Libri di Silvia Moreno-Garcia Migliori da leggere e consigliati

The acclaimed author of Gods of Jade and Shadow returns with a mesmerising feminist re-imagining of Gothic fantasy, in which a young socialite discovers the haunting secrets of a beautiful old mansion in 1950s Mexico. He is trying to poison me. You must come for me, Noemi. You have to save me. When glamorous socialite Noemi Taboada receives a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging to be rescued from a mysterious doom, it’s clear something is desperately amiss. Catalina has always had a flair for the dramatic, but her claims that her husband is poisoning her and her visions of restless ghosts seem remarkable, even for her. Noemi’s more suited to cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing, but she heads immediately to High Place, a remote mansion in the Mexican countryside, determined to discover what is so affecting her cousin. She’s tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who is fascinated by Noemi; and not of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he wants to help – but he might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemi digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemi, mesmerised by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to leave this enigmatic house behind . . .

Noemí Taboada riceve una lettera angosciata e delirante da sua cugina Catalina, che ha appena sposato un inglese altolocato e che implora il suo aiuto. E così si reca a High Place, una tetra dimora sperduta tra le montagne del Messico. Noemí è poco credibile nei panni della crocerossina: è una raffinata debuttante, più adatta ai cocktail party che alle indagini poliziesche, ma è anche caparbia, sveglia, e non si lascia intimorire facilmente: certo non dal marito di Catalina, uno sconosciuto dall’aria sinistra ma intrigante; né dal padre, l’anziano patriarca che sembra particolarmente attratto da lei; e neppure dalla casa, che inizia a invadere i suoi sogni con visioni di sangue e sventure. Il suo unico alleato in questo luogo inospitale è il più giovane membro della famiglia. Ma forse anche lui ha un oscuro segreto da nascondere. Mentre dal passato riemergono storie di violenza e follia, Noemí viene lentamente risucchiata in un mondo terrificante e seducente al tempo stesso. Un mondo dal quale potrebbe essere impossibile fuggire.

‘This is historical fantasy at its best’ S.A. Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass Inspired by Mexican folklore, Gods of Jade and Shadow is a magical, wildly imaginative coming-of-age tale for fans of Katherine Arden, Naomi Novik and Helene Wecker. The Jazz Age is in full swing, but it’s passing Casiopea Tun by. She’s too busy scrubbing floors in her wealthy grandfather’s house to do anything more than dream of a life far from her dusty, small town in southern Mexico. A life she could call her own. This dream is impossible, distant as the stars – until the day Casiopea opens a curious chest in her grandfather’s room and accidentally frees an ancient Mayan god of death. He offers her a deal: if Casiopea helps him recover his throne from his treacherous brother, he will grant her whatever she desires. Success will make her every dream come true, but failure will see her lost, for ever. In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed only with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey, from the jungles of Yucatan to the bright lights of Mexico City and deep into the darkness of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld. ‘Wondrous and magical’ Kevin Hearne, author of The Iron Druid Chronicles ‘Evocative and moving’ Rebecca Roanhorse, author of Trial of Lightning ‘An adventure for the mind and the heart’ Christina Henry, author of Alice ‘A joy to read’ Genevieve Cogman, author of The Invisible Library series