Genre Fiction
![Kathleen Jennings - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B00ITXWDBE.jpg)
Flyaway
"An unforgettable tale, as beautiful as it is thorny." ―The New York Times Book Review
"Exquisitely rendered and full of teeth."―Holly Black
Named a Best of 2020 Pick for NPR
An Indie Next Pick!
A British Fantasy Award Winner!
A Ditmar Award Winner!
A 2021 World Fantasy Award Finalist!
A 2020 Crawford Award Finalist
Transformation, enchantment, and the emotional truths of family history teem in Kathleen Jennings' stunning debut, Flyaway.
"Kathleen Jennings' prose dazzles, and her magic feels real enough that you might even prick your finger on it."―Kelly Link
In a small Western Queensland town, a reserved young woman receives a note from one of her vanished brothers―a note that makes her question memories of their disappearance and her father's departure.
A beguiling story that proves that gothic delights and uncanny family horror can live―and even thrive―under a burning sun, Flyaway introduces readers to Bettina Scott, whose search for the truth throws her into tales of eerie dogs, vanished schools, cursed monsters, and enchanted bottles. Flyaway enchants you with the sly, beautiful darkness of Karen Russell and a world utterly its own.
"Exquisitely rendered and full of teeth."―Holly Black
Named a Best of 2020 Pick for NPR
An Indie Next Pick!
A British Fantasy Award Winner!
A Ditmar Award Winner!
A 2021 World Fantasy Award Finalist!
A 2020 Crawford Award Finalist
Transformation, enchantment, and the emotional truths of family history teem in Kathleen Jennings' stunning debut, Flyaway.
"Kathleen Jennings' prose dazzles, and her magic feels real enough that you might even prick your finger on it."―Kelly Link
In a small Western Queensland town, a reserved young woman receives a note from one of her vanished brothers―a note that makes her question memories of their disappearance and her father's departure.
A beguiling story that proves that gothic delights and uncanny family horror can live―and even thrive―under a burning sun, Flyaway introduces readers to Bettina Scott, whose search for the truth throws her into tales of eerie dogs, vanished schools, cursed monsters, and enchanted bottles. Flyaway enchants you with the sly, beautiful darkness of Karen Russell and a world utterly its own.
Editorial Reviews
A 2021 World Fantasy Award Finalist!
A 2020 Crawford Award Finalist
An Indie Next Pick!
Named a Best of 2020 Pick for NPR
"An unforgettable tale, as beautiful as it is thorny." ―The New York Times Book Review
"A superbly told tale of folklore-infused fantasy, full of rising dread, set in a sharply observed Australian outback town."―Garth Nix
"[Flyaway] will leave you feeling deeply satisfied." ―Washington Independent Review of Books
"Katheleen Jennings' writing is highly poetic and her imagery superb... [and contains] revelations that even the most seasoned genre reader won't see coming. More like this, please." ―Rue Morgue
"A fairytale wrapped about in riddles and other thorny bits of enchantments and stories, but none of them quite like any you've heard before. Kathleen Jennings' prose dazzles, and her magic feels real enough that you might even prick your finger on it."―Kelly Link
"Half mystery, half fairy tale, all exquisitely rendered and full of teeth."―Holly Black
"Flyaway is a novel that knows any story is only as truthful as the person who tells it; that the tale itself survives as a parasite does, jumping from person to person and host to host."―Australian Book Review
"In spellbinding, lyrical prose Jennings lulls readers into this rich, dreamlike world. Lovers of contemporary fairy tales will find this a masterful work."―Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Achingly gorgeous. . . . As tangled and densely interwoven as a tuft of dusty fur snagged on a barbed wire fence, Jennings' debut novella is both deeply indebted to the Australian gothic tradition and vibrantly, bewitchingly itself. A dark, delicious shrike's feast of a fairy tale."―Brooke Bolander
"Brilliant light washes through these pages, a perfect foil for the novella's shadowy, all-too-serious battles of class, community a...
A 2020 Crawford Award Finalist
An Indie Next Pick!
Named a Best of 2020 Pick for NPR
"An unforgettable tale, as beautiful as it is thorny." ―The New York Times Book Review
"A superbly told tale of folklore-infused fantasy, full of rising dread, set in a sharply observed Australian outback town."―Garth Nix
"[Flyaway] will leave you feeling deeply satisfied." ―Washington Independent Review of Books
"Katheleen Jennings' writing is highly poetic and her imagery superb... [and contains] revelations that even the most seasoned genre reader won't see coming. More like this, please." ―Rue Morgue
"A fairytale wrapped about in riddles and other thorny bits of enchantments and stories, but none of them quite like any you've heard before. Kathleen Jennings' prose dazzles, and her magic feels real enough that you might even prick your finger on it."―Kelly Link
"Half mystery, half fairy tale, all exquisitely rendered and full of teeth."―Holly Black
"Flyaway is a novel that knows any story is only as truthful as the person who tells it; that the tale itself survives as a parasite does, jumping from person to person and host to host."―Australian Book Review
"In spellbinding, lyrical prose Jennings lulls readers into this rich, dreamlike world. Lovers of contemporary fairy tales will find this a masterful work."―Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Achingly gorgeous. . . . As tangled and densely interwoven as a tuft of dusty fur snagged on a barbed wire fence, Jennings' debut novella is both deeply indebted to the Australian gothic tradition and vibrantly, bewitchingly itself. A dark, delicious shrike's feast of a fairy tale."―Brooke Bolander
"Brilliant light washes through these pages, a perfect foil for the novella's shadowy, all-too-serious battles of class, community a...
Readers Top Reviews
SusandsdfRoshamasZom
If I could only give this more than 5 stars. Jennings’ casts a spell that had me under from the first page. This story is the fairytale of fairytales. I know that to say this makes it seem like a simple story, but it’s far, far from it. I loved it!
stephanie
So glad i read review ahead that this book falls into genre of The Fantastical. Half ‘regular’ novel, half near dream/nightmare At times i felt her writing was too sparse and i wanted to know more, more character development (her writing style is comfortable to read tho several scenes were tough) but i think that was intended on author's part Am hoping for a sequel or next novel !
Zombie Inkpot
This slim volume is a thing of beauty. The illustrations are as exquisite as the detailed, textured writing. It’s impossible not to love any book that contains a thylacine. My favorite parts of this novella were the versions of classic fairy tales given an Australian twist. My only quibble with this tale is that I couldn’t picture the main characters of Bettina, Patricia and Gary as teenagers. There seemed too much time and sorrow between them for them to be 19 year olds. I would have easily put ten or twenty years on them. A beautiful, magical book from a very talented author and artist.
Jordan Shiveley
There are many stories tangled in the bramble lined lives of the people and creatures of Flyaway. But as much as the dirt and the scrub and the caves and the sky seek to keep their secrets one thing shines through in this book. Kathleen Jennings has created a work of startling wonder. The prose both lulls you down to sleep with its languorous beauty then swiftly slits your throat with visceral horror. And even as you lay there bleeding out all you can think to do is to turn the next page because the dangers hiding in it are the kind we creep out of safe beds and climb through windows to pursue. The dark glory of the words in this book will haunt me for quite awhile and I’m sure if ever I hear their familiar whisper in the dark again I will follow after them with a trembling heart but smiling lips.
Candy J. Rodriguez
Bravo to Kathleen Jennings for her first novella. This is a little novel packed with wonders. The narrative positively swirls with detailed yet disturbing visions of an Australian town lost in time and space, characters that are at the same time ethereal and quite real with a leapfrogging story line that challenges us to assemble it out of precious scattered bits. Add unsettling folklore, restless fantasy creatures, old buried lies, youth lost too young, decaying landscapes and cold horror and you have a perfect stew of mesmerizing escapism. I could only read this lush, complex book in small sections as it was like a rich meal that is best savored and not devoured quickly. I found this to be one of the most absorbing and captivating books I have read in years. I was glad it was a novella as it did not need to be any longer than it was to be splendid. I can't wait for her next endeavor !
