Description
Not all books should be opened.
Joanna Kalotay lives alone in the woods of Vermont, the sole protector of a collection of rare books; books that will allow someone to walk through walls or turn water into wine.
Books of magic.
Her estranged older sister Esther moves between countries and jobs, constantly changing, never staying anywhere longer than a year, desperate to avoid the deadly magic that killed her mother.
Currently working on a research base in Antarctica, she has found love and perhaps a sort of happiness.
But when she finds spots of blood on the mirrors in the research base, she knows someone is coming for her, and that Joanna and her collection are in danger.
If they are to survive, she and Joanna must unravel the secrets their parents kept hidden from them – secrets that span centuries and continents, and could cost them their lives…
‘A bold, new novel from an extraordinary new voice’ – Marlon James
‘Simply a delight from start to finish’ – New York Times
‘A spectacularly spellbinding debut…sumptuously bleeds magic from every page’ – The Fantasy Hive
‘A magnificent debut’ – The Bookseller
‘A fantastic magical adventure, not to be missed’ – Kirkus Starred Review
‘Downright irresistible’ – Washington Post
‘Spellbinding…this is a must-read’ – Publishers Weekly
‘A twisty and thrilling fantasy’ – Kelly Link
‘An adventure, a puzzle, a twisty thriller, and a tender romance’ – Alix E Harrow
‘Chilling and charming…Toerz’s debut is a love letter to stories everywhere’ – Roshani Chokshi
‘A magical book, brimming with all the elements that make a story sing…a gorgeously satisfying read’ – Lesley Nneka Arimah