Review of Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly

With lyrical, observational style prose that drew me in from the first page, this is a short debut that packs a punch. We follow a creative writing academic through a spiral of desire, power and grief. As a queer man, he’s never attracted to women but suddenly he’s obsessed with his older colleague, The Poet, and since he and his boyfriend have decided to open their relationship, this is his opportunity to be the one that makes the most of it.  The Poet represents an entirely new life and its one he is hypnotised by but when illness dawns, everything becomes a question of how much a person can take.

This is a debut that crafts power dynamics expertly, the submission and domination plays out like a dance. I would recommend reading all in one sitting to immerse yourself fully. Rozie Kelly is a stunning new voice in fiction.

Reviewed by Abi

Published on 03/04/25 by Saraband

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