First published 2011
Will Taylor meets the Feierabend sisters at Berkeley and falls hard for Livvy, who splits her time between chemistry labs and creating elaborate meals. Her family captivates him too. Maddie performs on stage with magnetic energy. Rose collects stories about their ancestry. Their mother Sylvia drifts through conversations as if listening to distant voices. The women speak about luck as though it belongs to them, yet Will notices their happiness feels fragile and temporary. When he learns that past Feierabends struck a deal with supernatural powers, Will realizes Livvy faces a terrible destiny. The family contract demands payment, and Livvy may be the price. Will teams up with his closest friend to decode the supernatural agreement that binds the Feierabends. They must act quickly to break Livvy free from obligations made by her ancestors. The mystery pulls Will deeper into a world where fairy tale logic governs real lives and ancient promises still hold power.
Genres: literary-fiction, mystery, fantasy, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Berkeley
237 pages · Paperback · Tachyon Publications