In “The Book of Love,” the Pulitzer finalist and master of short stories pushes our understanding of what a fantasy novel can be. By Amal El-Mohtar Amal El-Mohtar is the Book Review’s science fiction ...

Readers wanting creepy bunnies, unicorns, magical guitars, and people returning from the dead combined can find all this and more in Kelly Link’s first novel, “The Book of Love.” Set in the small and ...

For years, fans of Kelly Link, one of the finest purveyors of contemporary short fiction, have wondered what the author would be able to do with a full novel — and have eagerly waited for her to ...

Being an author of fiction is, in many ways, like being a god. You can create people out of nothing and make them do and say whatever you want. You have the power to shape and mold reality to your ...

It’s Valentine’s Day and much is happening in Washington and the political world, some of it quite unsettling. But I’m taking a break from current events this afternoon. Why? Well, I suppose I’m as ...

Despite the infinite possibilities for invention, few fantasy novels—including those written by women—have an old woman as the hero. But in “Gogmagog,” by Jeff Noon and Steve Beard, we have Cady Meade ...

The Book of Love, by Kelly Link (Random House). This novel, the first by an author celebrated for her short fiction, follows a group of teen-agers who are determined to live normal lives amid ...

Carlin is a contributor for TIME. Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link’s debut novel, The Book of Love, is a fantasy that tackles sibling rivalry, complicated teen friendships, and transcendent love.