Longlistedforthe2018ScotiabankGillerPrizeShortlistedforthe2019AmazonFirstNovelAwardShortlistedforthe2019KoboEmergingWriterPrizeWinnerofthe2019IndigenousVoicesAwardforPublishedProseinEnglishWinnerofthe2018AlcuinSocietyAwardsforExcellenceinBookDesign-ProseFictionLonglistedforthe2019SunburstAwardFromtheinternationallyacclaimedInuitthroatsingerwhohasdazzledandenthralledtheworldwithmusicithadneverheardbefore,afierce,tender,heartbreakingstoryunlikeanythingyou’veeverread.Factcanbeasstrangeasfiction.Itcanalsobeasdark,asviolent,asrapturous.Intheend,theremaybenodifferencebetweenthem.AgirlgrowsupinNunavutinthe1970s.Sheknowsjoy,andfriendship,andparents’love.Sheknowsboredom,andlistlessness,andbullying.Sheknowsthetediumoftheeverydayworld,andtheraw,amoralpoweroftheiceandsky,theseductiveenergyoftheanimalworld.Sheknowstheravagesofalcohol,andviolenceatthehandsofthosesheshouldbeabletotrust.Sheseesthespiritsthatsurroundher,andtheimmensepowerthatdwarfsallofus.Whenshebecomespregnant,shemustnavigateallthis.Veeringbackandforthbetweenthegrittiestfeaturesofasmallarctictown,theelectrifyingproximityoftheworldofanimals,andravishingworldofmyth,TanyaTagaqexploresaworldwherethedistinctionsbetweengoodandevil,animalandhuman,victimandtransgressor,realandimaginedlosetheirmeaning,buttheguidingpowerofloveremains.Haunting,brooding,exhilarating,andtenderallatonce,Tagaqmoveseffortlesslybetweenfictionandmemoir,mythandreality,poetryandprose,andconjuresaworldandaheroinereaderswillneverforget.
