Daughters of Chaos

De: Jen Fawkes

Narrado por: Stina Nielsen

AN EPIC NOVEL ABOUT CIVIL WAR–ERA NASHVILLE’S “PUBLIC WOMEN,” AN AGE-OLD SECRET SOCETY, AND THE EARTH-SHAKING POWER OF THE FEMALE

In 1862, after a tragedy at home, twenty-two-year-old Sylvie Swift parts ways with her twin brother to trace the origins of an enigmatic playscript that’s landed on their doorstep. This text leads her to Nashville, an occupied city bustling with soldiers, saboteurs, partisans, powerful men—and powerful women. Sylvie translates the playscript by day, but at night, drawn into the work by the chief of the Union Army’s Secret Service, she acts as a spy.

Both endeavors acquaint her with a sisterhood whose members—including Hannah, a fiery revolutionary to whom Sylvie is increasingly drawn—possess potentially monstrous powers. Sylvie soon becomes entangled in the Cult of Chaos, a feminist society steadfast in its ancient mission to eradicate the violence of men.

Inspired by Aristophanes’ Lysistrata and the true story of Nashville’s attempt to exile its prostitutes during the American Civil War, Daughters of Chaos weaves together “found” texts, fabulism, and queer themes to question familiar notions of history and family, warfare and power.

“A dazzling synthesis of history, myth, and sheer invention. Fawkes is a bold, wild, funny writer, unafraid of taking risks. I’m eager to see what she does next.”—Charles Yu, National Book Award–winning author of Interior Chinatown

©2024 Jen Fawkes (P)2024 Recorded Books

simply brilliant

Daughters of Chaos is such an innovative and original novel. I love the echoes that reverberate throughout the book, from playscript to newspaper article to letter to journal entry. I've not read many books that so effectively and innovatively employ the epistolary form. Jen Fawkes is a bold, funny, brilliant writer, and I can't wait to read more from her. I also very much enjoyed Stina Nielsen's narration. She did a wonderful job of inhabiting Sylvie Swift, who is, in ways, both character and author.

With Daughters of Chaos, Jen Fawkes

Here is a chorus of voices, each distinct, each speaks within a texture of the American Civil War. Women work their subtle magic at a crossroads of war and their deepest understanding of themselves. It is a place they have known throughout history. Each generation to share this experience adds to the creative legacy left them by their mothers. The work requires patience. The reward is incalculable.

Jen Fawkes has given us a rare and compelling book. You will want to share it.

Stina Nielsen is a perfect choice as reader. She has both range and understanding demanded by the text. Nielsen's flexible voice draws attention to the distinct characters but not the reader herself. I will watch for her name.