When I began reading Ellis Avery’s first novel, The Teahouse Fire, I had no idea where it would take me. Avery’s delicate writing style engaged me immediately, but I found the plot’s many twists and turns in the first few chapters confusing. As I read on, though, I became engrossed in the many levels of Avery’s character development and fell in love with her fictional protagonist, Aurelia Bernard. The novel intertwines aspects of Japanese history with Aurelia’s journey and by blending both, Avery creates a beautiful story that celebrates tradition, culture, family and the malleable nature of the world around us. As I neared the end of the book, I could hardly put it down. – Caroline Morrison
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