Burn the Sea

by Mona Tewari

Mona Tewari rewrites the story of a South Indian rani who fought against Portuguese invasion and colonization in the adventurous, sensual historical fantasy epic Burn the Sea.

Abbakka Chowta, rajkumari of Ullal, grew up training in combat as her elder sister, Ektha, trained to become the next rani. Abbakka expects to serve as her sister's adviser and supporter. Then Ullal's historic enemy, the half-human, half-snake water creatures called the Porcugi, launch attacks on their soil and demand tithes for "protection."

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Permanence

by Sophie Mackintosh

"She was dreaming... or perhaps she was dead, and so in heaven," thinks the protagonist of Sophie Mackintosh's incisive novel, Permanence, after she awakens next to her married lover for the first time. The clandestine couple, Clara and Francis, find themselves one morning in a strange apartment that somehow contains their favorite clothes, art, and books, in a strange city populated entirely by other couples. There are gold coins in their pockets and plenty of pleasant places to explore. In spare, precise

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Thanks for Watching

by Kate Cavanaugh

Sharply observed and full of dark humor, Kate Cavanaugh's debut psychological thriller offers a fresh take on the classic closed-circle mystery with 10 influencers trapped together on an island without Internet. The novel begins with Michelle Monroe, a previously successful influencer whose career is sputtering. Once-plentiful brand deals have vanished, fans have left her, and even her trolls have lost interest. As eviction from her fancy apartment looms, Michelle receives an invitation for an exclusive brand-deal

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Claire and the Cathedral

by Pam Fong

Claire and the Cathedral by author/illustrator Pam Fong (The Clock) is a wordless, intricately illustrated grayscale picture book about a child who finds profound joy in art through the glow of light and drift of music.

The book's opening endpapers depict a child, presumably Claire, and an adult caretaker venturing out to visit Notre-Dame on a cloudy day. At the door of the cathedral, the sound of a violinist's music creates an iridescent wave of color floating above Claire; embedded within the rippling colors

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A Door Is to Open

by Kyo Maclear, illus. by Julie Morstad

Author Kyo Maclear (Hello, Rain!) and illustrator Julie Morstad (When Green Becomes Tomatoes) collaborate once again (Julia, Child) for the picture book A Door Is to Open, which offers a tantalizing glimpse into the nature and essence of doors.

A door can be so many things. Most obviously, "a door is to open." It's to "knock on and go through... and close." Beyond the doors there may be a cozy dinner or a large party with balloons and presents. One door might become an opportunity for playing, another for

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