About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the heavy emotional labor of caretaking or shielding a sibling from their own destructive impulses. In this atmospheric gothic fantasy set in 18th-century France, seventeen-year-old Marie uses her skills as a perfumer to manage her sister Ama, who has been cursed to transform into a lethal beast. The story explores the suffocating nature of family secrets and the moral compromises we make to protect those we love. It is an intense exploration of sibling loyalty, the weight of guilt, and the desperate search for a cure for a loved one. Parents should be aware of the dark, occasionally violent nature of the curse, but will appreciate the book's sophisticated look at agency and self-sacrifice.
