The Broken Edge of the World

The Broken Edge of the World

Their love is destined, but can it survive her compulsion for beauty? Haunting and steamy, this spellbinding fantasy romance will enthrall you with its alluring concoction of traditional Grimm's and modern thrills. "With deft, atmospheric prose and lush, otherworldly lore, Bruzas captures the essence of self-identity, belonging and the kind of love that both consumes and inspires. A dazzling modern fairytale.” —Kika Hatzopoulou, bestselling author of Threads That Bind Sylvie has taken a summer job at a remote and alluring prairie preserve in the middle of the Great Plains. It’s a much-needed escape—from her sadness, from her cruelly distant father, and maybe even from herself: She longs to be free of the intrusive, obsessive thoughts that are her constant burden. Soon, she finds herself drawn to a stunning shepherd boy and can’t stop herself from going to him at night, even though she’s been warned to keep away. During the day, though, she begins to develop a friendship with another boy, a strange-looking and strangely gentle coworker named Jack . . . and gradually to uncover the mysteries of this place that feels more like home than anyplace has before it. But those mysteries include a powerful curse, and when she uncovers the truth of it, she becomes recklessly determined to break it—to free the one trapped in its spell. She fails to consider the possibility that her actions could break much more than just the curse, and that some burdens demand to be borne. "This psychologically incisive supernatural novel by Bruzas blends the eerie cadence of dark fairy tales with modern suspense to probe themes of obsession. Sylvie’s unflinchingly self-critical yet deeply empathetic first-person narration captures both the claustrophobic logic of her OCD and the aching vulnerability of a girl desperate to be seen and loved. It all adds up to a sensitive, fully fleshed-out portrayal of one teen navigating grief alongside mental health challenges." —Publishers Weekly Alena Bruzas grew up in Seattle and currently lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her family. She is the author of the acclaimed novels To the Bone and Ever Since, and she hopes her writing will find the people who need it most. When she's not writing, Alena works at a bookstore and serves on the board for Ten Thousand Villages, Lincoln. She also occasionally cooks dinner, worries about commas, and wanders the prairie.