Other Words For Smoke

Author
Sarah Maria Griffin
Publisher
Titan
Publication date
2 April 2019
Other publishers
US (Greenwillow)

Other Words For Smoke

From the author of Spare and Found Parts, described as “fierce and fearless” by V. E. Schwab and “beautifully written and compelling” by Marian Keyes, comes a story of a haunted house, magic behind the wallpaper, and the strangest summer ever.

The house at the end of the lane burned down, and Rita Frost and her teenage ward, Bevan, were never seen again. The townspeople never learned what happened. Only Mae and her brother Rossa know the truth; they spent two summers with Rita and Bevan, two of the strangest summers of their lives…

Because nothing in that house was as it seemed: a cat who was more than a cat, and a dark power called Sweet James that lurked behind the wallpaper, enthralling Bevan with whispers of neon magic and escape.

And in the summer heat, Mae became equally as enthralled with Bevan. Desperately in the grips of first love, she’d give the other girl anything. A dangerous offer when all that Sweet James desired was a taste of new flesh…

“A fascinating coming-of-age story…Griffin has a keen eye for the beautiful agony of adolescence, and that’s what makes this book such a compelling read.”

— Charlie Jane Anders

“Griffin spins a surreal and haunting tale. . .Family problems and adolescent trials tether the narrative to reality, while heightening the otherworldly threats surrounding its characters. Griffin’s hallucinatory novel creeps under the skin, unnerving readers while urging them forward.”

— Booklist (starred review)