Bones of Jade, Flesh Like Ice

“An utterly transportive story, both mythic in scope and deeply personal at heart. Love and loss is an old classic, but in Marsden’s masterful hands the familiar is made new again in a propulsive, intricately-woven narrative. You may devour this work in one sitting, but you’ll be thinking about it for a long, long time.” —Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi

“[An] impressive historical fantasy debut…Marsden luxuriates in moral grayness, refusing to let her heroine be simply good or simply ruined. Steeped in Taiwanese folklore, the story’s fairy tale cadence persists even in its bleakest turns through a court rife with treachery. The plotting is propulsive enough to make a heavy, often brutal narrative feel urgent rather than punishing, and the sense of grounded emotionality remains throughout. Fans of Shelley Parker-Chan’s morally complex fantasies, and readers willing to stomach graphic violence and body horror, should seek out this mesmerizing, deeply human tragedy.” —Publishers Weekly (*starred review*)

“Drawing from Taiwanese mythology, Marsden crafts a rich and immersive world filled with breathtaking imagery and vivid prose. The imagery serves as a powerful reflection of grief, loss, and the harsh realities of the characters’ lives…This is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel whose atmosphere lingers long after the final page. Marsden debuts with a brutal and engrossing story of love, greed, and sacrifice that explores what it truly means to be human.” —Library Journal (*starred review*)

“Rich and heartfelt, Bones of Jade, Flesh like Ice scintillates with power, sacrifice, and sisterhood, finding warmth and magic amidst brutality.” —Shen Tao, nationally bestselling author of The Poet Empress

“Steeped in myth and brimming with rage, Bones of Jade, Flesh Like Ice is a captivating tale of what it means to become monstrous–and whether love can call us back. An astonishing debut that left me haunted in the best way.” —K.X. Song, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Ends With Fire

“An exquisitely wrenching, fleet-footed fairytale of the very best kind. As elegantly constructed as a finger trap, Bones of Jade, Flesh Like Ice plumbs the depths of human cruelty while revealing the timeless possibilities of compassion. A triumph.” —Shelley Parker-Chan, bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun

“Both beautiful and harrowing, Bones of Jade, Flesh Like Ice is an exquisitely crafted tale of love, vengeance, and power intertwined. Marsden’s enchanting prose and heartrending characters will captivate you from the very first page.” —Kylie Lee Baker, bestselling author of Japanese Gothic

“A sweeping, poetic historical fantasy about the lengths we’d go for love and the price we pay for power. This book will rip your heart apart and stitch it back together again. I couldn’t recommend it more.” —Ann Liang, New York Times bestselling author of A Song to Drown Rivers

“A gorgeous and bloody fairy tale about power, revenge, and love: Marsden will tear out your heart and serve it right back to you, and you will eat it right up and ask for more.” —Yume Kitasei, author of Saltcrop