Astra Brian grew up in a backwoods rural community in British Columbia with a father who paid little attention to her. Over time, she moved to Calgary, where she struggled to find her way in life, learning how difficult it can be to distinguish between addiction and love, desire and need. As fate brings her together with other people—sometimes briefly, but always tensely and tumultuously—they strive to free Astra, trying to manipulate her, imitate her, or abandon her, while vividly revealing the ambiguous qualities of their own characters and aspirations. Although Astra herself remains in the background, her image forms the basis of all the plots, emphasizing the influence a person can have on those around them, and the impact on human relationships, no matter how intimate they may be. The debut novel by Cedar Bowers (spouse of Michael Christie, author of the epic "Greenwood") candidly tells the story of what we are willing to give to others, what we want to receive from others, and how well we know those we love the most.
