Fen is brilliant, weird, unsettling and enlightening, all in equal measure. Daisy Johnson is a supremely talented writer who conveys desire and longing like few others, whilst grappling with themes of identity, sexuality and the enduring influence of place and nature on our psyche. Set in a fictional Fenland, this book feels like a bog: wet, muddy, wild. The thematic beginnings of her debut novel, Everything Under, can be felt here and she is establishing herself as an accomplished author of weird and speculative fiction. Fans of these genres will be in for a dark, sometimes sickly sweet, treat!

This collection of short stories is a savage, stark and beautiful addition to the current surge in the genre. Set in an unnamed village deep in the fens (the author hails from outside Cambridge) with the local pub as the locus of narrative, Fen examines desire, yearning and the search for identity. The writer's insight into the female psyche in particular is astonishing, and the flights towards surrealism are seamless. An incredibly impressive, even-handed and wise collection.

If you are looking to stumble across something different, a book you may not have picked to read yourself or something that will widen your usual reading choices - give this a go. I'm glad I did. It's Daisy's debut collection of short stories, published by Vintage in 2017, and is quite hard to describe but well worth a read. Whilst each of the short stories within it is different and unique, there are themes, settings, characters and plot that weave throughout the book - making connections that circle, ever-tightening until you reach the end. Dark magic, mythology and great storytelling all combine with a poetic and daring style to create a truly unique and captivating voice. Daisy's characters are centred around powerful, entrancing women who live courageous lives and raise as many questions as they do answers. Her word choice is effortless and bold. The stories short but lingering. I was recommended this book by a knowledgable bookseller in response to my queries for something that would stretch me and challenge my usual taste in books. (I have found short stories to be an accessible and successful way to do this - less off-putting than tackling a contrasting tome to my comfort reads.) It was an excellent suggestion and I'll be adding more of Daisy's work to my collection as a result. I hope you do too!