Blood and Gold
A Journey of Shadows
Written by Mara Menzies / Illustrated by Eri Griffin
£12.99
- Paperback
- E-Book
3728 in stock
Reviews
A beautifully weighted set of nested stories for contemporary times
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
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
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
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
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
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
Press and Journal
About the Book
'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.
The Authors
Mara Menzies
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
Eri Griffin is a freelance illustrator based in Edinburgh who works with publishers and design agencies across the UK and Europe.You may also like…
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