Author(s): Leslye Walton

Young Adult

Foolish love appears to be a Roux family birthright. And for Ava Lavender, a girl born with the wings of a bird, it is an ominous thing to inherit. In her quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to join her peers, 16-year-old Ava ventures into the wider world. But it is a dangerous world for a naive girl - a world which may view her as girl or angel. On the night of the summer solstice celebration, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air and Ava's journey and her family's saga reaches a devastating crescendo.

This is a mesmerising, lyrical tale of the bright and dark sides of love and desire. First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human. The magical realism weaves through this generational saga which is reminiscent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It is a sensuous tale of a girl born with wings, with a taste of Like Water for Chocolate and the shadow play of a Tim Burton film. It is a book about human love: its ability to destroy, corrode, and mutilate, its ability to ennoble, heal, and transform. It is a beautiful jacketed hardback edition.