Sycorax

a captivating reimagining of Shakespeare's most powerful witch

Nydia Hetherington author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Quercus Publishing

Published:27th Feb '25

Should be back in stock very soon

Sycorax cover

Born of the sun and moon, shaped by fire and malady, comes a young woman whose story has never been told . . .

They call her Sycorax. Seer. Sage. Sorceress.

Outcast by society and all alone in the world, Sycorax must find a way to understand her true nature. But as her powers begin to grow, so too do the suspicions of the local townspeople. For knowledge can be dangerous, and a woman's knowledge is the most dangerous of all . . .

With a great storm brewing on the horizon, Sycorax finds herself in increasing peril - but will her powers save her, or will they spell the end for them all?

A beautifully written and deeply moving imagining of what came before Shakespeare's The Tempest from the author of A Girl Made of Air.

A beautiful written exploration of one of literature's most famous and misunderstood women. This is a clever and immersive tale, brilliant in its exploration of how societies, old and new, have turned on those who don't fit in. Fabulous * Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City *
A vividly drawn imagining [of] Sycorax, mother of Caliban in The Tempest. Heartbreakingly poignant, it's the tale of a young woman living with physical pain, social isolation and terrible loneliness but who never gives up trying to find a life where she can be useful. So imaginative and original, and beautifully written * Frances Quinn, author of The Lost Passenger *
With Sycorax living constantly in pain, trying to help people but always feared and shunned, the reader rages and hopes for her while always knowing where this story is going to end. It's a fascinating exploration of an obscure character * SFX *
A beautifully written tale of otherness and becoming, which charms and beguiles in equal measure * Nikki Marmery, author of Lilith *
What a wonderful, witchy delight it was. So evocative and raw. Full of darkness and magic and wonder. Truly extraordinary * Louise Beech, author of This is How We Are Human *
A beautifully tragic story told with heartbreaking poignancy. The tale of Sycorax lingers long after the last page. Magnificent! * Victoria Dowd, author of Murder Most Cold *
Sycorax is a poignant portrayal of a woman struggling to find her place in the face of physical challenges and social otherness. This is a book that resonates with current issues and will keep the reader gripped throughout * Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women *
With all the reverberations and resonances of ancient tales, Sycorax is a vivid and stirring re-imagining of Shakespeare's final witch. Hetherington's prose will cast a spell on you. This book is perfect for lovers of Circe * Molly Aitken, author of Bright I Burn *
Magnificent - a beautifully-written, poignant tour de force blending myth, realism, magic, loneliness and the reality of living with chronic pain * Penny Batchelor, author of The Reunion Party *
'P.S. is beyond excited about this wonderful new take on Sycorax, the unseen, much maligned and misunderstood, yet important "blue-eyed hag" in Shakespeare's The Tempest * The Sunday Post *
An immensely assured first novel * The Guardian on A Girl Made of Air *
Fantasy,folkloreandfunambulism tread an impressive line in this richly imagined debut.Hetherington spins a kaleidoscopic patchwork of memory and magic, secrets and lies, ideal for fans of The Night Circus * Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters, on A Girl Made of Air *
A captivating tale of love and loss and finding connection in the most unexpected places * Nikki Marmery, author of Lilith, on A Girl Made of Air *
Hetherington tells her captivating tale from deep within the sequinned heart of the circus, with characters as darkly flawed as they are brilliantly talented. A Girl Made of Air is a poignant story of regret and redemption, brilliantly interlaced with magic and folklore * Sonia Velton, author of The Nightingale's Castle, on A Girl Made of Air *
This novel had me under its spell from start to finish, each page conjuring up such vivid imagery that I was uttterly captivated. Breathtaking * Emma Cooper, author of It Was Always You, on A Girl Made of Air *
There are sequins and suspicion in this captivating circus novel . . . a richly imagined debut * Sunday Express S magazine on A Girl Made of Air *
P.S. is beyond excited about this wonderful new take on Sycorax, the unseen, much maligned and misunderstood, yet important "blue-eyed hag" in Shakespeare's The Tempest * P.S. Magazine *
A beautiful written exploration of one of literature's most famous and misunderstood women . . . clever and immersive * Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City *
Heartbreakingly poignant . . . imaginative and original, and beautifully written * Frances Quinn, author of The Lost Passenger *
Vivid and stirring . . . Hetherington's prose will cast a spell on you. This book is perfect for lovers of Circe * Molly Aitken, author of Bright I Burn *
Richly imagined . . . a kaleidoscopic patchwork of memory and magic, secrets and lies, ideal for fans of The Night Circus * Emma Stonex, author of The Lamplighters, on A Girl Made of Air *
Captivating . . . with characters as darkly flawed as they are brilliantly talented. A Girl Made of Air is a poignant story of regret and redemption, brilliantly interlaced with magic and folklore * Sonia Velton, author of The Nightingale's Castle, on A Girl Made of Air *

ISBN: 9781529431070

Dimensions: 284mm x 198mm x 34mm

Weight: 607g

400 pages