and Falling, Fly
Library Journal: Best Sci-Fi Fantasy Books of 2010
Barnes & Noble Explorations SciFi Fantasy Blog: Best Paranormal of 2010
EarlyWord: Best Adult Books of 2010
Dear Author: Best Books of 2010
“One of the year’s most unusual blends of supernatural fiction and urban fantasy.” – Library Journal
a dark fable of desire
between a fallen angel
and a self-medicating neuroscientist
in a steampunk hell
“a unique and intelligent spin on the
vampire legend” – Julie Kenner
“a challenging abrasion between
rationality and myth” – Anya Bast
“an esoteric battle between myth and science
told in floods of evocative prose” – Publishers Weekly
Olivia is a vampire bored with modernity. Tattooist, boyfriend, black-metal singer: everyone you don’t love tastes the same. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O’Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions.
When his research and her despair collide in Ireland’s L’Otel Mathillide – a subterranean hell of beauty, demons and dreams – rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.
Berkley Books, March 2010
Skyler White crafts challenging fiction for a changing world.
Populated with angels and rock stars, scientists, demons and
revolutionaries, her dark stories explore the secret places
where myth and modernity collide.
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Praise for ‘and Falling, Fly’
Skyler White’s debut novel is a dark fable exploring the nature of feminine desire through its vampiric heroine’s trials in a lush steampunk Hell. The result of extensive academic research in mythology and neuroscience and personal exploration of remote Irish locations, ‘and Falling, Fly’ has garnered praise from paranormal luminaries and the dark fantasy press.
“With its lyrical prose and mythological themes, Skyler White’s and Falling, Fly, puts a unique and intelligent spin on the vampire legend, introducing complex, compelling characters in a deeply romantic story that will have readers turning pages well past their bedtime, and thinking about the book long after they’ve reached the end. An absolutely wonderful debut!”
Julie Kenner, USA Today bestselling author
of ‘Blood Lily Chronicles’ and ‘Carpe Demon’
“Intriguing from page one, Skyler White’s novel, and Falling, Fly, had me hooked, devouring every page to see what would happen next. White asks hard questions about desire, damnation, love and sacrifice in a beautiful, poetic way that will keep you utterly spellbound. The book presents a challenging abrasion between rationality and myth that will stick with you long after you finish the last page. With this first novel, White has made my Must Buy list. I eagerly await her next book.”
Anya Bast, bestselling paranormal and erotic romance author of the
‘Elemental Witches’, ‘Seasons of Pleasure’ and ‘The Embraced’ series
“Strong storytelling and an unusual interpretation of vampires should attract fans of supernatural fiction and urban fantasy to this outstanding debut.”
Library Journal, starred review, top 5 SF/F book of 2010
“White’s debut is a trippy urban fantasy, an esoteric battle between myth and science told in floods of evocative prose … paranormal fans will appreciate White’s willingness to take chances and try something new.”
Publishers Weekly
“Wow, what a mindf*ck … an ending that satisfies and yet leaves the reader’s brain buzzing.”
“A curious and interesting mix of philosophy and myth which takes it a step beyond the ordinary paranormal.”
“and Falling, Fly is a wonderfully strange novel … among the best vampire writing I have read in years. Skyler White is a writer to watch and a name to remember … [she] crams so many ideas into this book that it is bursting at the seams. Memory, myth, allegory, and desire all get a metaphysical work-out … I’m telling you, people, this is the kind of author who will have a cult following in a few years, if not a lot sooner. I can see fans of unconventional fantasy writers like Tanith Lee appreciating what White is doing.”
“From its sophisticated, intelligent writing style to its compelling characters to its reinvention of vampire lore, and Falling, Fly had me hooked from page one. It’s a book that’s hard to put down once you start reading and extremely rewarding once you reach its end. It’s the perfect novel for hopeless romantics, sinners, saints and those in the mood for a completely different vampire novel. Highly recommended!”
“An intellectual playground of paranormal romance and urban fantasy like nothing you’ve ever read before … a wild ride full of riddles, love, desire and read-between-the-lines meaning. I was hooked from page one.”
“and Falling, Fly is an absolute treasure. I have been excited and intrigued about a lot of novels lately but none come even close to Skyler White’s spectacular debut novel.”
“and Falling, Fly rocked my imagination … Ms. White put the vampire legend on its ear. I love her world and insight to the mythology we know and love … I am Joyfully Recommending and Falling, Fly in all its dark and wonderful glory.”
Joyfully Reviewed, ‘recommended’ rating
“To comprehend this story you must open your mind and soul to all possibilities and perceptions. It is not an easy read, but well worth the experience.”
“It will appeal to fans who savor smarter storytelling … I found Ms. White’s surreal style appealing. I was more than willing to be seduced by this unique debut.“
“A dark and lush, uniquely told love story that isn’t to be taken lightly. A definite reading requirement for those who like a book that makes them think and remain in their thoughts long after it’s put down.”
“A tale so riveting and fascinating you can’t help but get lost in the world of the damned … one of those rare books where you have to drink down every word, sip them slowly and taste each bloody drop.”
“Let me just say wow … one of the best crafted debuts that I have had the pleasure of coming across … a gothic landscape perhaps with a tint of Tanith Lee … opens a philosophical vein with a scalpel of eroticism that was shaded with an edge of Milan Kundera … a book that should be in all vampire genre fans collections, as well as readers of damn good, thought provoking prose.”
Skyler White’s soul-rending debut is cutting edge paranormal fantasy … intensely passionate, sublimely poetic … reads like dark ethereal poetry … I’ll remember this book for the rest of my life. I found myself immersed in the cool, hypnotic narrative and deeply affected by White’s subtle (and not-so-subtle!) symbolism and social allegory. So much more than a paranormal fantasy – it’s literary fiction, it’s otherworldly poetry, it’s dark philosophy that will change the way you see the world if you let it”
Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble Explorations Sci-Fi Fantasy Blog
“Imaginative and thoughtful, done in such a way that you could never mistake it for any other book … mind-blowing, captivating, and artistically beautiful. Need I stress how much I loved this book? It was everything that was promised and so much more.”
“Gritty and raw, with a certain vicious poetry that digs deep … intense and vibrant … the strong, lyrical prose transports you to the world of fallen angels and immortal souls … I pimp this book to anyone I know who can handle it.”
