Winner of the Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year

'a beguiling mixture of poetry, moving prose and magical realism' - Stephen McGinty, The Sunday Times

Jeda is a girl on the cusp of adulthood, living in Edinburgh; with a white father and a black mother, she feels self-conscious and out of place. Her feelings of alienation allow the stories of the shapeshifting Shadowman, who embodies all that is negative, to feed on her doubts and insecurities. The death of her mother, Rahami, gives the Shadowman an opportunity to control Jeda through her grief and his lies, but her mother's last gift to her daughter was a box of stories. When the box is flung open, the stories escape, setting in motion an incredible journey.

Jeda learns more about her African ancestry through tales of slavery, cruelty and colonisation, but she also discovers pride and love and sacrifice, ultimately embracing her dual heritage and her unique place in the world. Filled with tragedy, wonder and magic, Blood and Gold explores the themes of loss and oppression, while asking us to examine our own identities, attitudes, and humanity.

About the Author

Mara Menzies is a narrative artist who draws on her rich, dual Kenyan/Scottish cultural heritage to create worlds that explore contemporary issues through legend, myth and fantasy. She lives in Edinburgh.

Eri Griffin is a freelance illustrator based in Edinburgh who works with publishers and design agencies across the UK and Europe.

Reviews

'A beautifully weighted set of nested stories for contemporary times'

-- Thom Dibdin * The Stage *

'An exquisite piece of storytelling'

* The Guardian *

'[This] melding of myth, magic and history will spark new conversation about race ... An incredible, epic journey through the pain and persecution of her [Jeda's] ancestors, before finding sacrifice, pride, love, empowerment and ultimately belonging'

* Sunday Post *

'a beguiling mixture of poetry, moving prose and magical realism'

-- Stephen McGinty * The Sunday Times *

'spellbinding... Menzies takes us on a fantastical journey through the eyes of a teenage girl growing up black in a white world'

-- Janet Christie * The Scotsman *

'Menzies' great achievement here is to tap into the subtle power of allegory to make us consider familiar subjects with fresh eyes. [She] simply invites us to consider the universal concepts of justice and injustice, greed and selflessness'

-- Roger Cox * Scotland on Sunday *

'Blood and Gold explores hard-hitting issues such as the legacy of colonialism, slavery and the challenges of growing up in two cultures, through an unconventional mix of fantasy, legends and stories inspired by personal experiences'

-- Nadia Vidinova * Dundee Courier *

'My goodness... the power of illustration from Eri Griffin, the cover... just as a product... just the quality of it... your publishers have really, really outdone themselves'

-- Tendai Huchu

'A box of stories, a world of escape that takes Jeda on a fantastical journey where she learns about her African ancestry, the complex cruelty of colonisation and ultimately acceptance of her own unique identity ... it reminds people of the importance of the oral tradition, of passing stories on...there's a wonderful connection there'

-- Cathy Macdonald * BBC Radio Scotland *

'Menzies' lyrical prose is rich in allegory, as she draws upon her own dual heritage... Blood and Gold is a testament to the power of words'

-- Nicole Gemine * Press and Journal *

'The clever, magical realist blend of narrative devices allows legend and myth to hold inescapable truths in their kernel. It is a story that needs to be told in its entirety, retrieving the past to bolster the present and build an enduring future...this is a tour de force that is captivating and magical'

-- Bashabi Fraser * Writers Mosaic *


Awards
Winner of Saltire Society Scottish Fiction Book of the Year 2022.



Book Information
ISBN 9781780277462
Author Mara Menzies
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Birlinn Ltd
Publisher Birlinn General
Weight(grams) 405g
Dimensions(mm) 205mm * 160mm * 10mm