The Magpie's Return

by Curtis Smith, Peter Wright (Editor)

Kayla perceives her world in vectors and variables, in quantities given and determined. She's a prodigy. A genius. Yet there are equations she can't solve. The vexing interactions of high school. The religious and populist politics that engulf the country. The nuclear exchanges that have darkened half the Earth. When the terrible tides crash into her life, Kayla is whisked from all she's known and deposited in a home for abandoned girls. Here, she finds love and acceptance and a sorrowful kinship-and also, the same violent divisions that tore apart her old life. Rendered in lyrical prose and vivid imagery, The Magpie's Return paints a picture of revenge, redemption, and the quest for survival of one strong soul lost in a world gone mad. 

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia

Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

review forthcoming in Southern Review of Books

https://southernreviewofbooks.com/202...

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, yeah.

[Sal Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If seeking something fresh....

Possible suggestions of spoiler



This book was in parts a 5, and a brilliant 5 at that but it was complex.
At first it seemed considered, maybe overthought but then it began to take shape and the read became involving. It took me a while to grasp the 2nd person present narration in part 2, but the change of narration did enhance and was a valid approach.
One of my favourite books is 1984 and this speculative fiction, teamed with the present political climate in America, captured my focus. So, I am enjoying the first part of this book, and the next until we come to part 3.
Now, also being a big fan of Never Let Me Go- where I felt totally immersed in the school life, here I felt I rushed this part- too much who stood behind who and little connection with the characters. I just wasn’t invested. Instead of savouring the language as earlier, I skim read and almost gave up.
We returned to first person at the end and it flowed better. I do recognise the skill overall in this book but - it’s one of the best books I’ve read recently yet something didn’t sit quite right. At least 5 uses of spastic seemed overkill.

I’d recommend this book. Highly original. Ends up 4.4

[Ann Stolinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampires, werewolves, things that go bump in the night ... these are scary. Smith's book, sans those horrors, is terrifying because it's a vision of a world that could become reality. Prejudice exists in our world, growing and threatening to take over in 2023, as it does in Smith's book. It's not a far stretch to believe his vision could actually happen. Mobs rule.
Riveting story. I couldn't put it down.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was not what I expected.

Did you read a plot outline of this book? Yes? That's too bad. Because you might very likely conclude it is not a story you want to read.

And you'd be wrong.

Read this. Be very, very surprised.

[Jen Michalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interview forthcoming (watch this space)-

[Karl Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a refreshing read! Curtis uses multiple persons/voice for his main character, the unfortunate Kayla, masterfully, so appropriately. I had to put this book down a few times to reestablish my grip and shed some creeping paranoia; The Magpie’s Return is so close to a reality that might have been / may yet come.