The Naming of Moths by Tracy Fells - our November release - invites readers on a journey through a tapestry of narratives that span time, culture, and the depths of the human experience. Fells' dark and mesmerising debut grapples with themes of motherhood, memory, and the monstrous, set within of magical realism and mythical retellings.
We're excited to reveal these story blurbs to give you a glimpse into the magical stories within The Naming of Moths!
Ten Good Reasons
Trapped in a suffocating marriage, Trish creates tightly-controlled lists filled with desires and aspirations. One such list includes an elaborate plan involving her husband…and duct-tape. Haunted by the memory of a lost daughter, she dreams of Australia, hoping to reclaim the life she once envisioned.
Vector
In a remote sheep station, a young boy longs for his mother's return. His grandmother, and an old station hand watch as a wildfire threatens their livelihood, and a firehawk circles above…
The Naming of Moths
Refugee Sofia finds herself entangled in the last request of the dying Miss Bethan, for the vulnerable son she ‘summoned’. A haunting tale that touches on the treatment of the ‘displaced and unwanted’.
Coping Mechanism
New mum Hannah finds herself consumed by envy and insecurity when an enigmatic au pair enters her home. As the au pair seemingly begins to change her accent and steal Hannah’s clothes, Hannah is left alone to cope with new motherhood, the guilt of a lost sister, and an ever-escalating sense of being replaced. Why does no one believe Hannah to be the real mother?
Household Gods
With a homemade shrine honouring Roman household gods, Mo seeks protection for his unwell mother and a premature baby, who may not be his child and who may not survive the night. As past and present collide, with only Aisha - a stranger to him and a wife by necessity - by his side, Mo is left to navigate his religious beliefs, cultural expectations, and the weight of an unexpected bond.
A Cinnamon Kiss
A desperate baker seeks to win the heart of his ‘true love’ using an enchanted recipe. But when the secret ingredient backfires, his fate takes an unexpected twist, and he must confront the consequences of meddling with forces beyond his control.
A Good Word
Scarred by lies and war, Gideon's life takes a turn when a hidden past threatens to shatter his newfound peace. As secrets emerge, he must confront the shadows of his actions and navigate a path of redemption, guided by an unexpected friendship.
Octavia’s Grave
In the depths of a Roman burial site, archaeologist Julia uncovers a double grave that holds ancient mysteries and a modern-day secret. As she delves deeper into the past, she must confront her own personal struggles and the dynamics of power and relationships in academia.
In The Copper Canyon
In the heart of Mexico City's Bosque de Chapultepec, the haunting echoes of a fateful race resurface for Gabriela, as her sister's memory intertwines with her present and threatens to shatter her engagement to Santos. As they run side by side, past and present collide, unravelling guilt and igniting a race against the shadows of memory.
Ancient Wing
A mother is torn between her love for her daughter and her heritage, handling the choices and sacrifices she has made for both. She stands at the precipice, torn between soaring with her true nature and staying grounded for the sake of her child.
Monsters
A young boy's bond with a mysterious creature becomes the key to unlocking his sister's voice and facing the darkness that lurks within their family. Navigating belief, trauma, and resilience, they form a connection that defies conventional understanding.
The Weight They Left Behind
In a secluded lighthouse clinic, a married couple embark on a transformative diet journey, but as their memories unravel alongside their cravings, they discover that Dr. Excelsior's revolutionary process may be more mysterious and unsettling than they ever imagined.
Book Of The Dead
Haunted by his mother's murder by the ‘Playboy Killer’, Liam clings to a scrapbook of newspaper clippings for solace. When a co-worker discovers his obsession, it sets off a chain of events that challenge his traumatic past.
Twisted
Alice's memories intertwine reality and imagination, grappling with the tangled threads of her past as she handles shocking family secrets and a web of hidden truths. As sessions with her counsellor, Leena, unearth dark revelations, Alice must confront the twisted narrative of her own identity.
The Frost Hare
A hospital worker’s quiet routine of visits to a graveyard is disrupted by a misreading of signals, leading to a revelation that blurs the boundaries between life and the afterlife. With the arrival of a mysterious comatose patient, longing, love, and the delicate threads that bind the living and the lost are unveiled.
Gretel And The Chocolate Wolf
Gretel's world turns upside down when a mysterious soldier arrives, armed with forbidden treats and a sinister secret. As their forbidden encounters unfold, a dark transformation takes root, blurring the lines between desire and danger in a haunting tale of temptation.
Wood
Miscommunication unravels the strained anniversary dinner of Richard and Sarah, where a misplaced aphrodisiac triggers surreal consequences, leading to a transformation that fractures their already fragile relationship. As their relationship splinters, a tangled web of emotions emerges, testing the limits of desire and connection.
Jumping The Box
A retired magician's assistant discovers her husband's deadly trick has taken a dark twist, leading to an onstage shock. As the truth unfolds, she must confront her own role in the illusion and the consequences that follow.
The Naming of Moths features stories of magical realism, myths and legends re-imagined, where all the characters are undergoing transformation or facing a pivotal moment of change in their lives. People and animals interchange their shapes. Story landscapes flit from fairy-tale woods to urban homes. Here love, hope and kindness weave between the realities of man’s endless talent for cruelty.
Available to pre-order now!
