Binding the Cuckoo

1899: A fay grifter seeks fortune and security. Love was never the plan. In the late Victorian era, a technological marvel allows scientists to open rifts into the realms of legend. Powerful creatures, weakened and stripped of their memories, are brought to serve the whims of the wealthy elite... Hare, a young woman with a mythical secret finds herself trapped, facing an unenviable future. When an equally desperate schoolmistress, Miss Anne Bonningham offers her a chance at freedom, they embark on a daring plan. Disguised as "Miss Edwina Walker," Hare navigates the treacherous waters of London high society, solely focused on securing a marriage and escaping her past. However, amidst the glittering balls and intricate social games, as hidden agendas surface and a vengeful figure from her past threatens to expose her true identity, Hare must make a choice: embrace a life of comfort and security or choose freedom and a love that could shatter the very foundation of her world. "Houston' words flow as easily as ink. By turn romantic, soft, funny, and light - her characters spark and her stories linger long in the mind. This is history with added light." -Caroline Hardaker, the author of Composite Creatures & Mothtown PRAISE FOR GABRIELA HOUSTON: "The complexities of family relationships, friendships and grief[...] are difficult, and without shying away from them, Houston considers and presents them with care." The National "Gabriela Houston's writing is both economical and evocative - a rare skill." SFX "Houston is able to mark the significance of daily events, highlight her characters, and comment on humanity's capacity for othering." Publishers Weekly "The development of the characters is some of the most enjoyable I have read in the recent years." SF Book Reviews "Houston quite brilliantly captures the beauty of unrefined nature through the vivid images she created so that you can just imagine watching everything unfold before your very eyes." The Nerd Daily