"Reminiscent of the works of Margaret Atwood, Shirley Jackson, and Octavia Butler, a biting social commentary from the acclaimed author of Lakewood that speaks to our times--a piercing dystopian novel about the unbreakable bond between a young woman and her mysterious mother, set in a world in which witches are real and single women are closely monitored" --

Josephine Thomas has heard every conceivable theory about her mother's disappearance fourteen years ago: she was kidnapped; murdered; took on a new identity to start a new family; she was a witch. This is the most worrying charge because in a world where witches are real, peculiar behavior raises suspicions and a woman-- especially a Black woman-- can find herself on trial for witchcraft. Jo is finally ready to let go of the past, but her future is in doubt. The State mandates that all women marry by the age of 30-- or enroll in a registry that allows them to be monitored, effectively forfeiting their autonomy. At 28, with her ability to control her life on the line, Jo feels as if she has her never understood her mother more. Offered the opportunity to honor one last request from her mother's will, Jo leaves her regular life to feel connected to her one last time. -- adapted from jacket