Shamanka

Following a brief term of imprisonment in the attic suffered at the hand of the very non-maternal Aunt Candy, Sam Khaan’s life takes a dramatic turn due to revelations outlined in a Witch Doctor’s notebook she discovers.

After a dream whereby a Witch Doctor relays to his son the need for him to go on a journey to discern the nature of magic, illusion and reality, Sam embarks upon her own voyage of discovery which reveals that a prophecy surrounds her. The past is not constructed as static through the novel but instead is malleable, its shifting impact necessarily determining areas of self perception and identity.

Prior to each chapter of the novel, details of a magic trick or an illusion are given. Willis’ trademark whimsicality and good humour abound in this novel, characters are endearing and depicted with great warmth. Shamanka operates as a subtle metaphor for the magic and illusion it questions, fuelling the worlds of possibility and imagination for all of those who read it.