Uncommon Charm

Part of the 2022 Neon Hemlock Novella Series. An 8” x 5” novella. 94 pages.

In the 1920s gothic comedy Uncommon Charm, bright young socialite Julia and shy Jewish magician Simon decide they aren’t beholden to their families’ unhappy history. Together they confront such horrors as murdered ghosts, alive children, magic philosophy, a milieu that slides far too easily into surrealist metaphor, and, worst of all, serious adult conversation.

Praise:

“An enchanting and poignantly subtle story told with deft humor and thoughtful absences, where the initiation into mysteries is both esoteric and deeply personal.”
—Caitlin Starling, author of The Death of Jane Lawrence

“Somehow both quiet and lively, both dreamlike and rock-solid, this magical novella feels like a story dropped in your ear at a party by a brand new friend.”
—Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

“By turns dazzling, profound, and tender, Uncommon Charm is intensely readable—I’d let this narrator regale me with anything that crossed her mind for hours on end. While her wit lights the room, her insights illuminate those around her. This story’s rumination on magic, power, and human nature will stick with me for years to come.”
—Emma Mieko Candon, author of The Archive Undying

“A sparkling gem of a story, treading lightly but surely over subject matter both delightful and profound.”
—Lara Elena Donnelly, author of Base Notes

“Chaotic magic mixes with the decadence of Russian aristocracy in this sparkling tale. While there are darker depths beneath its facets, a witty narrator and a host of drawing room adventures give this a brilliance and verve that will brighten your heart and keep you turning pages through to the very end. The best way to describe it? Charming. Utterly charming!”
—Wendy N. Wagner, author of The Secret Skin

"Effervescently witty and delicious with dark edges, like a Nancy Mitford story with more diversity and magic."
—Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled and Scales and Sensibility

Cover illustration by Marlowe Lune.