When They Burned The Butterfly

When They Burned the Butterfly will take the breath out of your chest and replace it with fire. Wen-yi Lee has written a dark riot of a novel replete with jealous gods, human cruelty and incandescent desire. * Nghi Vo, bestselling author of THE EMPRESS OF SALT AND FORTUNE *In When They Burned the Butterfly, fierce girls wrestle with mysterious gods in the early days of a new nation. This stylish, gritty sapphic fantasy weaves a slow-burn romance that smolders with tension, building to an explosive conclusion that will leave readers breathless. * Zen Cho, award-winning author of SORCERER TO THE CROWN *Led by a complex yet compelling heroine, and set amidst the glitz and grit of 1970s Singapore, Lee’s sweeping tale is unabashedly vibrant and original * Sunyi Dean, bestselling author of THE BOOK EATERS *Lee weaves a dazzling tale of post-colonial identities, dangerous magic, and women ferociously carving their place in a world that rejects them. Burning with equal amounts of fury and tender, contemplative moments, this is a definitive must-read for years to come. * Amy Leow, author of THE SCARLET THRONE *A truly cinematic novel. * Library Journal *

Wen-yi Lee is the author of YA horror The Dark We Know and forthcoming adult historical fantasy When They Burned the Butterfly. Her writing has appeared in venues like Lightspeed, Uncanny, Reactor, and Strange Horizons, as well as various anthologies.

She is based in Singapore and is a graduate of University College London. She likes writing about girls with bite, feral nature, and ghosts.