by Jo Walton
First published 2023
A young woman feels something stirring within her, powers she never knew existed beginning to surface in quiet moments. Her abilities emerge gradually, like morning light filtering through curtains. Meanwhile, a middle-aged man questions the path his life has taken. The dreams and desires he buried years ago start calling to him again, demanding attention he thought he no longer had to give. Nearby, a family watches their foundation crack under pressure. The crisis threatens to split them apart, testing bonds they assumed were unbreakable. In this world, magic exists as something subtle and personal rather than flashy or dramatic. Each person must decide whether to embrace the changes stirring within them or retreat to familiar safety. Their individual journeys weave together, showing how personal transformation ripples outward. Small choices accumulate into something larger. Quiet moments of courage create unexpected connections between strangers and heal fractures in families.
Genres: literary-fiction, fantasy, contemporary, magical-realism
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, quiet-power
560 pages · Paperback · Tor Books