Burning Girls and Other Stories

Burning Girls and Other Stories is a debut collection by Veronica Schanoes that crosses borders and genres, featuring stories of fierce women at the margins of society burning their way toward the center. It introduces a fantasist in the vein of Karen Russell and Kelly Link, with a voice all her own. Emma Goldman-yes, that Emma Goldman-takes tea with the Baba Yaga, and truths unfold inside of exquisitely crafted lies. Among the Thorns is a young woman in seventeenth-century Germany intent on avenging the brutal murder of her peddler father, but discovers that vengeance may consume all that it touches. The showstopping title story, Burning Girls, invests the immigrant narrative with a fearsome fairytale quality that tells a story about America we may not want to hear, but need to hear.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 21 July 2022
Publisher: St Martin's Press

When we arrived in America, we brought not only our hopes and dreams but also a multitude of challenges and complexities. Our journey was marked by anger, socialism, and hunger, as we navigated a new land filled with unfamiliar customs and unfamiliar faces. However, it was not just our physical baggage that we brought with us; we also carried the weight of our demons, the scars of our past experiences.

In her debut collection, Burning Girls and Other Stories, Veronica Schanoes takes readers on a captivating journey that crosses borders and genres. Through a series of interconnected stories, Schanoes introduces us to a group of fierce women who reside on the margins of society. These women are determined to burn their way toward the center, using their strength and resilience to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.

Schanoes' writing is reminiscent of the fantastical and magical storytelling of Karen Russell and Kelly Link, but with a unique voice that is all her own. Her characters are complex and multifaceted, with their motivations and desires often hidden beneath layers of mystery and intrigue. In "Emma Goldman Takes Tea with the Baba Yaga," for example, Schanoes weaves a tale of tea and truth that is both enchanting and unsettling. As Emma Goldman sits down with the legendary witch, she uncovers the dark secrets of the world and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.

Another standout story in the collection is "Among the Thorns." Set in seventeenth-century Germany, this tale follows a young woman named Anna who is determined to avenge the brutal murder of her peddler father. As she delves deeper into the investigation, Anna discovers that vengeance may consume all that it touches, leaving her with a newfound understanding of the complexities of the human heart.

The title story, "Burning Girls," is a breathtaking and powerful exploration of the immigrant narrative. Schanoes infuses the traditional immigrant story with a fearsome fairytale quality, creating a narrative that is both haunting and thought-provoking. In this story, a group of immigrants arrives in America, only to find themselves trapped in a mysterious and dangerous world. As they struggle to survive, they must confront their fears and their demons, and ultimately discover the truth about their new home.

Burning Girls and Other Stories is a remarkable debut collection that showcases Schanoes' talent as a writer. With her dreamy and precise prose, she creates a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar, inviting readers to explore the depths of the human experience. The stories in this collection are filled with emotion, suspense, and magic, and they will leave readers eagerly anticipating Schanoes' future works.

In addition to her exceptional storytelling, Schanoes is also a talented artist. Her illustrations for the collection are stunning and evocative, adding another layer of depth and complexity to the stories. The use of color and texture creates a visual narrative that complements the text, bringing the characters to life and immersing readers in the world of Burning Girls.

Overall, Burning Girls and Other Stories is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy, contemporary fiction, or stories that explore the complexities of the human experience. Veronica Schanoes has created a collection that is both captivating and thought-provoking, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.

Weight: 300g
Dimension: 208 x 135 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781250847287