The Byways

2024 IBPA Silver Winner in Fiction: Science Fiction & Fantasy 2023 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards Finalist in Young Adult (Fantasy - Urban) 2023 International Book Awards Winner in Fiction (Fantasy) “… a smart, delightful novel that features a pinch of danger, a spoonful of political unrest, and a dash of romance … A fun, charming, and modern twist on an old classic.” —Kirkus Reviews “The never-ending, mind-boggling series of alleys with their sinister magic haunted me long after I finished the book… . This book would be perfect for the fans of Neil Gaiman and Naomi Novik.” —Readers’ Favorite, 5-star review “In Mary Pascual’s exciting fantasy novel … vibrant imagery abounds.” —Foreword Reviews “For anyone who has ever felt miscast or bypassed, set down or let down, this story about a girl who feels just a little too much is exciting and weird and beautiful and wise.” —Sean Stewart, New York Times best-selling author of Galveston and Mockingbird “Tautly paced, The Byways has aspects of both The Lightning Thief and Alice in Wonderland with a protagonist who must learn the language and laws of another realm in order to find herself and her way home. This lush, well-written YA fantasy tale follows CeeCee as she overcomes her feelings of being an outsider by courageously embracing herself through a series of trials rife with humor and action—all within this gorgeous paranormal universe.” —Susan Wands, author of Magician and Fool “A fun and imaginative twist on a classic tale. Pascual’s world is dark and gritty, and her characters are full of spunk and charm. You’ll love getting lost in The Byways!” —Lenore Borja, author of The Last Huntress “From the first page, Mary Pascual captivates and enchants with this modern, edgy take on Alice in Wonderland. Her rich and complex characters shine brightly in the dark world she paints in The Byways. The tension and the twists will keep you reading until the very end. A true delight! Wildly original!” —Stacey L. Tucker, author of The Equal Night Trilogy “The agility and caliber of imagination Mary Pascual exhibits in this book are impressive. Move over, Lewis Carroll!” —Maki Morris, author of Blood and Brume “CeeCee is a worthy and powerful heroine—filled with grit and determination. As she combats weird, dangerous, and frightening challenges in the byways, readers will root for her from beginning to end.” —Fatima R. Henson, author of Love in the Age of Dragons “The Byways is a fast-paced fantasy ideal for readers craving a perfectly mysterious adventure through a magical and unknown realm. For both the young and young at heart, this urban retelling of Alice in Wonderland guarantees gasps, laughter, chills, and excitement—and will leave you dreaming of a new self to discover.” —Yodassa Williams, author of The Goddess Twins

Mary Pascual is a writer and artist who believes finding magic is only a matter of perspective. She loves stories about characters with heart and fantastical settings that are more than meets the eye. She grew up in California and enjoys reading, art, traveling, exploring outside, and building elaborate stage sets for Halloween. Writing has taken her on a number of unexpected adventures, including working in high tech, meeting psychics, interviewing rock bands, and even once attending a press conference for Bigfoot. She got hooked on reading adult science fiction and fantasy in the fifth grade; in retrospect, much of her reading material was completely inappropriate (which probably explains a few things). She lives with her husband, son, and assorted demanding cats in San Jose, California.

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