Sublimation

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

A dazzling, gripping and life-altering debut

'A mind bending thriller about personhood, homeland nostalgia, global migration, and all forms of alienation' – R. F. KUANG

'Brilliantly realised, imaginative and compelling' - THE GUARDIAN
‘Remarkable’ – THE NEW YORK TIMES
'A take on the classic immigrant story . . . I can relate' – RUTH OZEKI

When you emigrate, you leave a version of yourself behind. Literally. One instance crosses the border; the other instance stays trapped behind it.

Some instances keep in touch, call each other daily, synchronize their lives and minds in the hopes of reintegrating and resuming a life as one person. Other instances, like Soyoung Rose Kang, leave home at age ten and never speak to their other selves again.

With a life of her own in New York, Rose never imagined she’d return to Korea. Then her grandfather dies and Soyoung, her Korean instance, summons her home for the funeral. But Soyoung’s motives aren’t as innocent as Rose imagined, and the consequences of Rose’s return to Seoul will change her forever.

Sublimation is a story of doppelgängers and corporate intrigue, heartbreak and betrayal. Nebula Award-winning author Isabel J. Kim has written an immigrant tale like no other, capturing the longing for another life and twisting it into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.

5 STAR READER REVIEWS

‘This book had me hooked from the very first chapter’ *****
‘One of the best debut novels I’ve read in recent years’ *****
‘Wow. what a thought provoking and thoughtful novel’ *****
‘An incredible concept for a book’ *****
‘Sublimation lives up to the hype. It is dramatic, powerful, intriguing, and - above all - fun’ *****
‘A harshly beautiful story about the impossible choices in life and what could be’ *****