Flipped eye bags Musariri's dystopian debut

Flipped eye has landed Only This Once Are You Immaculate, the "stunning" debut fiction novel by Zimbabwean author Blessing Musariri.

Set in a universe rooted in African landscapes, the dystopian story follows twins Afya and Aftab and their adopted brother Khaled who leave the shelter of a hidden valley, and are astonished by the outside world. The synopsis explains: "Beneath this chaos is an order more threatening than bedlam. An army of shadows gathers, looking to break free from the navel of the world, where they have been subdued for hundreds of years. The Keepers of Truth are scattered; the once-powerful Empire is fragmented, its twelve territories now controlled by seven warlords, one of whom has taken control of the region once protected by the Guardians of Uunu.

"Surrounded by bright, new discoveries, our innocents are lost in fascination, unprepared for the trials they will encounter, trials that will redefine who they are and what they believe."

Nii Ayikwei Parkes, founder and editor at flipped eye, said: “Only This Once Are You Immaculate is a stunning debut from Zimbabwe. A speculative reconfiguring of not just the world, but the imagination. It's one of those manuscripts that comes across your desk and reminds you of why you love stories. I dare anyone not to be moved by it.” 

World rights were bought by flipped eye from the author directly. Maame Aba Daisie, editor, said: "A fiction lover’s dream, Only This Once Are You Immaculate masterfully draws you into a world that resonates with your very being. You will be hard pressed to put this book down once you’ve begun to turn its pages."

Musariri is an award-winning author of short stories, children's stories, radio and screenplays and contemporary adult fiction. Her work has also been published by the Guardian, Granta and Poetry International.