Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish is a novel of epic proportions that explores the life of Joy, a fragile outsider living in London. After her mother's sudden death, Joy is drawn to a unique artefact inherited from her mother, a warrior's head cast in brass that belonged to a king in eighteenth-century Benin, Nigeria. She is haunted by a beautiful young woman who appears in her photographs and unearths family secrets and political upheaval. The book is a rich tale of love, hope, family secrets, power, and loss.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2023
Publisher: Jacaranda Books Art Music Ltd

Winner of the Betty Trask Award 2016, Butterfly Fish is a novel of epic proportions that is sure to be on many award nomination lists. Yvette Edwards praised the book for its well-written nature, juggling different timescales with great skill. The historical narrative of Benin runs in parallel with the contemporary London one, vividly imagining the African country. Simon Brett OBE described it as a wonderful novel, with scenes from everyday London cleverly juxtaposed with African folklore and mysticism. Joanne Harris called it a stunning debut from the author of Speak Gigantular.

At the heart of the story is Joy, a fragile outsider living in London. After her mother's sudden death, Joy struggles to piece her life back together. She is consumed by emptiness and finds solace in a unique artefact inherited from her mother: a warrior's head cast in brass that belonged to a king in eighteenth-century Benin, Nigeria.

Joy is haunted by a beautiful young woman who appears in her photographs, familiar yet distinct. The woman follows Joy wherever she goes, leaving a trail of clues that hint at a past revealing itself. As family secrets come to light, Joy unearths the ties between her mother, grandfather, the wife of the king, a fearsome warrior, and the brass head's pivotal connection to them all.

Butterfly Fish is a haunting and compelling story of love and hope; of family secrets, power, political upheaval, loss, and coming undone. It is a richly told tale that will leave readers captivated and yearning for more.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914344114