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Creature of Air and Still Water
The story of a family separated by an ocean, confronted by the unexplainable, and broken through loss.
Having built a successful life in his adopted home of Atlanta, Seth’s life is suddenly upended when his brother Sam dies. But Seth’s problems go beyond tragic loss as he tries to fight an enigmatic and foreboding “creature” inside. Unconvinced by a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and plagued by nightmares that leave him with mysterious scratches on his neck, he finally hits a breaking point He leaves his life behind and returns to his native Sierra Leone to seek comfort in his family and a cure.
But in Sierra Leone there are no easy answers, and Seth is rejected by his emotionally distant mother, Evelyn. For Evelyn, Seth’s sudden appearance stirs difficult memories regarding Sam, and she is forced to confront disturbing truths about her relationship with her sons. Tormented by memories she can no longer suppress, she decides to visit Sam’s widow and child in Atlanta to search for some kind of resolution. But Atlanta is not Freetown, and instead of answers, she finds strange ways and a suspicious daughter-in-law.
In Sierra Leone, Seth tries to find his own answers, and he gains some relief through an exorcism. Refreshed and hopeful, he decides to excise the frustrations of his childhood by setting up a camp for underprivileged kids. But the creature, and its attendant ills, is never far below the surface. As his affliction becomes increasingly bizarre, those around him question whether he is gifted with revelation, is possessed, or is simply going insane.
Together, Seth must face his creature, and Evelyn must face herself, both in a battle for their own version of peace.
What people are
Malaika Cheney-Coker’s masterful literary debut, Creature of Air and Still Water, is a poignant tale of grief, family, forgiveness, and the monsters from childhood we struggle to outgrow. Cheney-Coker is an author to watch. —Robert Gwaltney, award-winning author of The Cicada Tree and 2023 Georgia Author of the Year.
“An amazing compassionate story of sacrifice and forgiveness. Malaika Cheney-Coker is a strong engaging voice we will hear more from in the near future. Creature of Air and Still Water is a pager turner to the end.”
—Ann Hite, award-winning author of Haints On Black A Haunted Short Story Collection
What is grief? What is madness? Protagonist, Seth Walker, is a man who feels as if he does not belong—even to his family. With help from his psychiatrist Dr. Holland, Seth wades through the physical and metaphorical river to wash away his “madness.” Richly layered in a unique flavor of the mind, this is a finely crafted novel with an artisan’s touch, with a history flowing beneath the lives of those trying to survive. As debuts go, Creature of Air and Still Water ranks up there with some of my Ellen Foster (Kaye Gibbons) and Monkeys (Susan Minot). Although Seth believes “We have been dead from the day we were born,” this novel is alive with dramatic flair. —William Walsh, author of Lakewood
Having built a successful life in his adopted home of Atlanta, Seth’s life is suddenly upended when his brother Sam dies. But Seth’s problems go beyond tragic loss as he tries to fight an enigmatic and foreboding “creature” inside. Unconvinced by a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder and plagued by nightmares that leave him with mysterious scratches on his neck, he finally hits a breaking point He leaves his life behind and returns to his native Sierra Leone to seek comfort in his family and a cure.
But in Sierra Leone there are no easy answers, and Seth is rejected by his emotionally distant mother, Evelyn. For Evelyn, Seth’s sudden appearance stirs difficult memories regarding Sam, and she is forced to confront disturbing truths about her relationship with her sons. Tormented by memories she can no longer suppress, she decides to visit Sam’s widow and child in Atlanta to search for some kind of resolution. But Atlanta is not Freetown, and instead of answers, she finds strange ways and a suspicious daughter-in-law.
In Sierra Leone, Seth tries to find his own answers, and he gains some relief through an exorcism. Refreshed and hopeful, he decides to excise the frustrations of his childhood by setting up a camp for underprivileged kids. But the creature, and its attendant ills, is never far below the surface. As his affliction becomes increasingly bizarre, those around him question whether he is gifted with revelation, is possessed, or is simply going insane.
Together, Seth must face his creature, and Evelyn must face herself, both in a battle for their own version of peace.
What people are
Malaika Cheney-Coker’s masterful literary debut, Creature of Air and Still Water, is a poignant tale of grief, family, forgiveness, and the monsters from childhood we struggle to outgrow. Cheney-Coker is an author to watch. —Robert Gwaltney, award-winning author of The Cicada Tree and 2023 Georgia Author of the Year.
“An amazing compassionate story of sacrifice and forgiveness. Malaika Cheney-Coker is a strong engaging voice we will hear more from in the near future. Creature of Air and Still Water is a pager turner to the end.”
—Ann Hite, award-winning author of Haints On Black A Haunted Short Story Collection
What is grief? What is madness? Protagonist, Seth Walker, is a man who feels as if he does not belong—even to his family. With help from his psychiatrist Dr. Holland, Seth wades through the physical and metaphorical river to wash away his “madness.” Richly layered in a unique flavor of the mind, this is a finely crafted novel with an artisan’s touch, with a history flowing beneath the lives of those trying to survive. As debuts go, Creature of Air and Still Water ranks up there with some of my Ellen Foster (Kaye Gibbons) and Monkeys (Susan Minot). Although Seth believes “We have been dead from the day we were born,” this novel is alive with dramatic flair. —William Walsh, author of Lakewood
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2025
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 26, 2025
‘Creature of Air and Still Water’ is a mesmerizing debut novel from Malaika Cheney-Coker that feels both intimate and mythic, rooted in a space between the visible world and the quiet depths beneath it. Cheney-Coker writes with a lyrical grace that pulls you in from the first page. Her prose is rich and fluid, shimmering with imagery. Every sensory detail is layered with meaning.
At the heart of the novel are characters wrestling with heartbreak, identity, and the weight of expectations. Their emotional struggles are rendered with such honesty and tenderness that you can feel their silence, their longing, and their quiet, powerful resilience. Cheney-Coker allows their vulnerability to take center stage, not as weakness, but as a profound source of transformation.
This story is as much about personal healing as it is about connection with nature, with others, and with oneself. The narrative flows gracefully between moments of reflection and discovery, and the author’s gift for metaphor elevates every scene into something luminous.
‘Creature of Air and Still Water’ is a beautifully crafted story. For readers who love immersive storytelling, poetic language, and emotionally resonant character journeys, this book is an absolute gem. I highly recommend it!
At the heart of the novel are characters wrestling with heartbreak, identity, and the weight of expectations. Their emotional struggles are rendered with such honesty and tenderness that you can feel their silence, their longing, and their quiet, powerful resilience. Cheney-Coker allows their vulnerability to take center stage, not as weakness, but as a profound source of transformation.
This story is as much about personal healing as it is about connection with nature, with others, and with oneself. The narrative flows gracefully between moments of reflection and discovery, and the author’s gift for metaphor elevates every scene into something luminous.
‘Creature of Air and Still Water’ is a beautifully crafted story. For readers who love immersive storytelling, poetic language, and emotionally resonant character journeys, this book is an absolute gem. I highly recommend it!
April 13, 2025
This feast was like a gourmet meal! Cheney-Coker has blown me away with her marvelous first Novel. I was captivated from the beginning and could hardly put it down! I love savoring delicious writing and this wonderful book was the rarest of delectable finds. Her use of imagery is superb. Her storytelling simply brilliant! There is a depth, breadth and magnitude to this book that is simply superlative. I can hardly imagine such quality from one so young. What can I say more! Just read it!!! And tell your friends!!!
May 4, 2025
This author's writing is simply beautiful, painting both place and emotion with vivid imagery. This is one of those rare novels that makes you think and feel in equal measure. I am already looking forward to whatever this talented author writes next. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates powerful storytelling and exquisite writing. This book is my new favorite gift to give.
May 31, 2025
This debut novel is a worthy literary opus. Cheney-Coker’s writing has a poetic beauty that draws you in from the start. Crisp imagery and evocative storytelling leave you expectant and wanting more. Such an enchanting journey into the mind and soul of Seth Walker..a mystical dance of deconstruction and redemption. Hands down my favorite book in a very long time.
December 23, 2025
From the art cover to the last page, Creature of Air and Still water draws you in. This book is evocative, beautifully written like poetic prose as we navigate themes of loss, grief, complex family dynamics, war and the memories left behind. I found the characters well developed, complicated but redemptive. The artful way in which Cheney-Coker uses language makes this debut novel a must read.
December 5, 2025
Poetically written with a vivid, complex protagonist struggling with grief and displacement. Brava!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews