<p><b>WINNER OF THE 2023 COMPTON CROOK AWARD</b><br><b>SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL<br><br></b><b>''Wild, witty, and profound. . . a cosmic storm of talent''</b> Victor LaValle<br><br><b>Put on your dancing shoes and step into New Orleans as you''ve never seen it before in this vibrant and imaginative debut.</b><br><br>Nola is a city of wonders. An alternate New Orleans made of music and magic, where spirits dance the night away and Wise Women help keep the order. To those from Away, Nola might seem strange. To failed magician Perilous Graves, it''s simply home. <br><br>Then the rhythm of the city stutters. <br><br>Nine songs of power have escaped from the magical piano that maintains the city''s beat, and without them, Nola will fail. Unwilling to watch his home be destroyed, Perry will sacrifice everything to save it. But a storm is brewing and even if they capture the songs, Nola''s time might be coming to an end. <br><br>Praise for <i>The Ballad of Pe