"All the maps are lost."

The Habitation of the Blessed by Catherynne M. Valente was officially released into the wild today, though it's been available by Kindle for some time now.

I had the pleasure of reading this novel a month or so ago, and it promptly learned to sing in the tongue of my heart and engaged with many of my spiritual issues in sublime catharsis. That toes the edge of overwrought, but this novel proved to be a very personal experience for me. This is why I have not yet reviewed it, and why I am reading it again before I do. I purchased my own physical copy today, and immediately cracked open its ragged-edge pages: already, again, I am gone over the edge of the world and the Rimal has me in its scouring embrace.

Look for me there.

...no, seriously, if you have any interest in fabulous bestiaries, religious deconstruction, intelligent fantasy, or just a compelling story of the fantastic... do yourself a favor and pick up this novel.

You should also check out the amazing release shenanigans (prizes! video!) over at Cat's Livejournal, and the fantastic website for Prester John that she's set up.

Also, I may have committed icon:



( 18 more icons behind the cut! )