“At turns grim and whimsical, this is a fairytale of our times, filled with grisly dangers, feminist rage, and steadfast female friendship--and a lovely, gentle romance to wrap it all up. A story I will be thinking about for a long time to come.”

“Loretta Chefchaouni’s The Lustrous Dark is a powerful and ethereal fantasy debut based on lesser-known Moroccan folklore. Its beautifully rendered prose seeps into your very bones and stays there long after the last page. This must-read and gorgeous story offers an aching look into the hardships of daughter-mother relationships and the bonds that hold us together and tear us apart in a way that breaks your heart and slowly stitches it back together. Seeped in a unique and wondrous magic system in an often-horrific world ruled by a terrifying patriarchy that is often reminiscent of our own, it’ll leave young feminists ready to rise up and ready to be the heroes of their own stories. Shay is a compelling protagonist who I would follow anywhere.”