Flyaway

Description

'A superbly told tale of folklore-infused fantasy, full of rising dread, set in a sharply observed Australian outback town.' Garth Nix Strange what chooses to flourish here. Which plants. Which stories. Bettina Scott lives a tidy, quiet life in Runagate, tending to her delicate mother and their well-kept garden after her father and brothers disappear - until a note arrives that sends Bettina into the scrublands beyond, searching for answers about what really happened to this town, and to her family. For this is a land where superstitions hunt and folk tales dream - and power is there for the taking, for those willing to look. WINNER OF THE BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS: THE SYDNEY J. BOUNDS AWARD FOR BEST NEWCOMER 2021 SHORTLISTED FOR THE COURIER-MAIL PEOPLE'S CHOICE QUEENSLAND BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2021 PRAISE FOR FLYAWAY 'Jennings' prose dazzles, and her magic feels real enough that you might even prick your finger on it.' Kelly Link 'Half mystery, half fairy tale, all exquisitely rendered and full of teeth.' Holly Black 'Brilliant light washes through these pages, a perfect foil for the novella's shadowy, all-too-serious battles of class, community and family. Sly visitations from imported, half-naturalised folklore add further layers of mystery and wonder to a more-than-magical tale of history's grip, the land's memory, and the harm we cannot help but do to ourselves and each other.' Margo Lanagan 'In spellbinding, lyrical prose Jennings lulls readers into this rich, dreamlike world. Lovers of contemporary fairy tales and magical realism will find this a masterful work.' Publishers Weekly

Kathleen Jennings is a three-time World Fantasy and one-time Hugo shortlisted illustrator and Ditmar award winning writer based in Brisbane, Australia. Flyaway is her debut novel.