Storm Season

Henson’s second novel (after Into the Blue) is a deep dive into character and setting that rapidly turns into an unintentional exposé of psychological abuse. The youth culture of Sydney, experimental and diverse, is evoked first, contrasting with the terror and beauty of the Australian bush. Lien Hong, fashionista journalist, is lured into a camping trip by the promise of a music festival. Claudie Sokolov is the park ranger who rescues Lien when the greenhorn gets lost in an epic storm. Their desert-island interlude in a remote cabin is mostly magical, with the two women balanced in their attraction, reticence, and willingness to risk. Then Lien returns to Sydney and aggressively digs into Claudie’s past—stalks her, really—and doesn’t hesitate to publish the results. Every time Claudie tries to control her own life, Lien intrudes, implying or outright declaring that she knows what Claudie really needs. When Claudie protests Lien’s blatant encroachments, Lien says aggrievedly, “I just want to help.” Eventually Claudie folds and decides that “hectic” and “interfering” Lien is the only one for her. Readers who have seen similar dynamics up close will flinch away from any notion that such mistreatment could lead to a mutually happy ending. (Feb.)