Brilliant Blue

"Brilliant Blue is surely about to become a book of the year. It deserves every prize going. Bold, beautiful and ebullient, it fizzes with life as we journey through the unseen and overlooked landscapes of Britain today. From a sinkhole estate to the aspirational suburbs of southern England, we watch Stevens' characters grapple with loaded odds, human fallibility and the failures of love. Yet Brilliant Blue is no grim examination of working-class life. It dazzles with the sheer power and intelligence of Stevens' vision. Her stories kick back with honesty and an off-the-scale daring even as they reveal the tender intimacies and affirmations that sing through the everyday. I don't think I've ever read a writer whose eye is more acute."
– Alison MacLeod, author of Unexploded and All the Beloved Ghosts

"The short stories in Brilliant Blue are perfectly constructed mosaics of recognisable, daily life. Sensitively written, they show us how often moments of intimacy happen alongside undercurrents of violence and misunderstanding. Fans of Sarah Hall and Jon McGregor will appreciate the craftsmanship in these wonderfully written stories that reflect and comment on our current time."
– Susanne Joinson, author of A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar

"Karen Stevens' moving and powerful stories go straight to the heart of the human condition. Many of her characters are fighting: for money, for friendship and love, for family. There are so many moments of humour and grace and beauty. This is such an important book, and I loved it."
– Ed Hogan, prizewinning author of Blackmoor and The Electric