Mad Sisters of Esi
core novel 2025 Mad Sisters of Esi
Record
| First published | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 4.04 (903 ratings, collected 2026-08-20) |
| Page count | 432 |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780756420062 |
Synopsis
Mad Sisters of Esi centers on sisters Myung and Laleh, the sole keepers and lifelong inhabitants of the impossible whale of babel, where they pass their days sharing folktales and tending devotion to a mysterious presence called Great Wisa. While Laleh finds contentment within the whale's cosmic chambers, Myung grows restless and eventually flees, an act that flings her into an entirely new universe of shapeshifting islands, ancient shifting maps, and argumentative ghosts. Her departure sets both sisters on separate, disruptive journeys: Myung searches for a way back to Laleh while stumbling toward the truth behind a centuries-old mystery tied to the mad sisters of Esi, and Laleh must face the whale, and herself, alone.
Where it sits
- Universe: Mad Sisters of Esi
- Series: not part of a registered series (standalone work within its universe)
- Author: Tashan Mehta
Awards (verified)
- Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction (Fiction), 2026: finalist; Shortlisted; the prize's own 2026 cycle recognizes a book published the prior year.
Notes
- Standalone novel; no sequel announced.
Sources
- Publisher listing: Mad Sisters of Esi
- Author's own page: Mad Sisters of Esi
- Award shortlist announcement: 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction
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