"A refined, startling debut that brims with authorial skill. Captivating, enchanting, and slightly macabre."
–Foreword Reviews
Olivia Foster hasn't felt alive since her little brother drowned in the backyard pool three years ago. She barely speaks to her father, and her mother has become the neighborhood shut-in, dulled by pills that Olivia steals and takes when she feels overwhelmed.
Then Kara Hallas moves in across the street with her mother and grandmother, and Olivia is immediately captivated by these three generations of enigmatic women. Drawn to Kara's intoxicating presence, Olivia is taken in even by her morbid habit of writing to men on death row. Together, they sign their letters as the Resurrection Girls.
Kara awakens something deep in Olivia that gives her the strength to confront her family's dark unraveling. But as Kara helps her take steps to reconnect with her parents, Olivia realizes that her new friend is touched by a different kind of darkness. The Hallas women embody something strange, magical, and deadly—and Olivia has enough experience with death to know it's pulling her in.
Trigger Warnings: Child loss (drowning), depression + grief, drug use + addiction and overdose, language, light sexual content, the discussion of violent crimes and missing children.
PRAISE
"The lovely, assured prose draws on ancient archetypes and a lingering sense of dread to pave the way for a strange but satisfying conclusion ... Morgyn’s supernaturally tinged debut is a heartbreaking but hopeful exploration of death and grief."
–Kirkus Reviews (click to read full review)
“Ava Morgyn's passion and tenderness shine like a candle, guiding readers through the darkness of Olivia's story. Her compelling characters are made all the more real by the eerie undertow of myth. A beautiful, deeply emotional debut!”
–Sarah Porter, author of VASSA IN THE NIGHT and NEVER-CONTENTED THINGS
"RESURRECTION GIRLS is a heartbreak of a book, where love and loss writes letters to the strange things that lurk in the darkness. It's a stunning story that blends the inexplicable and the beautiful with the bittersweet."
–Rin Chupeco, author of THE BONE WITCH trilogy and THE NEVER TILTING WORLD
"A raw, poignant, unflinching examination of grief and healing wrapped up in a compelling story. Resurrection Girls is a brilliant debut."
–CJ Redwine, New York Times Bestselling author of the RAVENSPIRE series
"Debut author Morgyn began writing Resurrection Girls before her own daughter died, but spent the year
following incorporating an understanding of the deep sorrow wrought by a child’s death. It is a raw, captivating exploration of grief, friendship, and the reclamation of life."
–Booklist
"Mystical and paranormal while at the same time all too real in its portrayal of grief, Ava Morgyn's searing Resurrection Girls is a refined, startling debut that brims with authorial skill. Captivating, enchanting, and slightly macabre ..."
–Foreword Reviews, starred review (click to read full review)
"Magical realism and heartbreak collide in this tale of grief and rebirth ... A thoughtful novel about overcoming grief perfect for readers who enjoy emotional stories."
–School Library Journal (click to read full review)
"This book skillfully illustrates that everyone deals with grief in their own way and in their own time. Readers who enjoy realistic fiction and a bit of the paranormal will likely enjoy this book."
–School Library Connection, recommended
PRESS
August 1st, 2019: Excerpt featured in the Aug/Sept issue of Shelf Unbound: Fierce Female as a "recommended read".
July 12th, 2019: Author interview on JeanBookNerd.
August 26th, 2019: Author interview on Sophie's Corner.
August 31st, 2019: Author interview on Sheaf & Ink.