"A heart-breaking exploration of a family fractured by civil war. This beautiful, nuanced novel follows a young doctor caught within conflicting ideologies as she tries to save lives. I couldn't put this book down" BRIT BENNETT, bestselling author of THE VANISHING HALF

WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2024

WINNER OF THE CAROL SHIELDS PRIZE FOR FICTION

"A masterpiece of historical fiction." MONICA ALI, chair of judges for the Women's Prize for Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Sashi wants to become a doctor. But over the next decade, as a vicious civil war subsumes Sri Lanka, her dream takes her on a different path as she watches those around her, including her four beloved brothers and their best friend, get swept up in violent political ideologies and their consequences. She must ask herself: is it possible for anyone to move through life without doing harm?

"With immense compassion and deep moral complexity, V. V. Ganeshananthan brings us an achingly moving portrait of individual and societal grief' CELESTE NG, bestselling author of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

"Stunningly great" Curtis Sittenfeld, bestselling author of ROMANTIC COMEDY, via Twitter

"Ganeshananthan is a superb writer...I wept at many points in this novel and I also wept when it was over" Sunday Times