Night Ivy

The World of Alyssia

by E.D.E. Bell

Narrated by E.D.E. Bell

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Book 1 of Alyssia

Pub Date 26 Sep 2023 | Archive Date 8 Jul 2024

General Fiction (Adult) | LGBTQIA | Sci Fi & Fantasy

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Description

Xelle is sure in her passion for magic, but struggles to find her place within the constructs that enable its study. Night Ivy offers the first verse of a wandering bard’s tale of fancy and fantasy, amidst the spires and shadows of the seven towers of Alyssia.

A Note From the Publisher

Longlist – 2022 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards for Novel

Advance Praise

“Like the plant which informs its title, Night Ivy works slowly, quietly, and inexorably, tracing the complex lines of its fascinating main character. And as Xeleanor Du’Tam patiently unravels the mystery she’s been tasked to reveal, both she and we learn more about her power and personality than we could have ever expected. E.D.E. Bell always creates empathetic characters deeply in tune with their environments, but in Night Ivy, she has gone further; this is an environment deeply in tune with its characters, resonant with Xelle’s internal song. Night Ivy is quiet, but far from silent, and you’ll remember it for a long time after the story ends.” – Gregory A. Wilson, award-winning author of Icarus and Grayshade

“A focus on character relationships and a quiet, but sometimes intense, approach to storytelling and description … lots of lush, loving description of places I totally want to visit, and a deft eye for “ma” (negative space) as well as for action and character development. If you’re looking for fantasy about neurodiverse characters–or just great fantasy in a unique setting, period–you’ll definitely want to check out Night Ivy.” – Stewart C Baker, writer and poet

Marketing Plan

As a bold, small, indie press, we are hoping to get more visibility to our audiobooks. We are very grateful for your consideration.

Available Editions

EDITION	Audiobook
ISBN	9781961654068
PRICE

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (AUDIO)

Additional Information

Average rating from 19 members

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Featured Reviews

Sydney N, Reviewer

This exploration of life with severe anxiety is so beautifully woven with magic and an absolute must-read!

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Sarah B, Reviewer

This book was took me by surprise and in a direction I was totally not expecting (in a great way!) I really enjoyed the attention to detail that the author took, especially in relation to consent and the diverse representation of gender and sexuality (breaking down those binaries, woohoo!). And there were dragons, hell yeah!

I read the main character, Xelle, as someone who struggles with anxiety and is neurodivergent. I thought this was an extremely refreshing viewpoint, as I saw myself repented through Xelle at many times throughout the story (especially the never ending thoughts and worries). However, these traits did not hold Xelle back from being an interesting, heroic and intelligent character. I also appreciate that Xelle didn’t have to “overcome her flaws” but instead showed up as her true self. The confidence and kindness that Xelle displays towards the end of the book were wonderful, as she recognized that her thoughts and contributions are important and valid, and took control of the situation without resorting to violence.

I also enjoyed the fact that the author narrated the audiobook, as I think this allowed for such a perfect representation of Xelle, as the character was intended to be portrayed.

My one piece of feedback would be to include a legend of the different terms used in the book (ex. Hues, Pers, Ze Zem, etc). Perhaps this already exists in the physical copy of the book but as an audiobook reader I found it a bit hard to follow at first and would have found the ability to look up a legend of terms super helpful!

I’m dying to know what happens next! Thank you to #netgalley #atthisarts and the author.

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Librarian 1445805

Thanks to NetGalley and Atthis Arts for the advance listeners copy.

There is some really good worldbuilding and fully rendered characters here. Zelle is such a relatable main character that I connected with her anxieties while on her quest undercover. The plot is structured in a way that details have a satisfying payoff later in the book. It's all around a well-constructed and exciting story, and I can't wait for the next book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6645446508

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Check out this review of Night Ivy on Fable. https://fable.co/review/457bed3c-9d6d-42c1-a079-55111a4447ea/share