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Saturnalia

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( 1,551 ratings, 307 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Saturnalia by Stephanie Feldman is a captivating tale set during a fantastical version of Philadelphia’s Saturnalia carnival. The story follows the protagonist as she navigates a world of mysticism, ambition, and societal pressures. Through rich storytelling, the narrative explores themes of identity and transformation amidst a vividly atmospheric backdrop.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to atmospheric storytelling with elements of mystery and fantasy. Set in a speculative world, it delves into themes of transformation and society's undercurrents, perfect for those who appreciate a blend of Gothic and imaginative narratives.

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Saturnalia

Unfolding during a city-wide solstice celebration in a near-future Philadelphia, Saturnalia is a story about environmental collapse and class warfare, trauma and rebirth... and magic......

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Doors open at 7. The sacrifice is at 9. The dress code is, as usual, black tie.

It's the winter solstice in a Philadelphia that has been eroded by extreme weather, economic collapse, and disease-carrying mosquitoes. The Saturnalia carnival is about to begin, an evening on which reality is suspended, and troubles forgotten.

For tarot reader Nina, Saturnalia is simply a cruel reminder of the night that changed everything for herβ€”the night she walked away from the elite Saturn Club, with its genteel debauchery, arcane pecking order, and winking interest in alchemy and the occult.

But when she gets a chance call from Max, her last remaining friend from the Saturn Club, Nina will put on a dress of blackest black and attend the Club's wild solstice masquerade, the biggest party of the year, on a mysterious errand she can't refuse.

Before the night is over, she will become the custodian of a horrifying secretβ€”and prey to a mysterious hunter.

'A heady mix of the most terrifying elements of our troubled past and inevitable future; an eerie, propulsive novel' - Carmen Maria Machado

'What a stunner of a book! I couldn't put it down! If an elegy was a song of hope, it might be this book, and it's haunted me in all the best ways since I finished it' - Hazel Beck, author of Small Town, Big Magic

'Tense and suspenseful, Saturnalia features strong world-building and a fully realized heroine...It will appeal to fans of Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House, while the book may also draw in readers of climate horror such as Omar El Akkad's American War or Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach trilogy' - Booklist

'A twisted, ethereal dispatch from a climate change point of no return...It exposes the dark sides of glamour and the blind spots of dark magic...A piquant, eerie, and alarming tale' - Foreword, starred review

'The story features moments of bizarre, distressing cruelty and occasional gore, but it's grounded in themes of belonging, friendship, and the potential costs of ambition. Feldman brings impressive richness and depth to both Nina's emotional evolution and the masterful worldbuilding. This is sure to win the author many fans' - Publishers Weekly

'Bewitching...The novel's pacing is electric, its world-building seamless, and the magic that slowly reveals itself feels truly strange and captivating - a considerable feat. A propulsive fantasy thriller about fortune-seeking at the end of the world that will leave you wanting more' - Kirkus Reviews

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Saturnalia by Stephanie Feldman is highly praised for its unique blend of thriller, fantasy, and dystopian elements, offering an entertaining and immersive experience. It is described as dark and captivating, ideal for a winter read, combining magic, mystery, and a compelling female protagonist with a fast-paced plot. The setting of a crumbling and vibrant future Philadelphia adds depth and emotional resonance, although reactions may vary from intrigue to fear.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857308399

Publisher: Verve Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Verve Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Stephanie Feldman is the author of the debut novel The Angel of Losses, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, winner of the Crawford Fantasy Award, and finalist for the Mythopoeic Award. She is co-editor of the multi-genre anthology Who Will Speak for America? and her stories and essays have appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, Catapult Magazine, Electric Literature, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Rumpus, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family.

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