The Electric Kingdom

Praise

Praise for The Electric Kingdom

“This is a story about storytellers, and David Arnold is among the best. The Electric Kingdom is an epic postapocalyptic tale where humanity is louder than a swarm of Flies, and hope radiates in the bleakest of places. Fearless writing and a remarkable cast of characters will send readers on an unforgettable journey.” —ADAM SILVERA, New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End
 
“With luminous compassion and ceaseless invention, Arnold has built a postapocalyptic nesting doll of a tale, full of tricky resonances and moments of grace. All the pieces of this fascinating, ambitious book work together like the chambers of some great heart. I can’t wait for teen readers to discover it and suspect it was written just for them.”—MELISSA ALBERT, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood
 
“Utterly unique and genre-busting, The Electric Kingdom is David Arnold at his best. I was left in awe by the stunning prose, the challenging philosophical questions, and the masterful puzzle of a plot. The moment I finished, I immediately wanted to read it again.”—JASMINE WARGA, Newbery Honor–winning author of Other Words for Home

★ “An intricate piece of high-concept sci-fi . . . carried by crystalline prose, which echoes like poetry, towards a genuinely astonishing and moving conclusion. Accessible, sophisticated, and immensely satisfying.” —Booklist (starred review)
 
★ “An absorbing read with well-realized characters and beautiful writing, this novel will appeal to readers of science fantasy such as N.K. Jemisin’s ‘Broken Earth’ trilogy.” —SLJ (starred review)

★ “Particularly poignant… Arnold brings all the classic elements of a dystopia here… and twists them up with mind-bending dramatics of time travel, making room for harrowing action scenes and deep existential ponderings. Given current circumstances, this makes for a timely and chilling read.” — BCCB (starred review)
 
“Well executed and resonant… this is not a simple post-apocalyptic novel but instead a quiet, philosophical exploration of humanity with a touch of science fiction around the edges. Defying strict genre categories, Arnold leaves readers wondering and unbalanced until the final page.” —Kirkus Reviews

“With a haunting, deliberately paced tale of postapocalyptic survival, Arnold creates a devastated world held together by myth and memory.” —Publishers Weekly

“Arnold wisely balances the novel’s complex narrative with contemplative, lyrical prose. The writing here is so accessible and inviting that it’s easy to get wrapped in the world he gives us — even when there’s time travel, secret portals and mysterious identities.” —The Nashville Scene
 
“A mind-blowing blend of post-apocalyptic fantasy, science fiction and time travel… The kind of novel worth re-reading.” —BookPage
 
“With characters and prose that you can’t get enough of, this story is a captivating yet poignant reminder that hope and beauty can be found even in the midst of ruin… Defying genre, The Electric Kingdom is at once elegantly eerie and tragically comforting.” —The Southern Bookseller Review

– An Indie Bestseller
– A Forbes Notable Book of 2021
– An Indie Next Pick Spring 2021
– An Amazon Best Book of the Month