The West Passage
2024 fantasy novel by Jared Pecaček
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The West Passage is the 2024 debut fantasy novel written by Jared Pechaček, published by Tor Books.[1]
| Author | Jared Pechaček |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
| Publication date | July 16, 2024 |
| Pages | 384 |
| Awards | Crawford Award (2025) |
| ISBN | 9781250323743 |
Plot
The book follows Kew and Pell, two members of the Grey Tower, one of five towers set in the city-like megastructure known only as the Palace.[2]
Awards and reception
The novel received the 2025 Crawford Award.[3] It received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was shortlisted for the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize.[4]
"This is a vividly depicted, decidedly peculiar world governed by an inexplicable logic... Its fablelike but off-kilter qualities and architectural setting will likely appeal to fans of Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi, Angélica Gorodischer’s Kalpa Imperial, and Josiah Bancroft’s Books of Babel series." — Kirkus Reviews, review of The West Passage[1]
The book was a finalist for the 2025 Locus Award for Best First Novel.[5] It was a finalist for the 2025 Washington State Book Award.[6]
In Jake Casella Brookin's review at Locus Magazine, he noted: "The world of this book is an astonishing delight; each section is new and surprising, but there’s a depth and a completeness to surroundings that is spellbinding. Giant architectural whimsy, here falling into ruin, there still bustling with activity, elsewhere echoing with ancient secrets and magic: It’s a perpetually engaging romp."[7]