Carmelo Rafalà writes stories that are profound, surprising, and beautifully realised. He imagines fantastic worlds and protagonists of immense complexity, subtlety and depth. His stories do not give easy answers, but stimulate and absorb the reader. In this collection of science fiction and fantasy stories you will find: A zealous convert, a woman of rumour and myth, and a dangerous pilgrimage across pirate filled seas. A warrior travels to a far land to mourn and put his violent past behind him, but strange gods of an even stranger people intrude. Abandoned in the Ozarks, sisters face a malevolent presence reaching out from the darkness. Two friends struggle with their strained relationship, but reconciliation may literally require other realities. These are stories of identity and belonging, and our deep-seated desire to control our own narratives. Discover this unique and talented author. Includes the Science Fiction and Fantasy South Africa's 2024 Nova award winning title story. "A collection of speculative fiction stories written by a gifted storyteller. The milieus are highly imaginative, the characters well-rounded and the narrative compelling. An absorbing and remarkable collection, I hope this book finds many readers." —Teika Marija Smits, BFS Award winning author