Flyaway

Written by Kathleen Jennings

Narrated by Felicity Jurd

Transformation, enchantment, and the emotional truths of family history teem in Kathleen Jennings’ stunning debut, Flyaway.

"Kathleen Jennings' prose dazzles, and her magic feels real enough that you might even prick your finger on it."—Kelly Link

"Half mystery, half fairy tale, all exquisitely rendered and full of teeth.”—Holly Black

In a small Western Queensland town, a reserved young woman receives a note from one of her vanished brothers—a note that makes her question memories of their disappearance and her father’s departure.

A beguiling story that proves that gothic delights and uncanny family horror can live—and even thrive—under a burning sun, Flyaway introduces readers to Bettina Scott, whose search for the truth throws her into tales of eerie dogs, vanished schools, cursed monsters, and enchanted bottles. Flyaway enchants you with the sly, beautiful darkness of Karen Russell and a world utterly its own.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jul 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781250756411

Kathleen Jennings

Kathleen Jennings is a writer and illustrator based in Brisbane, Australia. Her Australian Gothic debut, Flyaway, was published by Tordotcom (Pan Macmillan, USA) and Picador (Australia) in 2020, and has been published in French (by les Moutons électriques) in 2023. Her short fiction has been published in Tor.com, Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and many other markets. Her debut poetry collection Travelogues: Vignettes from Trains in Motion was published by Brain Jar Press in 2020. Her writing has won the British Fantasy and Ditmar Awards, and been shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award and The Courier Mail People’s Choice Book of the Year Award (Queensland Literary Awards). She is also a World Fantasy Award-winning and Hugo Award-nominated illustrator. Her short story collection Kindling is to be published by Small Beer Press in January 2024, and she is currently a PhD candidate in creative writing at the University of Queensland.

Reviews for Flyaway

[Kandeel Iqbal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A young woman ponders her place in a mysterious town until she stumbles upon a clue to her missing brothers. Setting off on a journey to find them, with her former friends in tow, they try to unravel the strange legends they find at every turn. I really enjoyed this book; I think it was well written and engrossing. The way the fables are used is more vague than an 'explains everything' scenario so it definitely requires more of an imaginative reader. It didn't remind me of many other books, which is always a plus for me, but I would skirt on the edge of saying it's almost a kind-of grown-up Hazelwood

[Mary Cervantes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book! It was short read, but totally worth it ?

[tobes magobes · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Story seems great but I think this recording is missing a ton of the book?? Like it jumps way ahead at random points