Monsters We Defy

'Rich and immersive. . .

full of mesmerizing magic!' P. Djeli Clark, author of A Master of DjinnClara Johnson can talk to spirits - a gift that saved her during her darkest moments, now a curse that's left her indebted to the cunning spirit world. So when a powerful spirit offers her an opportunity to gain her freedom, Clara seizes the chance.

The task: steal a magical ring from the wealthiest woman in the District. Clara can't pull off this daring heist alone. To pull off the impossible, she'll need help from an unlikely team: from a handsome jazz musician able to hypnotize with a melody, to an aging actor who can change his face.

But as conflict in the spirit world begins to leak into the human one - an insidious mystery is unfolding, one that could cost Clara her life. Praise for The Monsters We Defy:'Leslye Penelope blends magic, mystery and mayhem in this deliciously complex historical fantasy' Veronica G. Henry'An enchanting adventure that weaves a spell' Justina Ireland'Stolen destinies, dubious bargains, and unlikely groups of allies, all in a city whose history deserves more fame; a fresh and engaging take on historical fantasy' Marie Brennan'Masterfully crafted.

This smart and entertaining magical heist novel hits all the right notes' T. L. Huchu'Clara is a heroine for the ages, and her 1920s Black Washington society, both the glamour and the grit, is so compellingly evoked it's as though Penelope has given us a peek behind the veil to hear the tales of our ancestors' Alaya Dawn Johnson