Butterfly Fish
Butterfly Fish is a lyrical literary novel that travels between modern London and a long-ago Benin. It follows Joy, a fragile outsider who, after her mother’s sudden death, is drawn to a brass-headed artefact and a captivating young woman who appears in her photographs. Aimed at adult readers who love character-driven fiction with mythic echoes, the tone is haunting, hopeful, and quietly adventurous.
In Butterfly Fish, Joy’s life unfolds across two interwoven timelines, pairing her contemporary emotional odyssey with a richly imagined history of Benin and its warriors. As family secrets surface—linking Joy’s mother, her grandfather, and the wife of a king—the artefact becomes a doorway to memory, desire, and courage. The writing blends vivid realism with folklore-infused imagery, inviting the past to speak through clues and dreams.
Past and present braid together through atmosphere-rich prose and a carefully paced narrative that rewards patience. Readers meet evocative settings—from the bustle of London to the hush of ancestral histories—without losing the intimate focus on Joy’s longing to belong and be heard. The blend of romance, memory, and myth asks what we owe to the past and to one another.
- Two interwoven timelines: contemporary London and Benin history
- A brass-headed artefact that anchors the mystery
- Haunting, lyrical prose with mythic undertones
- Family secrets, power, love, and resilience at the center
- Immersive mood and atmosphere that invites reflection
- Award-winning debut (Betty Trask Award 2016) from the author of Speak Gigantular
After finishing Butterfly Fish, readers carry a sense of memory, lineage, and resilience—and a warmer view of how love and history endure. The tale lingers, inviting reflection on loss, hope, and the ways stories can bridge worlds and heal what’s been broken.
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Butterfly Fish
Butterfly Fish
Butterfly Fish is a lyrical literary novel that travels between modern London and a long-ago Benin. It follows Joy, a fragile outsider who, after her mother’s sudden death, is drawn to a brass-headed artefact and a captivating young woman who appears in her photographs. Aimed at adult readers who love character-driven fiction with mythic echoes, the tone is haunting, hopeful, and quietly adventurous.
In Butterfly Fish, Joy’s life unfolds across two interwoven timelines, pairing her contemporary emotional odyssey with a richly imagined history of Benin and its warriors. As family secrets surface—linking Joy’s mother, her grandfather, and the wife of a king—the artefact becomes a doorway to memory, desire, and courage. The writing blends vivid realism with folklore-infused imagery, inviting the past to speak through clues and dreams.
Past and present braid together through atmosphere-rich prose and a carefully paced narrative that rewards patience. Readers meet evocative settings—from the bustle of London to the hush of ancestral histories—without losing the intimate focus on Joy’s longing to belong and be heard. The blend of romance, memory, and myth asks what we owe to the past and to one another.
- Two interwoven timelines: contemporary London and Benin history
- A brass-headed artefact that anchors the mystery
- Haunting, lyrical prose with mythic undertones
- Family secrets, power, love, and resilience at the center
- Immersive mood and atmosphere that invites reflection
- Award-winning debut (Betty Trask Award 2016) from the author of Speak Gigantular
After finishing Butterfly Fish, readers carry a sense of memory, lineage, and resilience—and a warmer view of how love and history endure. The tale lingers, inviting reflection on loss, hope, and the ways stories can bridge worlds and heal what’s been broken.
Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
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Description
Butterfly Fish is a lyrical literary novel that travels between modern London and a long-ago Benin. It follows Joy, a fragile outsider who, after her mother’s sudden death, is drawn to a brass-headed artefact and a captivating young woman who appears in her photographs. Aimed at adult readers who love character-driven fiction with mythic echoes, the tone is haunting, hopeful, and quietly adventurous.
In Butterfly Fish, Joy’s life unfolds across two interwoven timelines, pairing her contemporary emotional odyssey with a richly imagined history of Benin and its warriors. As family secrets surface—linking Joy’s mother, her grandfather, and the wife of a king—the artefact becomes a doorway to memory, desire, and courage. The writing blends vivid realism with folklore-infused imagery, inviting the past to speak through clues and dreams.
Past and present braid together through atmosphere-rich prose and a carefully paced narrative that rewards patience. Readers meet evocative settings—from the bustle of London to the hush of ancestral histories—without losing the intimate focus on Joy’s longing to belong and be heard. The blend of romance, memory, and myth asks what we owe to the past and to one another.
- Two interwoven timelines: contemporary London and Benin history
- A brass-headed artefact that anchors the mystery
- Haunting, lyrical prose with mythic undertones
- Family secrets, power, love, and resilience at the center
- Immersive mood and atmosphere that invites reflection
- Award-winning debut (Betty Trask Award 2016) from the author of Speak Gigantular
After finishing Butterfly Fish, readers carry a sense of memory, lineage, and resilience—and a warmer view of how love and history endure. The tale lingers, inviting reflection on loss, hope, and the ways stories can bridge worlds and heal what’s been broken.
