Smoke Paper Mirrors — Anna Tambour

From the totally not bestselling author of Crandolin (shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award), an extraordinary and moving novel that confronts and defies boundaries.

“Thank you,” said Arthur. “There's always hope.” He'd always hated that facile truism, but said it because he'd thought it was expected. From the Croatian's startled expression, he knew how gruesomely wrong he was.

That night Mrs Ma's butterfly brooch came to him in a dream -- flying in, pinless, through the open window. It landed on his open palm and closed its wings in repose. Such a comforting sign, Melmet would say. But she read Turkish coffee mud.

“a very curious writer” -- Ian O'Reilly, British Fantasy Society review of The Finest Ass in the Universe

“Anna Tambour is an example of one.” -- Ben Peek, The Super Obscure, Nobody's-Ever-Read, You-Must-Read, Pimp-All-The-Books thread