The Unwilling: A Novel

by Kelly Braffet

Overview

"Fantasy at its most sublime!"—Erin Morgenstern, New York Times bestselling author of THE NIGHT CIRCUS

"Suspenseful, magical, wonderfully written… An essential addition to all epic-fantasy collections." —Booklist, STARRED review

A penetrating tale of magic, faith and pride…

Judah is an orphaned girl with a secret gift, born at the gates of Highfall castle. Raised alongside Gavin, heir to Lord Elban's empire, the two share an extrasensory bond—one that is key to Judah's survival and her possible undoing.

Elban—as mighty as he is cruel—plans to use Judah as a pawn to amass greater control. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

But beyond the castle walls, a magus, a healer with his own powerful force, has arrived from the provinces. He, too, has designs on the realm, and at the heart of his plans lies Judah… The girl who started life with no name and no history will soon discover her own strength. Intriguingly, she does not have to be given power: she can just take it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780778388241
Publisher:	MIRA Books
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Series:	Barrier Lands , #1
Edition description:	First Time Trade
Pages:	608
Sales rank:	662,149
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Kelly Braffet is the author of the novels Save Yourself, Josie and Jack and Last Seen Leaving. Her writing has been published in the New York Times and Vulture.com, as well as The Fairy Tale Review, Post Road, and several anthologies. She attended Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University and currently lives in upstate New York.

Editorial Reviews

"This idea of two people being able to feel each other’s sensations—both physically and emotionally—is brilliantly executed. The Unwilling is about sharing joy, and sensing fear and cruelty, and caring beyond ourselves. Kelly Braffet managed to make an adventure story about empathy.”—Vanity Fair

"Kelly Braffet is extraordinary... Familiar yet entirely unique, The Unwilling is the sort of story that seeps under your skin and pulses there, intimate and vibrant and alive. Fantasy at its most sublime."—Erin Morgenstern, NYT bestselling author of The Starless Sea and The Night Circus

"Suspenseful, magical, wonderfully written, and never predictable, Braffet's first foray into speculative fiction is an essential addition to all epic-fantasy collections." –Booklist, STARRED Review

"Drips with atmosphere and intrigue… Braffet’s tale is a study in suffering and cruelty but also in determination... Readers who enjoy complex characters will find much to savor here.” –Publishers Weekly


“Braffet has a real gift for dialogue, and Judah’s quick cleverness is a constant joy… Readers will fall in love with the contemplative pace, brisk dialogue and rebellious heroine of The Unwilling.” –Bookpage

"A juggernaut of an epic fantasy novel with ingenious, thrilling twists and turns. Put this on the shelf beside Naomi Novik and George R. R. Martin. Kelly Braffet is a marvel and I'll read anything she writes."—Kelly Link, MacArthur Genius Recipient, award-winning author of Get in Trouble

"Kelly Braffet's The Unwilling is a viscerally powerful book. Full of complex and compelling characters, this is the story of the corruptions of power and the strength it takes to resist. This is an incredible, brilliant story."—Kat Howard, author of Roses and Rot

"Gorgeously told, The Unwilling is at once a sweeping epic and an intimate portrait of being trapped in an oppressive regime. Meet your new favorite fantasy writer."— Gwenda Bond, NYT bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

"Wow...The characters, the world, the magic and greed and politics and pain—all of it adds up to something wonderful. I love it." –Ellen Datlow, award-winning editor and anthologist

From the Publisher

01/13/2020

The dense, challenging first fantasy by Braffet (Save Yourself) drips with atmosphere and intrigue but features heroes with frustratingly little control over their own fates. On the same day that Gavin, heir to Lord Elban of Highfall, was born, foundling Judah was brought to Highfall and subsequently raised by his side. She and Gavin have shared a mystical bond since childhood; injuries to one also afflict the other. Now young adults, the cruel Lord Elban has plans for both Judah and Gavin, but his unnamed Seneschal has schemes of his own, as does Nathaniel Clare, a healer hired to attend to them. Nathaniel is a secret agent of the Slonimi, wanderers who have worked for generations in order to place one of their own in a position to meet Judah and use her untapped power to undo a magical binding that affects their world. The setup makes for a fascinating political chess game, though much of the action takes place off-page. Braffet’s tale is a study in suffering and cruelty but also in determination, particularly on the part of Judah. Readers who enjoy complex characters will find much to savor here. Agent: Julie Barer, The Book Group. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

This fantasy is flawlessly narrated by Tia Rider. Judah learns to trust herself and battle the unfathomable plan for her future that is being set in motion by the evil Lord Elban of Highfall, the castle where she was brought as a foundling. In the destitute village below, a magus with healing powers is set on putting an end to the lord’s brutal rule. Rider lends impressive power to the many female and male characters working together to change their destiny in this graphic and harrowing story. Especially noteworthy is her differentiation of multiple points of view and her sensitivity to triggering topics, including the brutality and ruthlessness depicted in many of the scenes. This epic adventure takes listeners on an engrossing journey full of prophecy. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2020 - AudioFile

This fantasy is flawlessly narrated by Tia Rider. Judah learns to trust herself and battle the unfathomable plan for her future that is being set in motion by the evil Lord Elban of Highfall, the castle where she was brought as a foundling. In the destitute village below, a magus with healing powers is set on putting an end to the lord’s brutal rule. Rider lends impressive power to the many female and male characters working together to change their destiny in this graphic and harrowing story. Especially noteworthy is her differentiation of multiple points of view and her sensitivity to triggering topics, including the brutality and ruthlessness depicted in many of the scenes. This epic adventure takes listeners on an engrossing journey full of prophecy. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2020 - AudioFile