Blue Hawk

Third Prize (Novel), 2019 Yeovil Literary Prize

Hardback / 304 pages

PREORDERS OPEN: OUT 17 JULY 2024

by Chloe Turner

"A lovely, immersive, elegiac novel for a lost way of life. I revelled in the author’s gorgeous descriptions of the natural world and her knowledge of the arts of dyeing cloth using native plants, and felt as if I learned a lot from her extensive research" - Jane Johnson, author of The Black Crescent and Court of Lions

The Binding meets Weyward in this evocative 17th-century page-turner

Joan’s future looks bleak, but her new skill gives it colour…

When Joan discovers her father has drunk away the family’s money, she starts to master the beautiful but tough art of cloth-dying, desperate to save her family from poverty.

As her success builds, her isolation grows too - her profession stirs whispers of witchcraft, and her rivalry with her sister, Alice, deepens. But she is determined to rebuild her family’s reputation and as the colours soak into her cloth, hope starts to seep into her life too.

"Subtle yet powerful piece of historical fiction ... Turner's meticulous attention to historical detail but also for the clarity and simplicity with which she brings the seventeenth century to life." Goodreads, 5*

"Absolutely outstanding ... Exceptional research and great authenticity transports the reader to another era” Goodreads, 5*

"Excellent ... The disturbing scenarios so swiftly conjured, each short story an intriguing gem... An excellent read!" Goodreads, 5*

"An unexpected treasure trove of writing. Faultless. Gently whispered, human stories with a magical, folkloric edge." Goodreads, 5*

"Simply beautiful ... Left me feeling intrigued and mesmerised." Goodreads, 5*