Saturnaila by Stephanie Feldman

Saturnalia

Author: Stephanie Feldman

Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism

Format: Physical Purchase

Publish Date: October 2022

Read: April 2024

Favorite Quote: But what do you need dignity for, when the world is ending anyway?

Story Synopsis: Nina left the Saturn Club three years after a falling out with her on-again-off-again situationship. When her old friend, Max, hires her to knick something from the club during the debaucherous Saturnalia festival, cash-strapped Nina agrees. When Nina arrives at the club, old hurts resurface at the carnival. After Nina takes a peak at the thing she’s hired to steal, she uncovers multiple plots and secrets for divination, magic, and alchemy.

Why does this book beguile? I found this book at Porter Square Books in Boston on a whim and it looked weird and different. I was right! Saturnalia takes place over the course of one evening in a dystopian future where we’ve thoroughly destroyed the planet and greed and selfishness rule. I loved that there wasn’t a ton of focus on the specific characters, but around the magic, the secret societies, and the human race overall. A super fun novel and I would gladly recommend it!

Rating: 4/5

Link*: Saturnalia by Stephanie Feldman

If you’re interested in this, read*: The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings