The Ballad of Perilous Graves
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 23 Jun 2022
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- £4.99
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- Pre-Order
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
'Wild, witty, and profound. . . a cosmic storm of talent' Victor LaValle
Put on your dancing shoes and step into New Orleans as you've never seen it before in this vibrant and imaginative debut.
Nola is a city of wonders. An alternate New Orleans made of music and magic, where spirits dance the night away and Wise Women help keep the order. To those from Away, Nola might seem strange. To failed magician Perilous Graves, it's simply home.
Then the rhythm of the city stutters.
Nine songs of power have escaped from the magical piano that maintains the city's beat, and without them, Nola will fail. Unwilling to watch his home be destroyed, Perry will sacrifice everything to save it. But a storm is brewing and even if they capture the songs, Nola's time might be coming to an end.
Praise for The Ballad of Perilous Graves:
'A hallucinatory wonder of a debut' Walter Mosley
'An enchanting, energetic, wild ride of a story set to a staccato melody. The electric prose leaps off the page in a riot of colours and sounds' Leslye Penelope
'A wild, dark and joyful love song to New Orleans, the power of stories, and hope in the face of destruction' H. G. Parry
'His lyrical prose dances to a rhythm all its own' Stina Leicht
'An unforgettable story' Rion Amilcar Scott
'The Ballad of Perilous Graves is not only an engrossing adventure but a potent homage to the beating heart of one of the world's most magical cities' Ladee Hubbard
'Scary, sweet, lyrical, and real' Poppy Z. Brite
'I ached to live in their world. A stunning debut that is sure to become a classic' Elizabeth Hand
'Alex Jennings writes with an energy and a profusion of imagination and vividness that carries you off. Brilliant!' Katherine Addison
'A beautiful song full of magic and rhythm, darkness and delight. A profoundly gorgeous debut' Christina Henry
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Magic and music here "one and the same" bring to life a vibrant alternate New Orleans in Jennings's stunning urban fantasy debut. When Perilous "Perry" Graves encounters the city's famed undead pianist Doctor Professor, he knows something's wrong. Nine of the powerful songs that "keep Nola humming" have been stolen, and the city starts to break down: its sky trolleys stop running, and the magic that maintains the city's music fizzles. From there, the jazzy tale alternates timelines and perspectives between Perry; his younger sister, Brendy; his best friend, Peaches; and Casey Ravel, a trans man who's moved back to town years after fleeing Hurricane Katrina. As Casey reconnects with his cousin, Jaylon, now a celebrated artist, they look back on their teenage graffiti and the uncanny ways their paintings have changed. And, after Perry and Brendy's grandfather goes missing, it appears his disappearance may be linked to the music thief, leading the pair to offer to help Doctor Professor investigate. Jennings develops a rich, enveloping world brimming with mesmerizing art, music, and fantasy, and sets within it a rich discussion of community and culture. The unmistakable love for New Orleans that emanates from these pages will stick in readers' heads and hearts like the catchiest of tunes. Agent: Shawna McCarthy, McCarthy Agency.
