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Canon
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26Two unlikely heroes embark on quests to win God’s favor in this outrageously entertaining, profoundly heartfelt novel that announces an ingenious new voice in the tradition of Chain-Gang All-Stars, No One Is Talking About This, and Martyr!
Yara can’t comprehend why God has chosen them to slay Dominic, the ruthless leader of the army of Bad Guys. Cast out by their family and reeling from a destructive relationship, Yara has never felt weaker—but with nothing left to lose, they strike a deal. Abandoning their solitary days of embroidery and obsessive cleaning, Yara reluctantly embarks on a perilous odyssey designed to prepare them for the daunting mission ahead.
Meanwhile, Adrena, a disillusioned prophet with a terrifying secret power, is determined to become the hero of this story. Desperately seeking the glory of God’s approval and the promise of heaven, where she hopes to reunite with her beloved mother, Adrena must first persuade Harpo, the leader of the Good Guys, that her plan is God’s will.
As their journeys unfold in a series of unforgettable adventures, Yara and Adrena are propelled toward each other and transformative revelations about life, death, and destiny in this intensely captivating, irreverent epic from a singularly brilliant new voice in fiction.
Yara can’t comprehend why God has chosen them to slay Dominic, the ruthless leader of the army of Bad Guys. Cast out by their family and reeling from a destructive relationship, Yara has never felt weaker—but with nothing left to lose, they strike a deal. Abandoning their solitary days of embroidery and obsessive cleaning, Yara reluctantly embarks on a perilous odyssey designed to prepare them for the daunting mission ahead.
Meanwhile, Adrena, a disillusioned prophet with a terrifying secret power, is determined to become the hero of this story. Desperately seeking the glory of God’s approval and the promise of heaven, where she hopes to reunite with her beloved mother, Adrena must first persuade Harpo, the leader of the Good Guys, that her plan is God’s will.
As their journeys unfold in a series of unforgettable adventures, Yara and Adrena are propelled toward each other and transformative revelations about life, death, and destiny in this intensely captivating, irreverent epic from a singularly brilliant new voice in fiction.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 19, 2026
20 people are currently reading
8225 people want to read
About the author
Paige Lewis
9 books197 followersPaige Lewis is the author of Canon (Viking, 2026) and Space Struck (Sarabande Books, 2019).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 15, 2025
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!!!
I’m sincerely at a loss of words for how to describe this novel. It was so unique within formatting, dividing the entirety of the book into separate books all while shifting perspectives when needed. All the while you are being told the story, but from whose perspective? Who’s to say.
I enjoyed the chaotic energy this story exudes. One moment there is talk of prophets and God, then the next there are references to Jeopardy and going to the mall, and then you’re back to battle and death (and clearing the battle field for a dog!). I felt crazy whiplash in certain moments, but in a funny and captivating way. I could never quite get a grasp on the time this story takes place or exactly what kind of Earth this is, and I thought that to be perfect.
More spoiler-esc here:
I enjoyed that there wasn’t really a settled conclusion. Yara was sung out of existence, or really, sung into their own freedom. Their story felt complete, or more in the way that they are able to move and live for themself. However, with Adrena and Harpo, I found that their stories didn’t entirely conclude. Adrena is no longer a prophet, free to live her life and romance, but I didn’t feel that this concluded her story. Perhaps it is similar to Yara’s, this idea of being freed from God, but it wasn’t as conclusive I feel. And Harpo, poor Harpo. Still beckoning to God’s will and not yet finding his wife. Yet I found myself in love with each of their stories.
I also enjoyed the chaos of God. He is a figure of chaos throughout this novel, even revealing that Dominic wasn’t as evil as proposed to the Good Guys. I would enjoy this narrative from Dominic’s side as well.
A really fantastic book. I hope that this novel gets all of the praise and attention it deserves.
I’m sincerely at a loss of words for how to describe this novel. It was so unique within formatting, dividing the entirety of the book into separate books all while shifting perspectives when needed. All the while you are being told the story, but from whose perspective? Who’s to say.
I enjoyed the chaotic energy this story exudes. One moment there is talk of prophets and God, then the next there are references to Jeopardy and going to the mall, and then you’re back to battle and death (and clearing the battle field for a dog!). I felt crazy whiplash in certain moments, but in a funny and captivating way. I could never quite get a grasp on the time this story takes place or exactly what kind of Earth this is, and I thought that to be perfect.
More spoiler-esc here:
I enjoyed that there wasn’t really a settled conclusion. Yara was sung out of existence, or really, sung into their own freedom. Their story felt complete, or more in the way that they are able to move and live for themself. However, with Adrena and Harpo, I found that their stories didn’t entirely conclude. Adrena is no longer a prophet, free to live her life and romance, but I didn’t feel that this concluded her story. Perhaps it is similar to Yara’s, this idea of being freed from God, but it wasn’t as conclusive I feel. And Harpo, poor Harpo. Still beckoning to God’s will and not yet finding his wife. Yet I found myself in love with each of their stories.
I also enjoyed the chaos of God. He is a figure of chaos throughout this novel, even revealing that Dominic wasn’t as evil as proposed to the Good Guys. I would enjoy this narrative from Dominic’s side as well.
A really fantastic book. I hope that this novel gets all of the praise and attention it deserves.
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
Do you love riotously original novels that make you feel like nothing will ever be the same after you read it? Then get ready to have your brains melted by this incredible debut. It's about Yara, who receives a message from God, telling them they need to slay one of the Earth's Bad Guys. Not one to question a missive from above for too long, Yara strikes a deal and sets off on their assignment. Meanwhile a downcast prophet with a hidden power is hoping to get in good with the man upstairs and carries out her own plan. So prepare yourself: Canon is a mind-bending adventure about life, death, and fate that will ruin your life, in the best way. —Liberty Hardy
Do you love riotously original novels that make you feel like nothing will ever be the same after you read it? Then get ready to have your brains melted by this incredible debut. It's about Yara, who receives a message from God, telling them they need to slay one of the Earth's Bad Guys. Not one to question a missive from above for too long, Yara strikes a deal and sets off on their assignment. Meanwhile a downcast prophet with a hidden power is hoping to get in good with the man upstairs and carries out her own plan. So prepare yourself: Canon is a mind-bending adventure about life, death, and fate that will ruin your life, in the best way. —Liberty Hardy
October 24, 2025
Wow. I absolutely loved this wacky wild book. LGBTQ+ rep? Commentary on how we are screwing up the oceans? Struggles with spirituality amd relationships with God? Yeah okay.
I loved the narration of this book, the way the chapters and separate books were written. I felt like it flowed organically and this epic story kept me wanting to read more. This book felt very Welcome to Night Vale but also Hitchhiker's Guide with it's own twist.
(Also, side note, I Loved that Yara's weapon was a tent peg. Jael and Sisera? That's crazy)
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
I loved the narration of this book, the way the chapters and separate books were written. I felt like it flowed organically and this epic story kept me wanting to read more. This book felt very Welcome to Night Vale but also Hitchhiker's Guide with it's own twist.
(Also, side note, I Loved that Yara's weapon was a tent peg. Jael and Sisera? That's crazy)
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
August 25, 2025
Mayhaps my new favorite book of all time. Perfect for the weirdos who loved Welcome to Night Vale in their teens.
November 30, 2025
this book was very unique and intriguing. but I was left wanting so much more. I wanted more world building to understand the landscape - somewhere totally religious, with a business-like God, where soldiers do wheelies in their chariots, and where you go to the mall to find a soundtrack for your battle tomorrow. I also wanted more character development. I felt like I had too little time with the many colorful personalities and I didn't feel like any of the characters were 'wrapped up' by the end. so glad I read this, but I have lots of unanswered questions.
September 21, 2025
Truly the best book I’ve read in a long time.
March 1, 2026
What the heck did I just read.
It's fantastic. It's, wow, very different. Lyrical. Wildly irreverent. Not like anything else I can think of that I've ever read. The publisher's blurb references other books, but I'm not familiar with them and can't opine on how accurate the comparisons are.
In structure, in mind-feel, this is very like reading an epic poem. And that impression felt a little daunting when I first started reading, because I worried that might affect my ability to get into the story. Turns out there was no cause for concern--I got sucked in and had trouble putting it down.
I'm impressed and delighted that something as original and difficult to fit into a genre as this is being published.
All the chapter headings are asides from an omniscient 3rd party narrator to the reader, breaking the fourth wall. They're often hilarious. There is humor throughout, but it doesn't detract from the emotional weight of the book. The story takes place completely untethered to a set time and place: there are shopping malls and telephones, but the battle between Good Guys and Bad Guys takes place on horses and chariots, wielding spears and swords.
Since I was spared a religious upbringing, I'm sometimes left unmoved by stories that deal with the complications of faith and disillusionment. It's not an element of books I tend to gravitate to, but while there is a God and Catholicism and all the trappings of various forms of organized religion in this world, the questions and conflicts feel existential and universally human, so I wasn't put at a remove from the story by them.
The author wields absurdity with surgical precision in a way that can only remind me of Vonnegut, which is marvelous.
Readers who don't care for surrealism or for dreamlike elements in their fiction making the reality of the story feel slippery may be put off. Think Piranesi but (a lot) less self-serious. I loved that, but your mileage may vary. If the book has a weakness, it's that the ending felt a little bit anticlimactic.
I think this will be well worth rereading.
I got an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley, which doesn't affect my reviews, but I do put a finger on the scales by generally only requesting books I think I'm likely to enjoy. In this case, I had no idea whether I would like it, but I was intrigued by how very weird it sounded. It is weird--and brilliant--and I'm really glad I decided to give it a try.
It's fantastic. It's, wow, very different. Lyrical. Wildly irreverent. Not like anything else I can think of that I've ever read. The publisher's blurb references other books, but I'm not familiar with them and can't opine on how accurate the comparisons are.
In structure, in mind-feel, this is very like reading an epic poem. And that impression felt a little daunting when I first started reading, because I worried that might affect my ability to get into the story. Turns out there was no cause for concern--I got sucked in and had trouble putting it down.
I'm impressed and delighted that something as original and difficult to fit into a genre as this is being published.
All the chapter headings are asides from an omniscient 3rd party narrator to the reader, breaking the fourth wall. They're often hilarious. There is humor throughout, but it doesn't detract from the emotional weight of the book. The story takes place completely untethered to a set time and place: there are shopping malls and telephones, but the battle between Good Guys and Bad Guys takes place on horses and chariots, wielding spears and swords.
Since I was spared a religious upbringing, I'm sometimes left unmoved by stories that deal with the complications of faith and disillusionment. It's not an element of books I tend to gravitate to, but while there is a God and Catholicism and all the trappings of various forms of organized religion in this world, the questions and conflicts feel existential and universally human, so I wasn't put at a remove from the story by them.
The author wields absurdity with surgical precision in a way that can only remind me of Vonnegut, which is marvelous.
Readers who don't care for surrealism or for dreamlike elements in their fiction making the reality of the story feel slippery may be put off. Think Piranesi but (a lot) less self-serious. I loved that, but your mileage may vary. If the book has a weakness, it's that the ending felt a little bit anticlimactic.
I think this will be well worth rereading.
I got an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley, which doesn't affect my reviews, but I do put a finger on the scales by generally only requesting books I think I'm likely to enjoy. In this case, I had no idea whether I would like it, but I was intrigued by how very weird it sounded. It is weird--and brilliant--and I'm really glad I decided to give it a try.
September 22, 2025
Just so perfectly strange. I had consistent whiplash throughout this book- a Great War with a hero with a mission bestowed upon them by God in one chapter, a quick shopping trip- but you better avoid those kiosks- in the next.
Funny and strange and a super quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc in exchange for my honest review.
Funny and strange and a super quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eArc in exchange for my honest review.
October 13, 2025
One of your next favorite queer reads and heroes. Yara is a regular person, but they have been chosen by God to slay the leader of the “Bad Guys.” They are first sent on a journey to train before arriving at the stage for them to fulfill their destiny. Every character is fully fleshed out and interesting in the context of the story, the setting is beautiful and terrible, and the dry, sardonic humor is unmatched to anything I’ve read in a long time. The journey is a little meandering and the big battle scene feels a little rushed for my personal taste, but otherwise I absolutely love this one. 4.5/5 ⭐️
October 23, 2025
I have been wrestling with this review for days. I don’t know how to talk about this book, and I’m so afraid of doing it wrong or doing it poorly. But I suppose that’s a risk I’ll have to take.
Wonderfully weird. Unstuck in time. Canon reminds me a little of Vonnegut, a little of Pratchett, but it is also wholly unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read.
Yara, a non-binary 18-year-old with OCD, begrudgingly embarks on a quest given to them by God. The prophet Adrena is beside herself when she learns that Yara has been chosen for this mission instead of her and, desperate for bodily assumption into heaven, decides to take matters into her own hands.
Canon is so many things. It is uproariously funny, completely absurd, and pulsing with both hope and dread throughout. It’s an epic about two people grappling with meaning and purpose in a tremendously fucked up world. It’s exactly what I needed right now.
*Thank you to @NetGalley and @vikingbooks for the ARC!* Canon comes out on May 19, 2026, and is available for pre-order now. You should pre-order it, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Wonderfully weird. Unstuck in time. Canon reminds me a little of Vonnegut, a little of Pratchett, but it is also wholly unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read.
Yara, a non-binary 18-year-old with OCD, begrudgingly embarks on a quest given to them by God. The prophet Adrena is beside herself when she learns that Yara has been chosen for this mission instead of her and, desperate for bodily assumption into heaven, decides to take matters into her own hands.
Canon is so many things. It is uproariously funny, completely absurd, and pulsing with both hope and dread throughout. It’s an epic about two people grappling with meaning and purpose in a tremendously fucked up world. It’s exactly what I needed right now.
*Thank you to @NetGalley and @vikingbooks for the ARC!* Canon comes out on May 19, 2026, and is available for pre-order now. You should pre-order it, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
October 18, 2025
4.75⭐️
We follow Yara, a person chosen by God to slay Dominic(leader of the bad guys), and Adrena, a disillusioned prophet who is absolutely determined to be the hero of the story by convincing Harpo(leader of the good guys) that her plan is from God.
I feel that this book will not be for everyone simply based on how it is formatted. Separating the story into different “books” with alternating perspectives that are mostly the two main characters, though some are told from others perspectives.
This was such a fun read. It was as strange as it was funny, with a little sprinkle of existential crises throughout. The world is surreal but grounded in the recognizable. It is very chaotic, with talks of prophets of god to shopping mall commission kiosk workers. It makes for a very hard-to-grab idea of what kind of world it is, and I think that’s the point. It’s the kind of book that asks serious questions while not being too serious.
Thank you Net Galley for the eARC.
We follow Yara, a person chosen by God to slay Dominic(leader of the bad guys), and Adrena, a disillusioned prophet who is absolutely determined to be the hero of the story by convincing Harpo(leader of the good guys) that her plan is from God.
I feel that this book will not be for everyone simply based on how it is formatted. Separating the story into different “books” with alternating perspectives that are mostly the two main characters, though some are told from others perspectives.
This was such a fun read. It was as strange as it was funny, with a little sprinkle of existential crises throughout. The world is surreal but grounded in the recognizable. It is very chaotic, with talks of prophets of god to shopping mall commission kiosk workers. It makes for a very hard-to-grab idea of what kind of world it is, and I think that’s the point. It’s the kind of book that asks serious questions while not being too serious.
Thank you Net Galley for the eARC.
October 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Wasn’t sure what to think of this until the end. While I struggled to get into the rhythm and the characters, the humor mostly worked for me and the plot tied together in a way that was ultimately satisfying.
Wasn’t sure what to think of this until the end. While I struggled to get into the rhythm and the characters, the humor mostly worked for me and the plot tied together in a way that was ultimately satisfying.
January 18, 2026
Started off very very fun, but the swapping back and forth between narrators completely took the wind out the book’s sails, which then made the quirky tone and voice just fall flatter and flatter and flatter. great ideas here and a good sense of humor.
November 29, 2025
I’ve never read anything quite like this and it was absolutely delightful. Funny, quirky, adventurous, clever, just all around wonderful.
November 30, 2025
4.5.
Canon is like... a modern Alice in Wonderland, spinning down the bizarre, brutal rabbit hole.
The writing format is really unique in itself, and the story is just strange and entirely unpredictable. The narrator sometimes breaks the third wall to address the reader, has a very casual, quirky tone throughout.
But the STORY- how, how can I describe this adequately? Yara (they/them) is chosen by God to kill Dominic and defeat The Bad Guys. Accompanied by a color changing newt and HOWBIG! the whale, their journey is something entirely fresh, new, and brilliant. I honestly don't know the author's hope for the message of this, but for me it touched beautifully on the danger of looking away from uncomfortable things or investing energy into the wrong things, (cutting down all the trees on the island so that the plastic bags did not get caught on them), the hypocrisy and divisive nature of religion, the risk of following something blindly, the value of staying true to yourself and, when needed, starting over, creating your new world, (literally, in this case).
This book is NOT for people who are invested in world building. It is very amorphous, with intent, I believe. The sides of the war are literally called The Good Guys and The Bad Guys, lol.
This book is not for everyone, but man, I can't stop thinking about it.
A non-binary main character in an epic is also a level of rep you don't see many places yet.
TW: grooming, SA, violence.
Canon is like... a modern Alice in Wonderland, spinning down the bizarre, brutal rabbit hole.
The writing format is really unique in itself, and the story is just strange and entirely unpredictable. The narrator sometimes breaks the third wall to address the reader, has a very casual, quirky tone throughout.
But the STORY- how, how can I describe this adequately? Yara (they/them) is chosen by God to kill Dominic and defeat The Bad Guys. Accompanied by a color changing newt and HOWBIG! the whale, their journey is something entirely fresh, new, and brilliant. I honestly don't know the author's hope for the message of this, but for me it touched beautifully on the danger of looking away from uncomfortable things or investing energy into the wrong things, (cutting down all the trees on the island so that the plastic bags did not get caught on them), the hypocrisy and divisive nature of religion, the risk of following something blindly, the value of staying true to yourself and, when needed, starting over, creating your new world, (literally, in this case).
This book is NOT for people who are invested in world building. It is very amorphous, with intent, I believe. The sides of the war are literally called The Good Guys and The Bad Guys, lol.
This book is not for everyone, but man, I can't stop thinking about it.
A non-binary main character in an epic is also a level of rep you don't see many places yet.
TW: grooming, SA, violence.
November 1, 2025
Every single page of this novel is an absurdist delight. What a gift for folks who love epics, myths, and a completely bonkers ride. The whole book is a fantastical, hilarious exploration of theism and human agency. What do we have control over and when are we riding on the back of a whale with a truth-telling newt because that’s just how the cookie crumbled?
Being able to tell a story like this takes immense skill and talent. At every point, Lewis is aware of both the overarching themes of the book and the conceits she’s using to tell the story. Just the chapter titles are a joy in and of themselves.
This book felt like a callback to the kind of comedic genre fiction I grew up reading (Douglas Adams and Richard Anton Wilson and the like) but updated and broken free from a singular lived experience.
I truly can’t wait for this to be on shelves next year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Being able to tell a story like this takes immense skill and talent. At every point, Lewis is aware of both the overarching themes of the book and the conceits she’s using to tell the story. Just the chapter titles are a joy in and of themselves.
This book felt like a callback to the kind of comedic genre fiction I grew up reading (Douglas Adams and Richard Anton Wilson and the like) but updated and broken free from a singular lived experience.
I truly can’t wait for this to be on shelves next year.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Canon is a whimsical, surreal adventure story about an aimless young person named Yara, chosen by God to challenge and Dominic, the nefarious leader of the army of “Bad Guys".” Yara is tasked, very literally, with fulfilling a hero’s quest, of journeying across the ocean to meet with mentors who will train them to have the skills needed to save the world. And they’ll need it. Yara is young, abandoned by their religious family for being nonbinary, afflicted with profound contamination-based OCD, and deeply unable and disinterested in the act of murder. After God himself hands off his task, they’re granted a truth-telling newt and friendly talking whale and sent away. We also follow Adrena, a prophet of God who can sing things out of existence, who has abruptly lost her lifelong ability to hear God’s voice. She believes she can win God’s favor back by participating in the war and aiding the “Good Guys’” chosen general Harpo in the decisive battle to come.
Right away, it’s clear that Canon is operating in the surreal, whimsical metaphor style, rather than some secondary world fantasy. The book combines malls, phones, and movie theaters with magical animals, a great war fought with swords and spears, and a shroud-wearing God who acts more like a tech bro. The prose is simple and propelling, with a voice that should feel familiar to fans of Welcome to Night Vale or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It can feel a bit twee at times, but it’s not afraid to look darker subjects in the face.
Canon’s greatest strength lies in Lewis’ observational mind, a quality that I thought of as that of a poet’s before I even learned that yes, Paige Lewis is a poet. They have a deeply empathetic and precise way of chronicling all kinds of personal foibles, anxieties, weird thoughts, and other general things that feel deeply human and universal but that I haven’t seen put into words. It’s that brilliant sketch of humanity that makes Canon work so well, that underpins the absurd situations and keeps the story from turning too much into purely an allegory or a zany comedic adventure.
The book is 480 pages, yet it flies by, and if anything maybe should have been even longer, to truly justify its epic trappings. I found it hard to emotionally connect with most of the characters here, and maybe more time lingering with them would have helped. But Yara themself is clearly the standout here, whose fundamental decency is often shrouded by their hurt and constant fears. I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life, and while it has never become OCD or had this kind of obsession with germs and contamination, I can relate to thought spirals and the blank screen of paralyzing indecision, which are rendered well here.
Overall, this is a charming book with a poet’s eye for human detail, that goes down easy but offers some questions and critiques about the forces its God character stands for, like patriarchy, tradition, and the human thirst for moral certainty and absolution.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Right away, it’s clear that Canon is operating in the surreal, whimsical metaphor style, rather than some secondary world fantasy. The book combines malls, phones, and movie theaters with magical animals, a great war fought with swords and spears, and a shroud-wearing God who acts more like a tech bro. The prose is simple and propelling, with a voice that should feel familiar to fans of Welcome to Night Vale or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It can feel a bit twee at times, but it’s not afraid to look darker subjects in the face.
Canon’s greatest strength lies in Lewis’ observational mind, a quality that I thought of as that of a poet’s before I even learned that yes, Paige Lewis is a poet. They have a deeply empathetic and precise way of chronicling all kinds of personal foibles, anxieties, weird thoughts, and other general things that feel deeply human and universal but that I haven’t seen put into words. It’s that brilliant sketch of humanity that makes Canon work so well, that underpins the absurd situations and keeps the story from turning too much into purely an allegory or a zany comedic adventure.
The book is 480 pages, yet it flies by, and if anything maybe should have been even longer, to truly justify its epic trappings. I found it hard to emotionally connect with most of the characters here, and maybe more time lingering with them would have helped. But Yara themself is clearly the standout here, whose fundamental decency is often shrouded by their hurt and constant fears. I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life, and while it has never become OCD or had this kind of obsession with germs and contamination, I can relate to thought spirals and the blank screen of paralyzing indecision, which are rendered well here.
Overall, this is a charming book with a poet’s eye for human detail, that goes down easy but offers some questions and critiques about the forces its God character stands for, like patriarchy, tradition, and the human thirst for moral certainty and absolution.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Heartfelt, charming, and in parts, brilliant, Canon represents a fresh direction for contemporary literature.
God appears to non-binary and unlikely hero, Yara, with the charge that they must take down the leader of The Bad Guys, Dominic, in order to end a war. God's request causes the prophet Adrena to become jealous, and she seeks out the leader of the Good Guys, Harpo, falsely claiming God sent her to help lead his troops to conquer Dominic’s army. Harpo’s wife was recently kidnapped, and he agrees to allow Adrena to join if she delivers his wife safely. Adrena promises she shall, but it’s all a lie, the prophet did not hear from God recently nor knows the whereabouts of the kidnapped woman. Readers should prepare for trickery with mythological flair, a healthy compliment of humor and well-placed social commentary.
It's the 1990s, and as Yara hitches a ride on a whale to travel towards Dominic by sea, on land, Adrena and Harpo head to the mall to gather supplies and choose a battle song from Camelot Music. There is a newt that changes colors to confirm truths and lies, a sweetheart of a whale that needs sunscreen constantly slathered on his body to prevent burns and irreverent anachronisms abound from an unintentionally hilarious God.
Commentary on the horrific state of oceans, the unseen horrors of OCD, gender identity, body dysphoria, and sexual orientation are handled poignantly, even entertainingly, no easy feat. The storytelling can take some adjusting (they/them pronouns are used for Yara and some chapters are no more than a sentence), but the narrative ripens at each turn and social issues remain side dishes with the quest to kill Dominic the main course. Even with God at the reigns, nothing goes quite as planned.
In one standout dramatic scene, God tests Yara, and it is so incredibly effective, I may never forget it. Canon comes highly recommended to fans of myth and progressive readers. It's wonderful to see such innovation.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for a review copy.
God appears to non-binary and unlikely hero, Yara, with the charge that they must take down the leader of The Bad Guys, Dominic, in order to end a war. God's request causes the prophet Adrena to become jealous, and she seeks out the leader of the Good Guys, Harpo, falsely claiming God sent her to help lead his troops to conquer Dominic’s army. Harpo’s wife was recently kidnapped, and he agrees to allow Adrena to join if she delivers his wife safely. Adrena promises she shall, but it’s all a lie, the prophet did not hear from God recently nor knows the whereabouts of the kidnapped woman. Readers should prepare for trickery with mythological flair, a healthy compliment of humor and well-placed social commentary.
It's the 1990s, and as Yara hitches a ride on a whale to travel towards Dominic by sea, on land, Adrena and Harpo head to the mall to gather supplies and choose a battle song from Camelot Music. There is a newt that changes colors to confirm truths and lies, a sweetheart of a whale that needs sunscreen constantly slathered on his body to prevent burns and irreverent anachronisms abound from an unintentionally hilarious God.
Commentary on the horrific state of oceans, the unseen horrors of OCD, gender identity, body dysphoria, and sexual orientation are handled poignantly, even entertainingly, no easy feat. The storytelling can take some adjusting (they/them pronouns are used for Yara and some chapters are no more than a sentence), but the narrative ripens at each turn and social issues remain side dishes with the quest to kill Dominic the main course. Even with God at the reigns, nothing goes quite as planned.
In one standout dramatic scene, God tests Yara, and it is so incredibly effective, I may never forget it. Canon comes highly recommended to fans of myth and progressive readers. It's wonderful to see such innovation.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wonderfully weird, Canon will not be everyone’s cup of tea—but for readers who revel in the absurd, it may be a delight.
As someone who primarily gravitates toward contemporary literary fiction grounded in reality (and often pain), this was a significant departure for me. Paige Lewis does not gently usher you into the world; she throws you straight into the deep end of God’s mission for Yara. My hackles were immediately up—religion, biblical epics, fantasy quests—none of these sit comfortably in my usual reading lane.
And yet.
Lewis’s voice as a wry, meta narrator is compulsively readable. The sections featuring the self-obsessed GOD (who restores paintings of himself and treats self-criticism as sacrilege) are especially sharp and entertaining. There’s a biting humor threaded throughout that keeps the philosophical and fantastical elements buoyant rather than ponderous.
What impressed me most is how thoroughly Canon subverts expectations and binaries, especially regarding the traditional hero/villain. Rather than simply flipping the trope, Lewis destabilizes the very notion of fixed good and evil. Her characters aren’t caricatures standing in for virtue or vice; they’re fluid, contradictory, and deeply flawed. Instead of offering moral clarity, the novel invites questions—about power, identity, faith, our responsibility in and to the world, and violence.
Comparisons to Terry Pratchett feel inevitable given the satirical tone and authorial intrusions. While the tonal kinship is clear, I personally found Lewis’s execution more emotionally resonant. Where Pratchett can feel sprawling and overly broad, Lewis strikes a tighter balance between absurdity and sincerity. The characters, however heightened, still feel accessible.
Bold, irreverent, and unexpectedly thoughtful—Canon is a strange little gem that rewards readers willing to surrender to its peculiar logic.
As someone who primarily gravitates toward contemporary literary fiction grounded in reality (and often pain), this was a significant departure for me. Paige Lewis does not gently usher you into the world; she throws you straight into the deep end of God’s mission for Yara. My hackles were immediately up—religion, biblical epics, fantasy quests—none of these sit comfortably in my usual reading lane.
And yet.
Lewis’s voice as a wry, meta narrator is compulsively readable. The sections featuring the self-obsessed GOD (who restores paintings of himself and treats self-criticism as sacrilege) are especially sharp and entertaining. There’s a biting humor threaded throughout that keeps the philosophical and fantastical elements buoyant rather than ponderous.
What impressed me most is how thoroughly Canon subverts expectations and binaries, especially regarding the traditional hero/villain. Rather than simply flipping the trope, Lewis destabilizes the very notion of fixed good and evil. Her characters aren’t caricatures standing in for virtue or vice; they’re fluid, contradictory, and deeply flawed. Instead of offering moral clarity, the novel invites questions—about power, identity, faith, our responsibility in and to the world, and violence.
Comparisons to Terry Pratchett feel inevitable given the satirical tone and authorial intrusions. While the tonal kinship is clear, I personally found Lewis’s execution more emotionally resonant. Where Pratchett can feel sprawling and overly broad, Lewis strikes a tighter balance between absurdity and sincerity. The characters, however heightened, still feel accessible.
Bold, irreverent, and unexpectedly thoughtful—Canon is a strange little gem that rewards readers willing to surrender to its peculiar logic.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I say this with nothing but the highest praise: this is the weirdest book I have ever in my life read.
If you asked me to explain the plot to you, I don’t even think I could. It’s about someone being chosen by god to kill an Evil Bad Guy and they have to ride a magic talking whale (who is the reincarnated form of Jacques Cousteau?) along with a lie-detecting Newt to get the strength needed to defeat said Bad Guy. It’s also about a prophet who talks with god who teams up with the Good Guys to defeat the Bad Guys. It takes place in the ‘90s. I cannot tell you which century. It’s modern. Its futuristic. It’s medieval. It’s so downright bizarre that it felt like a dream come to life and I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my days.
Also, God wears a tracksuit and judges men’s bodybuilding competitions.
Look, I could go on about how I loved the representation in this book. We have a nonbinary sapphic MC with OCD. We have a tall lesbian MC. We have her plus sized love interest. We have varying degrees of gender and sexuality and it was amazing. But for once, that’s not the part that stuck with me.
What stuck with me was the everloving weird fuckfest that was Canon. I’ve had dreams that were less weird than this.
Do I have questions? Sure! Who was the narrator? What happens now? Were the Bad Guys ACTUALLY the Bad Guys? The ending was so vague it would have given my high school English teacher an aneurysm (loved her. She just loathed vague, open endings). I wish I could explain why I loved this book, but I don’t have the words for it. Think “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and a Monty Python sketch had a weird, cosmic baby. That’s the closest I can get to this.
Just…trust me. Read this book. If not for the plot and the sassy narrator, then for Newt and HOWBIG!.
I say this with nothing but the highest praise: this is the weirdest book I have ever in my life read.
If you asked me to explain the plot to you, I don’t even think I could. It’s about someone being chosen by god to kill an Evil Bad Guy and they have to ride a magic talking whale (who is the reincarnated form of Jacques Cousteau?) along with a lie-detecting Newt to get the strength needed to defeat said Bad Guy. It’s also about a prophet who talks with god who teams up with the Good Guys to defeat the Bad Guys. It takes place in the ‘90s. I cannot tell you which century. It’s modern. Its futuristic. It’s medieval. It’s so downright bizarre that it felt like a dream come to life and I will be thinking about this book for the rest of my days.
Also, God wears a tracksuit and judges men’s bodybuilding competitions.
Look, I could go on about how I loved the representation in this book. We have a nonbinary sapphic MC with OCD. We have a tall lesbian MC. We have her plus sized love interest. We have varying degrees of gender and sexuality and it was amazing. But for once, that’s not the part that stuck with me.
What stuck with me was the everloving weird fuckfest that was Canon. I’ve had dreams that were less weird than this.
Do I have questions? Sure! Who was the narrator? What happens now? Were the Bad Guys ACTUALLY the Bad Guys? The ending was so vague it would have given my high school English teacher an aneurysm (loved her. She just loathed vague, open endings). I wish I could explain why I loved this book, but I don’t have the words for it. Think “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” and a Monty Python sketch had a weird, cosmic baby. That’s the closest I can get to this.
Just…trust me. Read this book. If not for the plot and the sassy narrator, then for Newt and HOWBIG!.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25 stars
Canon by Paige Lewis is a book best read in small chunks. It invites you to slow down, to savor it, and sit with it. Even the choice to title the chapters as “Book” implies that sense of intentional structure. The narrative meanders, and whether that works for you will depend on your preferences. No urgent cliffhangers or propulsive stakes are driving you forward. Instead, you read a section, absorb a piece of the journey, and set it down. In my experience, it isn’t a book meant to be binged. Its off-course wandering makes the journey itself the true focus rather than the destination.
I appreciated the strangeness and humor in Canon, though some parts feel a bit 'too weird' and forced. The character work is excellent. Each figure feels distinct, shaped by their own beliefs and internal conflicts, and each leaves a memorable impression. I love how grounded yet still fascinating the world-building is. Amid surreal elements—such as God collecting and restoring paintings as a hobby or judging bodybuilding competitions, or a talking whale named HOWBIG!—the emotional core remains deeply human and relatable.
The book explores themes of faith, queerness, gender identity, and free will, all orbiting the broader question of what defines good and evil. Lewis does a great job at keeping the narrative at a distance, observing rather than dictating conclusions. This restraint allows readers the space to interpret and wrestle with the ideas themselves. If you enjoy works that initially seem surface-level but open into rich philosophical and emotional exploration, this book will likely resonate.
I will definitely be buying a physical copy of Canon when it releases. The cover alone deserves a place on my shelf!
Canon by Paige Lewis is a book best read in small chunks. It invites you to slow down, to savor it, and sit with it. Even the choice to title the chapters as “Book” implies that sense of intentional structure. The narrative meanders, and whether that works for you will depend on your preferences. No urgent cliffhangers or propulsive stakes are driving you forward. Instead, you read a section, absorb a piece of the journey, and set it down. In my experience, it isn’t a book meant to be binged. Its off-course wandering makes the journey itself the true focus rather than the destination.
I appreciated the strangeness and humor in Canon, though some parts feel a bit 'too weird' and forced. The character work is excellent. Each figure feels distinct, shaped by their own beliefs and internal conflicts, and each leaves a memorable impression. I love how grounded yet still fascinating the world-building is. Amid surreal elements—such as God collecting and restoring paintings as a hobby or judging bodybuilding competitions, or a talking whale named HOWBIG!—the emotional core remains deeply human and relatable.
The book explores themes of faith, queerness, gender identity, and free will, all orbiting the broader question of what defines good and evil. Lewis does a great job at keeping the narrative at a distance, observing rather than dictating conclusions. This restraint allows readers the space to interpret and wrestle with the ideas themselves. If you enjoy works that initially seem surface-level but open into rich philosophical and emotional exploration, this book will likely resonate.
I will definitely be buying a physical copy of Canon when it releases. The cover alone deserves a place on my shelf!
September 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a wildly inventive epic that defies easy categorization while delivering profound insights about faith, identity, and human connection. This novel follows two unlikely heroes: Yara, reluctantly chosen to slay an army leader, and Adrena, a disillusioned prophet seeking divine approval.
Yara's journey from isolation and self-doubt to reluctant heroism feels authentically earned, while their struggles with family rejection and past trauma add emotional weight to what could have been a simple quest narrative. Adrena's desperate pursuit of divine favor, driven by grief for her deceased mother, creates compelling motivation that transcends typical prophetic character tropes.
The world-building is imaginatively surreal yet grounded in recognizable human emotions and conflicts. Lewis creates a universe where "Good Guys" and "Bad Guys" exist as literal armies while exploring the moral complexity that makes such distinctions meaningless.
What elevates "Canon" beyond clever premise is the fearless exploration of faith, queerness, and belonging. Yara's gender identity and spiritual struggles interweave naturally with the fantastical elements, creating authentic representation within an otherworldly context. The novel's treatment of religious themes feels both reverent and questioning, never mocking faith but also challenging institutional interpretations.
The parallel structure builds toward a convergence that feels both inevitable and surprising. The novel succeeds as both literary fiction and speculative adventure, offering something for readers across several genres.
This is a wildly inventive epic that defies easy categorization while delivering profound insights about faith, identity, and human connection. This novel follows two unlikely heroes: Yara, reluctantly chosen to slay an army leader, and Adrena, a disillusioned prophet seeking divine approval.
Yara's journey from isolation and self-doubt to reluctant heroism feels authentically earned, while their struggles with family rejection and past trauma add emotional weight to what could have been a simple quest narrative. Adrena's desperate pursuit of divine favor, driven by grief for her deceased mother, creates compelling motivation that transcends typical prophetic character tropes.
The world-building is imaginatively surreal yet grounded in recognizable human emotions and conflicts. Lewis creates a universe where "Good Guys" and "Bad Guys" exist as literal armies while exploring the moral complexity that makes such distinctions meaningless.
What elevates "Canon" beyond clever premise is the fearless exploration of faith, queerness, and belonging. Yara's gender identity and spiritual struggles interweave naturally with the fantastical elements, creating authentic representation within an otherworldly context. The novel's treatment of religious themes feels both reverent and questioning, never mocking faith but also challenging institutional interpretations.
The parallel structure builds toward a convergence that feels both inevitable and surprising. The novel succeeds as both literary fiction and speculative adventure, offering something for readers across several genres.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this title!
Canon by Paige Lewis was such a great, unique read! It’s very different from what I normally read, especially in format, but I really appreciated the quirky, humorous writing paired with sections that read like poetry. The whole book was like a great epic with accessible, easy-to-digest writing. The short chapter style with multiple perspectives was easy for me to read, although somewhat chaotic, but for some it may be abrupt or jarring (I personally love multiple POVs because they help to keep my interest). Overall, the novel made me think about a lot of things and touched on serious topics, but maintained its levity throughout. I was impressed with the amount of topics touched on in such a brief novel. Lewis did a great job presenting various identities — including a nonbinary teen with OCD and WLW characters — as well as themes like pollution, environmentalism, religion, war, sexual abuse, and good versus evil. The whole book is tied together with threads of mythology and its common themes like the hero’s journey, morality, free will, and creation myth, which I really enjoyed. Plus, there’s a whale! I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in myth or religion with an absurdist and ironic voice. I feel like The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez and Canon are siblings in my heart and if you liked one, you might like the other (although the writing and length are very different).
Canon by Paige Lewis was such a great, unique read! It’s very different from what I normally read, especially in format, but I really appreciated the quirky, humorous writing paired with sections that read like poetry. The whole book was like a great epic with accessible, easy-to-digest writing. The short chapter style with multiple perspectives was easy for me to read, although somewhat chaotic, but for some it may be abrupt or jarring (I personally love multiple POVs because they help to keep my interest). Overall, the novel made me think about a lot of things and touched on serious topics, but maintained its levity throughout. I was impressed with the amount of topics touched on in such a brief novel. Lewis did a great job presenting various identities — including a nonbinary teen with OCD and WLW characters — as well as themes like pollution, environmentalism, religion, war, sexual abuse, and good versus evil. The whole book is tied together with threads of mythology and its common themes like the hero’s journey, morality, free will, and creation myth, which I really enjoyed. Plus, there’s a whale! I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in myth or religion with an absurdist and ironic voice. I feel like The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez and Canon are siblings in my heart and if you liked one, you might like the other (although the writing and length are very different).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an entertaining and quick read that ultimately felt a bit hollow.
I want to judge this as its own independent work, but I will say there were definitely snippets that reminded me of Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr, especially the dream sequences and references to twitter posts sprinkled throughout (ie ‘escalator temporarily stairs’). Overall I was left with the feeling that this was trying to be clever and charming but ultimately fell flat.
This is set in a layered timeline ‘in every and any possible time (but mostly the 90s)’ which means there are chariots alongside a shopping mall.
For a book featuring a nonbinary protagonist I found this to be quite gender essentialist. Even with Yara, we’re often reminded of their assigned gender.
Some of the main issues this book explores are abuse, religion and climate destruction but the messaging somehow felt both on the nose and muddled at times to the point where I’m not sure what the takeaway should be. The tone was often jarring as it jumped between a talking whale and descriptions of statutory rape.
I have a feeling I’m going to be in the minority here as I think this will have a wide appeal, it’s more of a case of the writing style not being a good fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
I want to judge this as its own independent work, but I will say there were definitely snippets that reminded me of Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr, especially the dream sequences and references to twitter posts sprinkled throughout (ie ‘escalator temporarily stairs’). Overall I was left with the feeling that this was trying to be clever and charming but ultimately fell flat.
This is set in a layered timeline ‘in every and any possible time (but mostly the 90s)’ which means there are chariots alongside a shopping mall.
For a book featuring a nonbinary protagonist I found this to be quite gender essentialist. Even with Yara, we’re often reminded of their assigned gender.
Some of the main issues this book explores are abuse, religion and climate destruction but the messaging somehow felt both on the nose and muddled at times to the point where I’m not sure what the takeaway should be. The tone was often jarring as it jumped between a talking whale and descriptions of statutory rape.
I have a feeling I’m going to be in the minority here as I think this will have a wide appeal, it’s more of a case of the writing style not being a good fit for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
2.75 / 5
this is a unique novel with a plot that is wacky, wondrous, and extraordinary. Yara is chosen by God to defeat Dominic the Terrible, who has been terrorizing the people of Earth. Yara sets off on a sort of “Hero’s Journey” (yes, just like Joseph Campbell) that brings them new experiences, new friendships, and a lot to think about in terms of ethics and duty.
i initially really enjoyed how different this story and writing is from novels i usually read. there are lots of side characters we get to know along the way, and i appreciated the frequent perspective shifts. however, the book is long- and even though it’s fast-paced and has witty, breaking-the-fourth-wall writing, it really dragged for me and i struggled to finish it. i didn’t like that moments of clarity or plot points that had been built up by the author were altogether skipped in the text or barely elaborated upon. i didn’t like that there was seemingly very little resolve at the end.
i hope this book does well when it comes out, and think it is truly unique- it just wasn’t really for me.
thank you to my favorite publishing friend for providing me with an advanced copy <3
this is a unique novel with a plot that is wacky, wondrous, and extraordinary. Yara is chosen by God to defeat Dominic the Terrible, who has been terrorizing the people of Earth. Yara sets off on a sort of “Hero’s Journey” (yes, just like Joseph Campbell) that brings them new experiences, new friendships, and a lot to think about in terms of ethics and duty.
i initially really enjoyed how different this story and writing is from novels i usually read. there are lots of side characters we get to know along the way, and i appreciated the frequent perspective shifts. however, the book is long- and even though it’s fast-paced and has witty, breaking-the-fourth-wall writing, it really dragged for me and i struggled to finish it. i didn’t like that moments of clarity or plot points that had been built up by the author were altogether skipped in the text or barely elaborated upon. i didn’t like that there was seemingly very little resolve at the end.
i hope this book does well when it comes out, and think it is truly unique- it just wasn’t really for me.
thank you to my favorite publishing friend for providing me with an advanced copy <3
November 10, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Paige Lewis for an arc of this book.
This book is deeply meaningful when it comes to looking at religion in a different light. We see that our main characters Yara and Adrena are fighting for the attention and approval of God. They have to overcome challenges and obstacles to gain God’s approval which shows that religion might just be a way to search for approval of oneself. Now that’s not to say that’s what it means. There is multiple point of views on what religion means to these characters, and how they are being put to the test. I loved the multiple poem format that this book was written in, the author did a great job with irony and imagery in these stories. I would recommend this book to readers who like the poem style writing and want to dive into different perspectives of what religion means and how it guides our lives.
This book is deeply meaningful when it comes to looking at religion in a different light. We see that our main characters Yara and Adrena are fighting for the attention and approval of God. They have to overcome challenges and obstacles to gain God’s approval which shows that religion might just be a way to search for approval of oneself. Now that’s not to say that’s what it means. There is multiple point of views on what religion means to these characters, and how they are being put to the test. I loved the multiple poem format that this book was written in, the author did a great job with irony and imagery in these stories. I would recommend this book to readers who like the poem style writing and want to dive into different perspectives of what religion means and how it guides our lives.
January 11, 2026
Wow! A real masterpiece. This might just be the most unique take on the Hero's Quest archetype I've ever read. Filled with humor, whimsy and real heart this book surprised and moved me. The ending challenged me as we didn't get everything wrapped up in a nice, neat bow and if I'm honest, that made me appreciate this novel even more. The closest thing I can compare Canon to is the wacky Netlfix show Kaos, a darkly comedic reimaging of Greek mythology. Canon explores themes of personhood, faith, politics and war. I'll be excited to hear the audiobook version since the book is written in such a poetic way, I bet it'll be touching lyrical in audiobook format. I just cannot recommend this quick novel enough.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 4, 2025
This is my first time reading this author and I am shocked to report that I... really did not like this book. It was an incredibly neutral read until the last 10% of the story where my feelings skewed toward displeasure. I will probably be the minority on this, and like good art it did make me feel something.
That something was irritation.
There was no real payoff for any of the plotlines and the moments that I felt Lewis wanted to be impactful, weren't. The amount of references, both current and classical, were abundant and exhausting. This is told in a humorious style while trying to comment on big ideas of faith and belonging, similar in feel of Taika Waititi's work.
In the end, I was left exasperated.
Undeniably a unique book, but just not for me.
That something was irritation.
There was no real payoff for any of the plotlines and the moments that I felt Lewis wanted to be impactful, weren't. The amount of references, both current and classical, were abundant and exhausting. This is told in a humorious style while trying to comment on big ideas of faith and belonging, similar in feel of Taika Waititi's work.
In the end, I was left exasperated.
Undeniably a unique book, but just not for me.
November 27, 2025
nonbinary representation
- Definitely odd, the unusual narrative format reminds me of paradise logic by Sophie kemp, although this feels more earnest and less satirical
- I liked the style of the writing and the way the narrator would call out the reader.
- It has a beginning that felt at once too slow and too fast. It felt like it was dumping me into a new world and shoving all these facts about it at me, but withholding information about the main characters that would help me understand them and what was happening. I got used to it after a while.
- This feels like an epic novel in that it felt a bit long, but it was still enjoyable.
- This wont work for everybody, but if you love weird fiction, this one’s for you.
- Definitely odd, the unusual narrative format reminds me of paradise logic by Sophie kemp, although this feels more earnest and less satirical
- I liked the style of the writing and the way the narrator would call out the reader.
- It has a beginning that felt at once too slow and too fast. It felt like it was dumping me into a new world and shoving all these facts about it at me, but withholding information about the main characters that would help me understand them and what was happening. I got used to it after a while.
- This feels like an epic novel in that it felt a bit long, but it was still enjoyable.
- This wont work for everybody, but if you love weird fiction, this one’s for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"Canon" is officially my first 5-star read of 2026. This book more than spoke to me; it itched my brain in all the right ways. From a prose perspective, Lewis does an amazing job of balancing reality-crushing themes and quick wit. I didn't know until I finished the book and read the acknowledgements that their partner is Kaveh Akbar, but I think what Akbar writes about their cover encapsulates it perfectly: "brilliant, Martian, hilarious, uncanny, deeply, deeply strange."
I'm not sure how exactly I'm meant to sing the praises of this book without spoiling anything. Just, I loved Yara and HOWBIG! and Newt, and I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book to place on my shelf. It was beautiful, and it was funny, and it was gut-wrenchingly sad and perfect and everything I needed.
I'm not sure how exactly I'm meant to sing the praises of this book without spoiling anything. Just, I loved Yara and HOWBIG! and Newt, and I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book to place on my shelf. It was beautiful, and it was funny, and it was gut-wrenchingly sad and perfect and everything I needed.
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