Leah Raeder’s Black Iris is on sale today! I’m a fan of Raeder’s first book Unteachable – she writes edgy, bold books and forges her own path in New Adult Fiction. I was excited to get an early glimpse at Black Iris – a fierce, poetic and electric head-trip of a book to be sure. Read on to find out more about it and run to your local bookstore to pick it up today!
black iris BY leah raeder
Atria Books | Available in Paperback, Ebook or Audiobook
On Sale April 28 (today!)
ABOUT BLACK IRIS:
It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn’t worth sticking around for.
If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.
She’s not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.
But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it’s time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.
Which was the plan all along.
Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.
She’s going to show them all.
Find Black Iris: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBound | Audible
Black Iris is a bold, dark suspense novel that grabs you right away. You find yourself in the middle of an unsettling situation from page one and wonder what you’ve gotten yourself into. The timeline winds around so you don’t know exactly where you’re going but know you’re in for an exhilarating ride.
Delaney (Laney) Keating is hoping for a fresh start in college, though she thinks “It gets better is the biggest lie they’ve sold to our generation.”) Laney’s high school experience left scars – she was bullied for liking girls. And she’s reeling from a family tragedy. She meets Armin and Blythe and feels a sense of belonging, and an attraction, to both. The trio bands together to punish Laney’s tormenters in this twisted tale.
Leah Raeder has a beautiful way with words and there are many highlight-worthy passages. The vivid words set the mood and make you sit up and take notice. I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but this book felt kind of wild and David Lynch-ian to me.
Black Iris is dark and unrelenting with some intense themes – it’s an uncomfortable read at times though I couldn’t look away from it. Look for themes of mental illness, bullying, sexuality, and drug use. The first chapter will give you a good indicator if you can handle this one or not.
I can’t wait to read what’s next from Leah Raeder! Also, Unteachable fans, be on the lookout for a familiar character to pop up in Black Iris!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. Visit her at LeahRaeder.com or follow her on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.
Check out the author’s Black Iris playlist:
