1855
George Hollings has fled London—and the treacherous lover who nearly ruined him—for New Zealand. But the world is smaller than he’d hoped. When his former lover resurfaces, carrying a threat that could destroy his fragile new life, George is forced to run again.
He joins his sister on an expedition to a remote island, a place whispered about in colonial circles: its indigenous people, the Yunher, are said to bathe in waters that grant eternal youth . . .
While the explorers chase gold and glory, George discovers something far more precious: a community, a sense of acceptance and a love he never expected. But as tensions rise and loyalties fray, George must choose between the world he knows and the people who might finally give him a home.
"An evocative novel alive with mystery, intricate world building, and a powerful exploration of identity and belonging."
-Rosetta Allan, author of Purgatory
Photo by Jaden Hatch
Alice Fairley is a novelist and poet based in Whangārei, New Zealand. She has a diploma in applied writing from NorthTec Tai Tokerau Wānanga as well as an MA in classical studies from Victoria University of Wellington, where she also studied Latin and ancient Greek. Her work has been published in various places in print and online, including Australian Poetry Journal, Turbine | Kapohau, Tarot Poetry Journal, The Otago Daily Times and more.
Her first novel, Yellow Flower, will be published in 2026 by Awa Glade Press.