“Rozie Kelly finds beauty in the messiness of being human in her meditation on grief, power, desire, our search for identity, how we love and the consequences when we fall short.” Women’s Prize for Fiction Judges
“Kelly observes relationships and their intricate power dynamics with precision and grace. This sublime novel is skilful in the extreme, balancing brutality and care with the deftest touch.” The Bookseller
“… bound for success” The Yorkshire Post
“With sharp, witty dialogue and richly developed characters, this book captivates from the very first page … A compelling exploration of human nature with an unforgettable voice.” Northern Life Magazine (The Best Northern Books to Read in Spring)
“I knew from the first page that I was reading something special. Every moment was so delicate that I read as slowly as I could but still enjoyed that rare impulse, once finished, of going back to the start and reading it all over again.” Derek Owusu, award-winning writer and poet
"A best in class example of the multitudes queerness contain ... heart-shattering ... stunning all around." Georgios Chiotis
“An unmissable debut, a beautifully crafted story of relationship dynamics and how we reconstruct and find ourselves within them. Kelly writes about love, grief and longing in a beautifully lyrical prose that's both devastating and darkly funny. I can't wait to see what she does next.’ Ania Card, author of Above Us the Sea
“A story that stings with realism.” nb. Magazine
”Kingfisher stood out for its strikingly original voice and its compelling exploration of the intricacies of love, care and power in human relationships.” Maya Caspari
”An exciting new talent … original, startling, beautifully written and often darkly funny, with unforgettable characters.” NorthBound Award judges
“An immaculately crafted novel.” Adam Farrer, author of Cold Fish Soup
“A beautifully rendered novel exploring the psychology of relationships, whose fresh voice, stylistic flair and keen observational insight stunned me, as a fellow writer, with a curious mixture of admiration and envy.” Shaun Wilson
Reviews from Readers
“This book! [...] I was bowled over by it. What I loved about Kingfisher was the exploration of power dynamics within relationships, the care and the harm, domination, and submission - This was crafted exquisitely […] I cannot recommend this book highly enough.” theliteraryaddict (Instagram)
“Incredible… I was sobbing after I finished this book.” whats.amber.reading (TikTok)
“A beautiful and intricate story which covers themes of grief, love, lust, age and identity … delicately portrays the complexities of grief … Reading this debut novel will be a meaningful experience and I urge anyone to pick this up as their next read.” thethinkingthread
“This is truly a superb read. Brilliantly written, so full of emotion and life. I found myself reading only a few pages at once then pausing. Absolutely recommended.” Fiona Sharp, Independent Book Reviews