A queer and dangerously hungry mountain lion narrates this fever dream of a novel, carrying us on a universal journey through a wondrous and menacing modern day L.A.

A lonely, lovable, queer mountain lion lives in the drought-devastated land under the Hollywood sign. Fascinated by the voices around them, the lion spends their days protecting a nearby homeless encampment, observing hikers complain about their trauma and, in quiet moments, grappling with the complexities of their own identity.

When a man-made fire engulfs the encampment, the lion is forced from the hills down into the city the hikers call 'ellay'. As they confront a carousel of temptations and threats, the lion takes us on a tour that spans the cruel inequalities of Los Angeles. But even when salvation finally seems within reach, they are forced to face down the ultimate choice: do they want to eat a person, or become one?

Feral and vulnerable, profound and playful, Henry Hoke's debut novel Open Throat is a marvel of storytelling that brings the mythic to life.

In the aftermath of a seemingly inconsequential battle in the fourteenth century of southern India, a young girl named Pampa Kampana is thrust into an extraordinary destiny. Following the tragic death of her mother, she becomes the chosen vessel for a goddess, who empowers her with a profound mission. Pampa Kampana is to be the architect of a magnificent city, Bisnaga—known as "Victory City", destined to be the wonder of the world.

As the centuries unfold, Pampa Kampana's fate and the city's fortunes become inextricably linked. From its mystical inception—planted from a sack of magical seeds—to the inevitable decay wrought by the arrogance of its rulers, Bisnaga's story is one of love, ambition, and myth. Pampa Kampana, whispering the city and its inhabitants into existence, strives to fulfill the goddess's decree: to forge a world where women wield equal influence in a society dominated by men.

Yet, as with all tales, the narrative spirals beyond the control of its creator. Through the ebb and flow of time, as monarchs rise and fall, as victories are celebrated and defeats mourned, and as loyalties evolve, Bisnaga's tapestry grows ever more intricate—with Pampa Kampana at its very heart.

Rendered in the grandeur of an ancient epic, Victory City is a saga that celebrates the enduring power of storytelling, penned by the visionary Salman Rushdie. It is a testament to the fleeting nature of power and the eternal legacy of the stories we leave behind.