​Happy publication day to The Second Bell, the debut novel by Gabriela Houston!
In an isolated mountain community, sometimes a child is born with two hearts. This child is called a striga and is considered a demon who must be abandoned on the edge of the forest. The child s mother must then decide to leave with her infant, or stay and try to forget.
Nineteen year-old striga, Salka, and her mother, Miriat, made the choice to leave and live a life of deprivation and squalor in an isolated village. The striga tribe share the human belief that to follow the impulses of their other hearts is dangerous, inviting unspoken horrors and bringing ruin onto them all.
Salka, a headstrong and independent young woman, finds herself in a life threatening situation that forces her to explore the depths of her true nature and test the bonds between mother and child...
Praise for the book:
Captivating, provocative and poignant - not to be missed.
- David Wragg, author of The Black Hawks
This is well worth your time!"
- Gavin G Smith, author of The Bastard Legion series
Houston projects her background of Polish mythologies and dark fairy tales onto this fanciful debut. Redemption, sacrifice, and generosity underpin this story about mother-and-daughter relationships. Fans of mythical yarns and medieval fantasies will enjoy this easy-to-read fable.
- Library Journal
Houston is able to mark the significance of daily events, highlight her characters, and comment on humanity's capacity for othering. This intimate fantasy offers a heartfelt reflection on what it means to be human that is sure to please.
- Publishers Weekly
A claustrophobic but very human tale of bad decisions rather than (totally) bad people, with conflict and magic alike grounded in the rhythms of daily life and the landscape around it.
- SFX Magazine
A classic coming-of-age novel with a supernatural twist, appealing to readers across different genres, with a conclusion that addresses issues of racism and society within our own society... A masterful tale.
- Booklist
