tenderness that animates Giovanna Rivero’s short stories, where no degree of darkness (buried bodies, lost children, wild paroxysms of violence) can take away from the gentleness she shows all violated creatures. A mad aunt haunts her family, two Bolivian children are left on the outskirts of a Metis reservation outside Winnipeg, a widow teaches origami in a women’s prison and murders, housefires, and poisonings abound, but so does the persistent bravery of people trying to forge ahead in the face of the world. They are offered cruelty, often, indifference at best, and yet they keep going. Rivero has reworked the boundaries of the gothic to engage with pre-Columbian ritual, folk tales, sci-fi and eroticism, and found in the wound their humanity and the possibility of hope.Trade Review"Rivero confidently and credibly gives voice to characters in harrowing situations." —Publishers Weekly"These are visceral tales of betrayal both personal and societal, some of which cross over into the realm of the uncanny.”" —Words Without Borders************Praise for Giovanna RiveroAlong with Mariana Enríquez, one of the most creative and intense voices in the so-called New Latin American Gothic Realism.

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Book SynopsisWhen light recedes from the land, Autumn''s fruitfulness is replaced by Winter''s cold, bleak stillness. But deep within the ground, in the cracks and crevices where the small creatures live, the light lives on, protected and cherished. And when the Hare calls, those that keep it know how to respond. The Lightbringers. A story of hope.

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Book SynopsisWhen light recedes from the land, Autumn''s fruitfulness is replaced by Winter''s cold, bleak stillness. But deep within the ground, in the cracks and crevices where the small creatures live, the light lives on, protected and cherished. And when the Hare calls, those that keep it know how to respond. The Lightbringers. A story of hope.

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Book SynopsisA mesmerising novel set in Japan, by the author of Rainbirds and The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida, about a young man trying to escape his past. When Shoji Arai crosses one of his company’s most powerful clients, he must leave Akakawa immediately or risk his life. But his girlfriend Yoko is nowhere to be found. Haunted by dreams of drowning and the words of a fortune teller who warned him away from three women with water in their names, he travels to Tokyo, where he tries in vain to track Yoko down. But Shoji soon realises that not everything Yoko told him about herself was true. Who is the real woman he once lived with and loved, and where could she be hiding? Watersong is a spellbinding novel of loves lost and recovered, of secrets never spoken, and of how our pasts shape our futures.Trade Review ‘Goenawan’s chilling latest delivers one startling revelation after another … Goenawan sustains a fast pace all the way to a shocking and satisfying conclusion. This author continues to impress.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Watersong transports the reader to worlds both familiar and unknown. Clarissa Goenawan’s crisp narration and vivid characters made this novel feel like a lingering dream. This is an intriguing and soul-stirring story about how we reconcile with our pasts.’ -- Balli Kaur Jaswal, author of The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters‘Haunting, dreamy, and deeply atmospheric, Watersong is a jewel box of a novel, spilling forth with stories within stories, each a perfect, gleaming tribute to lost love, past secrets, and the enduring quest for human connection amidst it all.’ -- Kirstin Chen, author of Soy Sauce for Beginners‘An atmospheric mystery, elegantly told.’ -- Winnie M. Li, author of Dark Chapter‘There is a lot of style … this author will indeed have a long career.’ -- Joe Horgan * Irish Examiner *‘A compelling novel … Watersong is a captivating and nuanced exploration of love.’ -- Akina Hansen * Good Reading Magazine *‘[T]ruly magnificent. It touches the soul while exploring the cognitive aspects that have lingered behind certain elements of society … Truly a work of art … Watersong will be one that must be considered as a top contender for memorability, and characterisation of the highest degree.’ -- Chris Reed * NZ Booklovers *Praise for The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida: ‘[A] complex, interpersonal mystery … [A] tremendous examination of sadness … [A] book with heart about the mysteries of the heart.’ -- Benjamin Welton * New York Journal of Books *Praise for The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida ‘An offbeat, tender exploration of the secrets we keep from others … Goenawan is clearly a talented and creative storyteller … She excels at suspense, keeping the reader guessing with left-field plot developments and forays into magic realism that somehow seem in keeping with realities on the ground.’ * The Irish Times *Praise for The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida: ‘Vivid and intriguing — an elegantly cryptic, poetically plotted Murakami-esque whydunit.’ -- Sharlene Teo, author of Ponti

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Book Synopsis‘Astonishing’ Emily Perkins, author of Lioness ‘Beautifully lyrical’ Mat Osman, bassist of Suede and author of The Ghost Theatre A lyrical and ambitious exploration of madness and what it is like to experience the world differently, from the Booker Prize–longlisted author of The Chimes. In Ueno Park, Tokyo, as workers and tourists gather for lunch, the pollen blows, a fountain erupts, pigeons scatter, and two women meet, changing the course of one another’s lives. Dinah has come to Japan from New Zealand to teach English and grieve the death of her brother, Michael, a troubled genius who was able to channel his problems into music as a classical pianist — until he wasn’t. In the seemingly empty, eerie apartment block where Dinah has been housed, she sees Michael everywhere, even as she feels his absence sharply. Yasuko is polished, precise, and keenly observant — of her students and colleagues at the language school, and of the natural world. When she was thirteen, animals began to speak to her, to tell her things she did not always want to hear. She has suppressed these powers for many years, but sometimes she allows them to resurface, to the dismay of her adult son, Jun. One day, she returns home, and Jun has gone. Even her special gifts cannot bring him back. As these two women deal with their individual traumas, they form an unlikely friendship in which each will help the other to see a different possible world, as Smaill teases out the tension between our internal and external lives and asks what we lose by having to choose between them.Trade Review‘Bird Life is a deeply affecting novel, transcending cultural barriers while reaching through them to the essentially human.’ -- David Mills * The Times *‘A playful study of genius, grief, and special powers.’ -- Caleb Klaces * The Guardian *‘The two women at the centre of Anna Smaill’s lovely, disconcerting novel Bird Life feel certain something is about to happen — something that’s about to change everything. These kinds of proclamations in a novel can feel unfulfillable, but when Dinah and Yasuko finally do meet, the transformations each affects upon the other are surprising, consuming, and satisfying. Smaill’s crystalline prose brings us inside each of their minds as they manoeuvre through a thoroughly modern cityscape into which the natural world is forever making incursions. An unusual, empathetic, and compulsively readable tale.’ -- Dan Kois, author of Vintage Contemporaries‘A beautifully lyrical tale of loss, grief, and madness, whose central characters are so deftly drawn that you find yourself breathlessly following them down. Magically strange yet horribly real.’ -- Mat Osman, bassist of Suede and author of The Ghost Theatre‘Bird Life is an astonishing book about grief, beauty, and survival ... the writing enters your bloodstream like a strange and wonderful drug.’ -- Emily Perkins, author of Lioness‘[Bird Life is] as richly sensory and exquisite as Smaill’s previous novel, The Chimes. The world tilts and becomes strange and marvellous through her eyes.’ -- Lucy Treloar, author of Wolfe Island‘Smaill writes compellingly about the all-consuming nature of grief and the afterlife of those left behind. She also absorbingly evokes Yasuko’s mental illness, which sees her consulting beetles and birds for their counsel.’ -- Stephanie Cross * Daily Mail *‘Magic, mental illness, and sorrow drive this powerful offering … Smaill excels equally at emotional drama, magical realism, and horror. Readers will find much to love.’ -- Publishers Weekly, starred review“[E]lliptical, poetic … [A]n evocative and sensitive depiction of mental distress and the importance of perseverance … The key message of this subtle book: Though it might be difficult to detect them during times of hardship, glimmers of hope are always visible if one knows where to look.” * Bookpage *‘Bird Life is immersive, beautifully constructed and fascinating in its portrayal of love and sorrow and the ways in which a mind constructs its world. It’s a fresh, beautifully written book, perfect for a reader looking for something out of the ordinary.’ -- Louise Ward * NZ Herald *Praise for The Chimes: ‘A totalitarian regime inflicts amnesia through music in this fresh and complex novel, which shows the social importance of an understanding of the past … fresh and original … cleverly orchestrated and poignantly conveyed throughout.’ -- Catherine Taylor * The Guardian *Praise for The Chimes: ‘To call The Chimes striking is I dare say to underplay what might be the most distinctive debut of the decade. Certainly, Smaill’s experience as a poet come through clearly in her perfectly poised prose. There’s a real richness to her images; a depth to her descriptions; her dialogue practically sparkles; and the structure of the whole thing sings.’ -- Niall Alexander * tor.com *Praise for The Chimes: ‘The novel is hypnotic, melancholic, and requires concentration, but it builds to an incredibly tense and emotionally satisfying climax that rewards all the effort.’ * Elle Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA haunting debut novel where dreams, family, and spirits collide. Night after night, Mackenzie — a young Cree woman living in Vancouver — has dreams that return her to a memory from before her sister Sabrina’s untimely death. But when the waking world starts closing in, too — crows stalk her every move around the city; she gets threatening text messages from someone claiming to be Sabrina — Mackenzie knows this is more than she can handle alone. Desperate for help, she returns to her mother, sister, cousin, and aunties in her small Alberta hometown. Together, they try to uncover what is haunting Mackenzie before it’s too late.Trade Review‘A rare voice in contemporary fiction. Her debut novel similarly carves out a unique space.’ -- Claire Alfree * Daily Mail *‘At once stunning, terrifying, and deeply affecting, in Bad Cree, the reader is invited to flock with Jessica Johns through soaring prose glistening with the power of family, Cree culture, and togetherness. A novel that haunts; a novel impossible to put down.’ -- Laura Jean McKay, author of The Animals in That Country ‘Bad Cree deftly explores the permeable boundaries of dreams, reality, and culture, as well as complex family dynamics and relationships. A compelling novel that is a mystery and a horror story about grief, but one with defiant hope in its beating heart.’ -- Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Pallbearers Club‘The novel serves as a window into a world where dreams intersect with waking reality … It works equally well as spine-tingling thriller and a touching meditation on grief.’ -- Publishers Weekly, starred review‘Bad Cree is an engaging read with well-drawn characters.’ * New York Journal of Books *‘Bad Cree is a masterwork of creeping tension. Wry, moody, and subversive, Johns explores the power of connections, both the harm and the healing, with characters rich and warm, tangled in each other, to the land and to the supernatural. Couldn’t put it down.’ -- Eden Robinson, author of Son of a Trickster‘In evocative yet understated prose, Jessica Johns weaves a captivating tale of love, loss, the violence of greed, and the healing power of family. In Bad Cree, Johns delivers a suspenseful and thought-provoking page turner you won’t want to put down.’ -- Michelle Good, #1 bestselling author of Five Little Indians‘Johns … ties Cree beliefs about dreams and deep-rooted indigenous lore to how women in a family rally around one another to battle grief.’ * The Washington Post *‘Bad Cree is a mesmerising, enticing read. Jessica Johns writes the world in all its messiness and terror, while simultaneously remembering to centre its tender beating heart. A book about family and foundations, but also about how the secrets we keep can knock the floor out from under us. A captivating novel from an exciting new author.’ -- Kristen Arnett, New York Times bestselling author of Mostly Dead Things‘With creeps that are ever-creepy and love flowing like beer at a bush party, Bad Cree is a book about the power of dreams, home, and family. It reads like a tribute to the ones who came before us: Lee Maracle, Jeanette Armstrong, Eden Robinson. This book is tough iskwew in flannel shirts with long unbrushed hair, just looking good. It’s tea rings on Formica tables, cigarette smoke wafting through windows, and an eerie magical realism that only belongs to the bush. Full of auntie power, Jessica Johns is really coming into her own immense storytelling ways.’ -- Katherena Vermette, author of The Break‘Both tactile and dreamy, terrifying and beautiful, Bad Cree will wrap you up and pull you along for the journey — once it starts, there’s no backing out, no pause, no stall. I have been waiting years for Jessica Johns’s books — I say books because there had better be more! She did not disappoint.’ -- Cherie Dimaline, author of The Marrow Thieves‘Lovingly layered, haunting, and effectively executed.’ -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *‘Johns deploys and transforms horror motifs in this haunting story of Indigenous survivance … The ghosts here are entirely natural, native to the setting of this novel and the worldview of its characters … [A] narrative that is truly chilling and suspenseful. A powerful exploration of generational trauma and an artful, affecting debut.’ -- Kirkus Reviews‘Johns laces cryptid terror into the sense of loss that her community feels … Visceral details will have readers hanging on the edge of every chapter, waiting to see when the wheetigo will strike next. Perfect for fans of Ramona Emerson’s Shutter and Stephen Graham Jones’ The Only Good Indians — Johns is a writer to watch.’ -- Booklist, starred review‘A story about grief and family and the lingering effects of the infringement of industrialism on native lands. At its heart are the strong familial bonds between its predominantly Cree cast of characters as the story is put in the context of the Cree experience, with aspects of their history, culture, and lore present throughout … When the book ends, what readers will remember most are the moments these characters shared together, playing cards and talking late into the night.’ * Library Journal *‘Steeped in Cree tradition, the complicated dynamics found in strong families and the perennial challenges of coming-of-age, this novel smoulders its way towards a gripping, supernatural, and unforgettable conclusion.’ * Cambridge Edition *‘Johns utilises horror tropes to work out the ramifications of generational trauma to perfect effect … a chilling narrative that’s about spirits and ghosts, but also about healing.’ * BookRiot *‘This gripping horror debut … is a satisfying slow burn that explores loss, generational trauma, and violence through a narrative that is chilling yet, at its centre, burning with a defiant resilience.’ * Electric Lit *‘Eerie, atmospheric, and intriguing … a notable intervention into the genre and an accomplished debut: rich in dark folklore-inspired imagery, this is a novel about grief as a bond, inherited trauma through a cultural lens, and refreshingly intersectional sorority; with remarkable representation and a large cast of female characters at the core of the story.’ -- Venezia Castro * The Skinny *‘[A] wonderfully haunting and oft visceral read; one which plays with genre conventions to tell a story steeped in culture and chills.’ -- Simon Clark * The AU Review *‘Bad Cree, the debut novel from Cree woman Jessica Johns, is a work of decolonisation. Reading this paranormal thriller is like watching your reflection as you walk towards a glass door: the story is fluid and lifelike but there’s an unsettling essence of the untouchable, a reminder that there’s more to life than the tangible.’ -- Monique Grbec * The Saturday Paper *‘Clever, funny, moving, and haunting, Bad Cree employs and subverts genres.’ -- Will Smith * The Bookseller *‘[A] debut novel of extraordinary power.’ -- Tammy Moir * HappyMag *‘Bad Cree is a creepily effective horror story. Johns makes the most of strange happenings, potentially deadly dreams, jump scares and evil spirits. This is a book that dares readers to turn off the light, consider not walking alone and possibly even turn off their phones. But Bad Cree is ultimately about the power of family and the deep well of knowledge within the Cree community … She has delivered a sometimes chilling, page-turning narrative in which dreaming and the power of dreams is central. But Bad Cree is also a stake in the ground for the power of a community that continues to survive while dealing with the ongoing destructive impacts of colonisation and environmental exploitation.’ -- Robert Goodman * The Newtown Review of Books *‘[D]reams take centre stage in the narrative, there is a freshness to the way she explores the real impact that dreams have on ourselves … The narrative is intricate and offers enough structurally and linguistically for more mature readers to take away from the text … Johns demonstrates a real talent in the connection between waking life and dreaming, giving the impression of the spiritual world and its impact on the day to day existence of the “real world” that sits so comfortably in the narratives of first nation peoples … It’s dark, and there are some horrific sequences, but the construction of the supernatural really is something worth noting … It sits in a genre of its own and creates an otherworldliness that is rare in modern novel writing. Highly recommended.’ * NZ Booklovers *‘Jessica Johns weaves Native American mythology and classic horror themes together seamlessly to build a captivating and thrilling story of family, love, and grief … One of Bad Cree’s greatest powers is its effortless ability to show that not all hauntings are bad; we can be haunted by the ones we love and find comfort and solace in that.’ -- Jennifer Fraioli * Readings *‘Bad Cree is an extremely accomplished first novel and Jessica Johns is a writer of huge potential. This is the future of the horror genre and it fills this old horror fan with hope.’ -- Reader review‘Definitely a book to add to your list!’ -- Reader review‘Jessica Johns’ writing digs its talons into you — a chilly fever dream that unpicks family dynamics and generational trauma against a body-horror backdrop.’ -- Reader review

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Book SynopsisThe legendary Encyclopedia of Medicine is a dizzying collection of maladies: an amnesia that causes everyone youve ever met to forget you exist, while you remain perfectly, painfully aware of your history. A wound that grows with each dark thought or evil deed you commit but shrinks with every act of kindness. A disease that causes your body to imitate death, stopping your heart, cooling your blood. Will the fit pass before they bury youor after? The Afflictions is a magical compendium of pseudo-diseases, an encyclopedia of archaic medicine written by a contemporary physician and scientist. Little by little, these bizarre and mystical afflictions frame an eternal struggle: between human desire and the limits of bodily existence. First published in English in the United States, The Afflictions has since been published in Argentina, Italy, and India. This second U.S. edition features the original illustrations created by Pia Valentinis for the Italian language edition.

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Book SynopsisThe people of Pie Time are suffering from God's Finger, a mysterious plague that leaves its victims dead with a big hole through their chests. In each hole is a random consumer product. Mano Medium, a sensitive, young cigarette-factory worker in love, does his part by quitting the factory to work double-time as Pie Time's replacement barber and butcher, and by holding the things found in the holes of the newly dead. However, the more people die, the bigger Mano becomes. XO, the power-hungry corporation bent on overtaking Pie Time, and Father Mothers, the bumbling priest, have their own ideas about how to capitalize on God's Finger. By contrast, and powered by honoring his own lost loves, Mano fights to resist this exploitation by teaching death to those who can't afford to survive it. As Pie Time and Mano both grow irrevocably, Mano must make a decision about how he can best fit into his own life. With a large cast of unusual characters, each struggling with their own complex and tangled relationships to death, money, and love, Mammother is a fabulist''s tale of how we hold on and how we let go in a rapidly growing world.

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Book SynopsisA great war, a great love, and the mythology that unites them; The Hawkman: A Fairy Tale of the Great War is a lyrical adaptation of a beloved classic.Set against the shattering events of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, at the tale's heart are an American schoolteacher—dynamic and imaginative—and an Irish musician, homeless and hated—who have survived bloodshed, poverty, and sickness to be thrown together in an English village. Together they quietly hide from the world in a small cottage. Too soon, reality shatters their serenity, and they must face the parochial community. Unbeknownst to all, a legend is in the making—one that will speak of courage and resilience amidst the forces that brought the couple together even as outside forces threaten to tear them apart. Trade ReviewNominated for the Montaigne Medal from the Eric Hoffer Award http://www.hofferaward.com/Montaigne-Medal-finalists.html

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Book SynopsisShirley Jackson Award finalist World Fantasy Award finalist Dark, irreverent, and truly innovative, the speculative stories in Homesick meditate on the theme of home and our estrangement from it, and what happens when the familiar suddenly shifts into the uncanny. In stories that foreground queer relationships and transgender or nonbinary characters, Cipri delivers the origin story for a superhero team comprised of murdered girls; a housecleaner discovering an impossible ocean in her least-favorite clients’ house; a man haunted by keys that appear suddenly in his throat; and a team of scientists and activists discovering the remains of a long-extinct species of intelligent weasels. In the spirit of Laura van den Berg, Emily Geminder, Chaya Bhuvaneswar, and other winners of the Dzanc Short Story Collection Prize, Nino Cipri’s debut collection announces the arrival of a brilliant and wonderfully unpredictable writer with a gift for turning the short story on its ear.Trade Review"Nino Cipri’s Homesick makes the idea of home into a prism and beams a core of queerness through it, refracting into nine surreal and moving stories about families lost, found and transformed. The stories vary from formal experiments to deeply felt character meditations, from a three-page piece of flash fiction to a well-developed novella, and from heartbreak to horror to humor. Over all they excel in a kind of subtle startling, like meeting unexpected ripples in a mirror. ... Absolutely wonderful in every respect." —New York Times Book Review "These stories are so deliciously queer and dark and playful; Cipri is a treasure." —Carmen Maria Machado, author of Her Body and Other Parties "The fantastical landscapes of Cipri’s nine tales heighten the moments of crisis that force characters to confront the here and now as well as life’s gritty unknowns." —Booklist "These stories are delicious speculative confections, as masterful as Kelly Link’s but even more approachable. ... For Cipri, home is elusive, problematized, and an ache for home encompasses a desire for acceptance, safety, and even innocence." —Vol 1 Brooklyn "The queer stories in Homesick are as mystifying as they are provocative, and will appeal to fans of literary fiction and speculative genre fiction alike ... Since it's a collection of stories, Homesick offers many stopping points. Like unraveling the mysteries of prehistoric intelligent weasels, however, stopping proves to be quite impossible." —Shelf Awareness "Emerging writer and self-described weirdo mixes monsters, zombies, Super Little Dead Girls and poltergeists with screenplay, lists and good old-fashioned storytelling. The result: an excellent and entertaining collection. ... Also, shout-out to Cipri’s snappy dialogue and devotion to offbeat rhetorical questions — 'Do you think zombies can go through revolving doors?'" —Broken Pencil Magazine "A riveting first collection that announces a major new talent unafraid to embrace the beauty of the mysterious. Uncanny, gorgeous, unyielding, original, and unforgettable." —Ann and Jeff VanderMeer "I remember reading Nino Cipri's first pro story and saying, 'This is someone whose career I want to follow.' The fact that that first story is included in this collection is testament to the mature, electric voice Cipri has cultivated from the beginning. Every story here is a gem that deserves to be read and read again." —Sarah Pinsker, author of Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea "It's hard for my to wrap my mind around how, exactly, a book can be so simultaneously scary and sweet, terrifying and tender. In both individual stories, and throughout the whole collection, Nino Cipri traverses a dizzying range of emotional and imaginative territory. These are high-concept stories—featuring time travel, hauntings, and some very scary little girls—but they always remain rooted in the reality of human feeling. Cipri is one of our most imaginative and insightful new writers, and this is a genuinely brilliant book." —Kristen Roupenian, author of "Cat Person" and You Know You Want This "Nino Cipri's Homesick is the best story collection I've read in ages. Every one of these short stories is a tiny reality bomb, delightfully demolishing my expectations while opening up passageways to places I'd never been before. Equal parts queer and surreal, these tales will captivate your heart while keeping you guessing and wondering. A must for fans of Kelly Link and Justin Chin." —Charlie Jane Anders, author of The City in the Middle of the Night

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Book SynopsisEnvisioned as a “nocturne,” Steve Amick’s playful, multilayered novel expansively retells Eugene Field’s famed verse “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.” In the fishing village of Scheveningen in 1889, three men build and secretly launch an unorthodox fishing vessel, departing from the long tradition of netting herring using massive boats and large crews. Collaborating in this venture are Wyn van Winkel, a cavalier joker and opium addict currently AWOL from the Aceh War in Sumatra; Ned Nodder, a seasoned fisherman trying to support his family while plagued by narcolepsy and prophetic dreams; and Luuk Blenkin, a scattered young troubadour failing at love and searching for his place in the world. As formally innovative as the “picarooner” this mismatched trio construct, the narrative lifts off into the fantastical, flitting between reality and irreality. Sparked by lines of the “Dutch lullaby,” the inexplicable adventure unfolds—and along the way, we learn of Wyn’s romantic recklessness, his broken relationship with his father, and the tragedies of war that scarred and changed him. We witness Ned’s unconventional path toward matrimony, as well as the painful loss that made his marriage a true union. We follow Luuk’s fumblings for purpose and fulfillment beyond the disgrace that befell his family and marred both his outlook and his prospects. In the spirit of a nocturne, Steve Amick envelops his characters in the world of night and dreams. Lyrical, historical, surprising, magical, heartwarming, and heartbreaking, You Shall See the Beautiful Things will make readers look at the stars—and herring—in a new light.Trade Review"Wynken, Blynken, and Nod have never been so ingeniously revived as in this rollicking romp of a book! In You Shall See the Beautiful Things, Steve Amick creates a zany world that, ultimately, shows us more about the tenderness of the human heart and the mysteries of this star-filled world." * Ellen Bass, Chancellor Emerita, Academy of American Poets *"Love this this sweet, clever, and gritty retelling of the 'Dutch Lullaby,' the one about the army deserter opium addict, the lovesick balladeer with a voice like 'an ill-fitting oarlock,' and the radish-eating narcoleptic—in a boat. Yet it's no joke: Amick’s language is inspired, as transcendent as the inaugural fishing trip in the small craft these unlikely friends build at the edge of the North Sea. Every page is filled with marvelous revelations about the nature of the world and about being human. Amick’s vivid landscape of the 1880s herring-centered world even includes glimpses of Vincent 'Cent' Van Gogh. Here, despite the weight of colonialism, war, and financial and family struggles, folks with open hearts can still find magic and goodness, can still live lives 'mostly full of awe.' You Shall See the Beautiful Things is a promise delivered." * Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of "Mothers, Tell Your Daughters" *"Amick presents an innovative retelling of nineteenth-century American poet Eugene Field’s 'Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.' . . . In what is tagged as a novel and a nocturne, Amick introduces characters Winken van Winkel, Ned Nodder, and Luuk Blenkin. In keeping with elements of a nocturne, much of the story takes place in the evening or at night, and as it alternates between fantasy and reality, it evokes a dreamlike atmosphere. . . . Readers find themselves in the center, stitching and weaving together the characters' fantasies and realities. Cleverly, Amick’s story and its themes lead readers to reflect on their own experiences; creatively, it inspires readers to construct their own unique interpretations." * Booklist *"In a tale fit for a dreamy summer night. . . Amick's new novel waltzes across fantasy and history. . . . There's something in this story about male vulnerability—and maybe about the necessity of becoming more comfortable with feeling unmoored. It was so present in all three [characters]. . . . The story is absolutely gorgeous." -- April Baer in an interview with the author * Stateside, Michigan Public Radio *

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Book SynopsisInconsistent psychic Leda Foley and Seattle detective Grady Merritt return to solve the case of a missing couple in this sequel to the “delightful” (The New York Times Book Review) mystery Grave Reservations.When psychic travel agent Leda Foley is approached by a man searching for his sister, she quickly agrees to help. The missing woman disappeared with a vintage orange car, a fat sack of her employer’s cash, and a grudge against her philandering husband—a man who never even reported her missing. Meanwhile, Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt has temporarily misplaced his dog. While he’s passing out bright pink “Lost” flyers at the Mount Rainier visitor’s center, the wayward pooch appears—with a human leg in his mouth. Thanks to DNA matching, Grady learns that the leg has something to do with Leda’s new client, and soon the two cases are tangled. Theories abound, but law enforcement is low on leads. Lucky for Grady, Leda has a few ideas that might just be crazy enough to work. They’ll need one yellow dog, a fair share of teamwork, and perhaps a bit of Klairvoyant Karaoke to piece the clues together in this “undeniable treat” (Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author) of a mystery.

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for The Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize A “poignantly rendered and illuminating” (The Washington Post) coming-of-age story about “the ways in which family, grief, love, queerness, and vulnerability all intersect” (Kristen Arnett, New York Times bestselling author). Perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Thirty Names of Night.Though Owen Tanner has never met anyone else who has a chatty bird in their chest, medical forums would call him a Terror. From the moment Gail emerged between Owen’s ribs, his mother knew that she had to hide him away from the world. After a decade spent in isolation, Owen takes a brazen trip outdoors and his life is upended forever. Suddenly, he is forced to flee the home that had once felt so confining and hide in plain sight with his uncle and cousin in Washington. There, he feels the joy of finding a family among friends; of sharing the bird in his chest and being embraced fully; of falling in love and feeling the devastating heartbreak of rejection before finding a spark of happiness in the most unexpected place; of living his truth regardless of how hard the thieves of joy may try to tear him down. But the threat of the Army of Acronyms is a constant, looming presence, making Owen wonder if he’ll ever find a way out of the cycle of fear. “An honest celebration of life and everything we need right now in a book” (Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize–winning author), The Boy with a Bird in His Chest grapples with the fear, depression, and feelings of isolation that come with believing that we will never be loved for who we truly are and learning to live fully and openly regardless.Trade Review“Lund has created a fable for our age: a modern coming of age full of love, desperation, heartache and magic. An honest celebration of life and everything we need right now in a book.” -- Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Less“Emme Lund’s The Boy with a Bird in His Chest is a beautiful, tender book. I was deeply moved by this story; very caught up in the ways in which family, grief, love, queerness, and vulnerability all intersect. Lund’s sentences are sweet and stick to your ribs. I found myself falling in love with these characters—these messy, deeply realized, fully lovable, and wonderfully human people. The Boy with a Bird in His Chest is a terrific first novel and Emme Lund is a profoundly gifted writer.” -- Kristen Arnett, New York Times bestselling author of Mostly Dead Things and With Teeth“The Boy with a Bird in His Chest is a beautiful and atmospheric allegory for what we hide in the world, executed with tense lyricism.” -- Christine Hyung-Oak Lee, author of Tell Me Everything You Don’t Remember“Emme Lund’s The Boy with a Bird in His Chest is the queer coming of age novel I wish I’d had when I was a teenager. Funny and gutting, tender and scorchingly honest, surreal and a little too real, this novel captures the pain and joy of learning to live with your body and all its desires. The Boy with a Bird in His Chest reads like The Perks of Being a Wallflowers written by Kelly Link. Lund’s vision is striking, resonant, and unforgettable.” -- Isle McElroy, author of The Atmospherians, a New York Times Editors’ Choice“Lund’s accomplished debut imagines an LGBTQ allegory with a blend of magical fantasy and stark reality. [. . .] Lund’s emotive prose treats Owen’s burgeoning development with grace and care. This fine effort succeeds at bringing new life to the coming-of-age story.” * Publishers Weekly *“A lovely piece of magical realism . . . the strangeness sets it apart from other coming-of-age stories. Embrace magic and suspend your disbelief and this novel may just take you on a beautiful, necessary journey.” * Kirkus Reviews *“The burden of living with a secret is poignantly rendered and illuminating for those who seek to understand living a life outside the ordinary.” * The Washington Post *“Emme Lund has managed to capture so many of these feelings and weave them naturally in a story about a boy with a bird in his chest.” * Porter House Review *“Lund’s brilliant debut is unlike any other coming-of-age out there [...] This is an unputdownable and weirdly relatable book readers won’t want to miss.” * Debutiful *“Lund’s debut novel is a tender bildungsroman that deals honestly with magic, love, grace, and fear.” * Alta *

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