Today we are thrilled to reveal the cover for Vial of Tears by Cristin Bishara. The cover art was designed by Syd Mills and the book was designed by Chelsea Hunter. The book will be released on October 5, 2021, by Holiday House.
Two sisters become trapped in the underworld—and in the machinations of gods, shapeshifters, and ghouls—in this lush and dangerous fantasy based on the glittering mythology of ancient Lebanon!
Sisters Samira and Rima aren’t exactly living the life. Dad’s dead, money’s tight, and Mom disappears to gamble for days at a time. So when Jiddo, Sam’s grandfather, wills her the family valuables—a little cache of antiquities—she’s desperate to sell them before Mom can.
But she shouldn’t have tried. Because one is cursed, forbidden, the burial coin of a forgotten god. Disturbing it condemns her and Rima to the Phoenician underworld, a plane of dangerous cities, burning forests, poisoned feasts, and endless, windless ocean.
Nothing is what it seems. No one is who they say. And down here, the night never ends. To get home—and to keep her sister safe—Sam will have to outwit beautiful shapeshifters, pose as a royal bride, sail the darkest sea . . .and maybe kill the god of death himself.
A sweeping fantasy from Lebanese-American author Cristin Bishara, Vial of Tears bursts with legendary creatures, forgotten monsters, and ancient deities. Dark, rich, and intensely imaginative, this is a must-have fantasy of terror and beauty.
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Cristin Bishara is a writer of young adult fiction. Before becoming a full-time author, she completed an MFA in creative writing, worked as a copy editor, and taught writing at the university level. Vial of Tears is her first book with Holiday House. Cristin lives in Florida with her husband, two daughters, and dog. Find her at cristinbishara.com and at @cristinbishara on Instagram.
