Exquisitely written and thematically complex, Other Words for Smoke weaves a sinuous tale of sinister magic and repressed desire, focusing on a burned-down house where the uncanny thrived. Ineffably creepy yet also poignant and affecting, Griffin’s masterly narrative is one of the finest YA novels of the year.
The house at the end of the lane burned down, and Rita Frost and her teenage ward, Bevan, were never seen again. The townspeople never learned what happened. Only Mae and her brother Rossa know the truth; they spent two summers with Rita and Bevan, two of the strangest summers of their lives...
Because nothing in that house was as it seemed: a cat who was more than a cat, and a dark power called Sweet James that lurked behind the wallpaper, enthralling Bevan with whispers of neon magic and escape. And in the summer heat, Mae became equally as enthralled with Bevan. Desperately in the grips of first love, she'd give the other girl anything. A dangerous offer when all that Sweet James desired was a taste of new flesh...
Publisher: Titan Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781789090086
Number of pages: 336
Dimensions: 198 x 130 mm
Sarah Maria Griffin has a unique writing style and this story was utterly bewitching. Things are certainly tricky. Original and uncanny. This book will head into entirely unexpected territory.
Other Words For Smoke was entirely a cover buy for me, picked up on a whim. The synopsis doesn’t give away much but, when I started reading, I was glad of this. I found Griffin’s novel to be magical, but in a very... More
This was an exciting story. It’s unique because it’s a mix of suspense, fantasy, and a little bit of horror.
This story was unique in the narratives. The focus switched between characters. Most of it was written in...
More
Please sign in to write a review
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
