The Capital of Dreams

O’Neill (When We Lost Our Heads) conjures a haunting fantasy set in the war-torn country of Elysia. Sofia, the 14-year-old daughter of renowned writer Clara Bottom, is tasked with smuggling her mother’s latest manuscript out of the capital as enemy forces invade. But when the evacuation train mysteriously halts in a forest, Sofia loses the manuscript and must navigate a war-ravaged landscape in search of it. As she struggles to blend in as a peasant to avoid unwanted attention, she befriends a talking goose and encounters survivors of a brutal occupation. All the while, Sofia grapples with whether to prioritize her own survival or the artistic legacy her mother has entrusted to her. O’Neill masterfully blends moments of whimsy with the grim realities of war, exploring themes of art, loyalty, and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. The lush prose and fantastical elements draw readers into a magical and heartbreaking world. Like the best fairy tales, the result feels both timeless and painfully relevant. Agent: Claudia Ballard, WME. (Jan.)