Pet

Akwaeke Emezi

In a society that prides itself on having eradicated all monsters, a mysterious creature emerges from a painting, a hunter from another world seeking a real-life monster. Seventeen-year-old Jam finds herself entangled in this quest when the creature, Pet, appears, made of horns, colors, and claws. As Jam grapples with the existence of Pet and the possibility of hidden monsters, she must confront the uncomfortable truth about her seemingly perfect world. This thought-provoking novel challenges readers to question what defines a monster and how to fight injustice when its existence is denied.

Akwaeke Emezi

In the fictional city of Lucille, Bitter—an aspiring young queer artist—finds her life tilting toward the extraordinary when she’s invited to cultivate her gifts at a special school. As she settles into a world of strange mentors, hidden rules, and burgeoning power, Bitter must navigate the tension between who she is and what the city seems to demand of her. Blending YA fantasy with lyrical, emotionally charged storytelling, the novel explores identity, creativity, belonging, and the ways love and fear can shape a person’s future. A prequel to *Pet*, it offers a high-stakes glimpse into the origins of a larger, uncanny mythology—without losing sight of the intimate, character-driven heart at its center.