THE ART OF EXILE

Just out of sight, a banished society dedicated to artistic exploration and scientific advancement flourishes.

At age 17, Ada Castle lands her first assignment: leave her New York City home for a remote island in the Atlantic; infiltrate the Genesis Institute, the school that forms the heart of this secret society; and bring its bountiful innovations back to share with the rest of the world. Ada descends from one of the Families, a secret order of masters that, since the Renaissance, has passed down the history of the school and its exiled founders, the Makers. Ada’s mission is compromised when she finds a true home at Genesis, one replete with friends, a tantalizing romantic prospect (or two), and nourishment for her unique gifts. Max derives some of the hidden mysteries of the Makers from Jewish mysticism and folk tradition, and she evokes the bloody history of the Spanish Inquisition as a parallel for the expulsion of the original Makers from Renaissance Italy. Ada’s father is Jewish (her agnostic mother’s family is Catholic), and she identifies with other Jewish characters on the basis of their shared culture and history. Clearly calling out antisemitic tropes and emphasizing the diversity of the Makers, Max provides contextualizing details for the worldbuilding, which includes both secret masters and blood magic. The main characters are cued white, and the supporting cast includes a variety of religious and ethnic identities.

An inventive, compelling debut that’s sure to leave readers eager for the next installment.