Catherynne M. Valente

Catherynne M. Valente was born on Cinco de Mayo, 1979 in Seattle, WA, but grew up in in the wheatgrass paradise of Northern California. She graduated from high school at age 15, going on to UC San Diego and Edinburgh University, receiving her B.A. in Classics with an emphasis in Ancient Greek Linguistics. She then drifted away from her M.A. program and into a long residence in the concrete and camphor wilds of Japan. She currently lives in Ohio with her partner, two dogs, and three cats, having drifted back to America and the mythic frontier of the Midwest.

What genres does Catherynne M. Valente write in?

She writes primarily fantasy and speculative fiction with strong fairy-tale, mythic, and folkloric elements. She has also written at least one licensed science fiction tie-in.

Which book is a good place to start with her work?

For younger readers or those who enjoy whimsical fairy stories, start with The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. For readers seeking lush, multi-layered adult fantasy, try The Orphan's Tales or the standalone Deathless.

What is the reading order for The Orphan's Tales and Fairyland series?

The Orphan's Tales consists of two volumes: In the Night Garden followed by In the Cities of Coin and Spice. The Fairyland series begins with The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making as Book 1.

Does she have standalone novels or collaborations/tie-ins?

Yes. Deathless is a standalone novel. She has also written a licensed tie-in, Mass Effect: Annihilation, which connects to the Mass Effect Andromeda series.

What themes and style are common in her books?

Common themes include myth, folklore, and storytelling itself. Her work is known for imaginative, richly detailed prose and inventive retellings or reworkings of traditional tales.