The Moonlight Market

Bestseller Harris (Chocolat) delivers a sweetly upbeat urban fantasy in which—unbeknownst to humans or the supernatural Sightless Folk with whom they coexist—the Butterfly and Moth Kingdoms wage an ancient war. Tom Argent lives a quiet, solitary life in London, with a passion for photography and little else. This changes with two chance meetings, first with an unhoused man who calls himself Spider, then with a woman named Vanessa, whose beauty shines so brightly Tom can’t help falling deeply, foolishly, in love with her. Tom’s pursuit of Vanessa unexpectedly draws him into the conflict between the butterflies—vibrantly beautiful creatures of daytime—and the moths, somber and unassuming denizens of night. Tom is a cipher for much of the story, tossed between the two sides while his own goals are frustratingly limited to capturing stolen moments on film and declaring his love to Vanessa. The combination of epic story and fairy tale prose captivates, however, and Harris builds an enchanting world around Tom and his companions. Urban fantasy readers seeking a lighthearted treat will find plenty to enjoy. Agent: John Wood, RCW. (July)