The Night Girl by James Bow

The Night Girl by James Bow

Perpetua Collins works for a real troll.

Well, technically a goblin, and it's not as bad as it sounds. As the administrative assistant, she provides a human face for an employment agency specializing in placements for goblins and trolls. It's probably the most unusual job she could find in Toronto, but she's grateful for it, having come to the city with $500 in her pocket and no support. Without it, she'd have no choice but to go back to the boring small town and overbearing mother she worked so hard to leave.

But as Perpetua settles into her new job, disturbing questions arise. And no, they're not about the fact that goblins and trolls exist. She's fine with that part. What bothers her is that the agency has no visible means of support. How does her boss manage to keep his clients out of the public eye? They've been part of the city far longer than anyone thinks, and are growing restless under the burden of forced invisibility and financial poverty. What will happen if the veil drops, and humans see?

James Bow's first novel, The Unwritten Girl, introduced readers to the strange and compelling worlds of Rosemary and Peter in 2006. A transit enthusiast, urban planner, and freelance journalist, James lives in Kitchener, Ontario, with his wife, poet Erin Noteboom.