The Other Valley

A gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and time's boundaries

Scott Alexander Howard author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Atlantic Books

Published:18th Apr '24

Should be back in stock very soon

The Other Valley cover

In The Other Valley, a young girl faces an impossible choice between love and her future, set in a town defined by time's boundaries.

In The Other Valley, readers are introduced to a unique narrative that blends speculative fiction with emotional depth. The story unfolds in an isolated town, where the boundaries of time are blurred, creating a complex landscape that challenges the characters' understanding of love, sacrifice, and the consequences of their choices. At the center of this tale is Odile, a sixteen-year-old girl who is torn between her ambitions and her feelings for Edme, a boy destined for tragedy. As she navigates the pressures of an elite council that controls the town's borders and time, Odile faces a heart-wrenching dilemma that could alter the course of her life and those around her.

The novel explores themes of connection and isolation, as well as the weight of decisions that can affect not just the present, but the future as well. Odile's journey is one of growth and self-discovery, as she grapples with the implications of her choices in a world where the past and future collide. The narrative's rich emotional landscape is reminiscent of the works of Kazuo Ishiguro and Matt Haig, making it a compelling read for fans of literary fiction.

Through its intricate plot and well-drawn characters, The Other Valley invites readers to ponder the essence of time and love. As Odile faces the impossible choice between her future and the life of someone she cares deeply for, the story resonates with anyone who has ever felt the weight of their decisions. This debut novel is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to truly live in the moment while being aware of the past and future that shape our lives.

A deeply moving, ultimately thrilling story about memory, love and regret * Guardian *
A rip-roaring yarn, told with such conviction and elan... This is a jumbo jet of a story * New Scientist *

Astonishingly brilliant. My book of the year

* Liz Nugent, Sunday Times-bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond *
A stellar debut, full of heartbreak and hope wrapped up in gorgeous prose. Scott Alexander Howard is one to watch * Christina Dalcher, author of Vox *
Part Ishiguro, part Amis, and somehow all its own, The Other Valley marks the debut of a phenomenally talented writer. Pay attention * Sarah Langan, author of Good Neighbors *
The Other Valley is a complex and elegiac exploration of humanity and our relationship with time. Told through tender and thoughtful prose, Howard's novel leaves you wondering about the choices you've made in your life, and whether you'd do them differently if you had the chance. It is a tale of loss, of hope, and of possibility. It is a book that will stay with you, if not for its questions about fate and consequence, then for its quiet and moving depiction of love and grief. I loved it. * Nicholas Binge, author of Ascension *
Brilliantly conceived. The voice is accomplished and nuanced, and the story is a page-turner with a blistering climax. An astonishing debut * Jan Zwicky, author of Songs for Relinquishing the Earth *
What a stunning debut. This coming-of-age story is filled to the brim with heart and hope and Howard's prose is simply breathtaking. The Other Valley is a brilliant take on time travel and a thought-provoking exploration of the boundaries between fate and choice. Make room on your shelves, folks, this book is going to knock your socks off. * Sylvain Neuvel, award-winning author of Sleeping Giants *

Thoughtful, touching and beautiful, The Other Valley is an accomplished and exquisitely crafted novel. Scott Alexander Howard takes readers into a unique world they are sure to remember, and introduces them to Odile, a fascinating character with an unenviable dilemma

* Adam Hamdy, author of The Other Side of Night *
'A breathtaking meditation on grief and the fluidity of time, told in elegant, precise prose, and which speeds to an audacious ending * Kerry Andrew, author of We Are Together Because *
In The Other Valley, Scott Alexander Howard takes an ingenious conceit and wraps it in a story of teenage love to explore eternal questions about second chances and predestination. Howard's novel is sensitively written, propulsively plotted, and unforgettable * Kevin Chong, Scotiabank Giller-Prize finalist of The Double Life of Benson Yu *
The Other Valley is as riveting as it is philosophically beautiful. Scott Alexander Howard asks us to imagine how we might live if our older and younger selves weren't lost to us, but waited for us somewhere. While the premise is uniquely speculative, the sensation of being stranded between the ambitious optimism of youth and the clouded uncertainty of the future is gorgeously familiar. Powerful and atmospheric, Howard's novel is one I hope to reread at different stages of my life * Sara Flannery Murphy, author of Girl One and The Wonder State *
The Other Valley comprises three novels, all of them equally enthralling. It is a satisfyingly-detailed philosophical thought experiment; a moving, intensely-poignant love story, and a masterful, slow-burning suspense novel. It lingers in the mind in the best way, and sits comfortably beside Ishiguro, Ted Chiang and Murakami on an ideal bookshelf. * Jo Harkin, author of Tell Me an Ending *

ISBN: 9781838959623

Dimensions: 222mm x 138mm x 25mm

Weight: 416g

304 pages

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