Daughters of Chaos

AN EPIC NOVEL ABOUT CIVIL WAR–ERA NASHVILLE’S “PUBLIC WOMEN,” AN AGE-OLD SECRET SOCIETY, AND THE EARTH-SHAKING POWER OF THE FEMALE
   
   ​In 1862, after a tragedy at home, 22-year-old Sylvie Swift parts ways with her brother to trace the origins of an enigmatic playscript that’s landed on their door-step. It leads her to Nashville, bustling with soldiers, saboteurs, powerful men––and powerful women.
   
   Sylvie translates the playscript by day, but at night, she acts as a Union spy. Both endeavors acquaint her with a sisterhood whose members—including Hannah, a fiery revolutionary to whom Sylvie is increasingly drawn—possess potentially monstrous powers. Sylvie soon becomes entangled in the Cult of Chaos, a feminist society steadfast in its ancient mission to eradicate the violence of men.
   
   Inspired by Aristophanes’ Lysistrata and the true story of Nashville’s attempt to exile its prostitutes during the Civil War, Daughters of Chaos weaves together “found” texts, fabulism, and queer themes to question familiar notions of history and family, warfare and power. 
   
   "Dazzling historical fantasy . . . Both the historical and fantastical elements come alive in Sylvie’s suspenseful narration, which is interwoven with the text of the imaginary play. Fawkes wows with this wildly original tale.”​ --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
   
   ​"A dazzling synthesis of history, myth, and sheer invention. Fawkes is a bold, wild, funny writer, unafraid of taking risks. I’m eager to see what she does next." —Charles Yu, National Book Award–winning author of Interior Chinatown

https://www.jenfawkes.com/