Athena Villaverde Knihy

Urban fairy tales for the weird girl in all of us, this collection introduces Athena Villaverde, a fresh voice in offbeat young adult fiction. Blending influences from Francesca Lia Block, Charles de Lint, Kathe Koja, Tim Burton, and Hayao Miyazaki, her stories are cute, edgy, magical, and provocative, rich in poetic imagery and fierce sexuality. The first novella, CATERPILLAR GIRL, follows Cat Filigree, a caterpillar girl enduring the awkward stages of metamorphosis. Bullied by popular peers, she finds solace in music and comics until she meets Lilith, a punk rock spider girl. Cat's infatuation is complicated by Lilith's predatory nature, as butterflies are her favorite meal. In CLOCKWORK GIRL, Pichi is transformed from a normal girl into a mechanical doll, crafted by a toymaker and gifted to a wealthy child. With brass skin and gears for organs, she yearns for her owner’s affection, unaware that children eventually outgrow their toys. Lastly, BEEHIVE GIRL features Maya, a mesmerizing dancer with skin resembling a living beehive. While she captivates the tango community, her beauty comes with a sting; only the most talented dancers can approach her without risking their lives. Each story weaves a unique blend of fantasy and reality, exploring themes of transformation and desire.