Borderline

Starred review from January 18, 2016
Fully articulated, flawed, and fascinating characters combine with masterly urban fantasy storytelling in Baker’s debut novel. Millie, a former filmmaker, is a lost soul in soulless Los Angeles. A suicide attempt has left her body broken, and a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder both shatters and relieves her. She’s at loose ends until a mysterious woman named Caryl comes to the mental institution where Millie lives to offer her a job with a secret group called the Arcadia Project. A fae noble has gone missing, and Millie’s unique skills and perspective are needed to bring him home before interdimensional war breaks out. Not only does Millie have to learn to navigate life outside an institutional setting, but she also has to transition to a new normal, one that incorporates both mental and physical challenges. The richly nuanced presentation of Millie’s multiple diagnoses allows for a deeper knowledge of the character, which, in turn, serves to enhance an already beautifully written story that is one part mystery, one part fantasy, and wholly engrossing. Agent: Rachel Kory, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary

At the center of this production is the character Millie, who is all manner of screwed up. Narrator Arden Hammersmith ably captures Millie's many moods. A fledgling film director with borderline personality disorder, Millie attempted suicide after a failed affair. The attempt has left her with two prosthetic legs and few prospects until she's hired by the mysterious Arcadia Project, which is responsible for policing an accord between this world and the dimension of the fae. Hammersmith skillfully uses her versatile voice to portray Millie's co-workers, mental cases all. Notable characters include a little Southern woman, a taciturn black man, and an angry Latino whom Millie is drawn to. They must pool their talents to locate a missing fae who really doesn't want to be found. Through Hammersmith's narration, Millie ultimately develops into an engaging character who heralds a fascinating new series. D.E.M. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine