“Childhood traumas have shattered Alice and Mattia physically and psychologically. A friendship that begins in high school provides for each an anchor to a world too frightening to navigate alone. In this singular and striking debut, Giordano explores the ability of the human spirit to endure and to heal. Once you pick this up, you won’t want to put it down.” — Jennie Turner-Collins, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH

“Unwed and pregnant in 1752, but with a fertile imagination and a bit of luck, Agnes Trussel flees from Sussex to London, where she finds work as an assistant to a fireworks maker. In this unusual trade, Agnes blossoms, becoming adept and indispensable to her master. The Book of Fires is a vividly told story that animates the 18th century.” — Jennie Turner-Collins, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH

“It is the year 1383. Hildegard, a widow who has taken holy vows to preserve her independence, is asked by her abbess to undertake a mission to bring the Cross of Constantine to England. When a dead body is found en route and an innocent lad is accused of murder, Hildegard sets out to clear the boy’s name and save him from the gallows. Clark does a brilliant job of recreating Medieval Europe with a wealth of historical detail.” — Jennie Turner-Collins, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH