The Vanished Birds: A Novel

Author: Simon Jimenez
Save to Your Books:
Bookshop | Amazon

A “highly imaginative and utterly exhilarating” (Thrillist) debut that is “the best of what science fiction can be: a thought-provoking, heartrending story about the choices that define our lives” (Kirkus Reviews, Best Debut Fiction and Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year).

FINALIST FOR THE LOCUS AWARD • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY TORDOTCOM AND KIRKUS REVIEWS.

A mysterious child lands in the care of a solitary woman, changing both of their lives forever.

I expected many things from this trip. I did not expect a family. A ship captain, unfettered from time. A mute child, burdened with unimaginable power. A millennia-old woman, haunted by lifetimes of mistakes. In this captivating debut of connection across space and time, these outsiders will find in each other the things they lack: a place of love and belonging. A safe haven. A new beginning.

But the past hungers for them, and when it catches up, it threatens to tear this makeshift family apart.

Praise for The Vanished Birds:

“This is the most impressive debut of 2020.”—Locus.
“This extraordinary science fiction epic, which delves deep into the perils of failing to learn from one’s mistakes, is perfect for fans of big ideas and intimate reflections.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review).
“A lyrical and moving narrative of space travel, found families, and lost loves set against an evocative space-opera background.”—Booklist (starred review).
“The Vanished Birds finds an intimate heartbeat of longing in a saga of galactic progress and its crushing fallout. . . . A novel of vast scope that yet makes time for compassion, wonder, and poetry.”—Indra Das, author of The Devourers

June Reading Wrap-Up: Ratings & Reviews

Some thoughts on the eight books I read this month!

Posts about this title from The Inkborne Society

1. Martyr! (Kaveh Akbar)
   ⭐ 5.00
   Martyr! was the star of this month and an absolute masterpiece. Following an orphaned son of Iranian immigrants who is obsessed with the idea of martyrdom, Martyr! delves into themes of grief, addiction, mortality, morality, family, and more, all brought to life through writing that is deeply evocative and piercing.

2. A Forbidden Alchemy (Stacey McEwan)
   ⭐ 4.25
   I ate this romantasy up!! Set in a world in which children are whisked away to the capital city to get tested for magical potential at the age of 12, a fated pair uncover a world-changing secret and are thrust into a violent class war, navigating love, loss, and devastating betrayals.

3. Assassin’s Quest (Robin Hobb)
   ⭐ 4.00
   Robin Hobb’s character work really brought this story to life, and by the time I finished this book, I felt like I had lived several years with these characters.

4. The Phoenix Pencil Company (Allison King)
   ⭐ 4.00
   A solid debut exploring generational storytelling, but somewhat let down by romantic elements.

5. The Vanished Birds (Simon Jimenez)
   ⭐ 3.75
   A captivating yet disjointed reading experience. The prose shines, but some chapters felt disconnected.

6. Crier’s War (Nina Varela)
   ⭐ 3.75
   A sapphic YA sci-fantasy that, while engaging, lacked originality.

7. Black Salt Queen (Samantha Basil)
   ⭐ 3.50
   Struggled with character depth but appreciated cultural inspirations.

8. Immortal Consequences (I.V. Marie)
   ⭐ 3.50
   Intriguing premise hampered by underdeveloped characters.

Note

June has been a very busy month for me. Thank you for sticking around, and let me know if there's anything you want to see!

Cover Art for Books Read: