novels
SKINNER LUCE (Talos Press 2016)
ONE OF AMAZON'S 20 BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY BOOKS OF 2016"A gut-punching novel, consistently taut and bleak. Readers will feel Lucy hanging on by her fingernails just beneath the human world and bloodied by every hard climb upward."
Publishers Weekly
"A fiercely original premise carried to a logical and thought-provoking conclusion. . . . this unforgettable novel is sure to haunt readers long after they've turned the last page. Highly recommended." SF Signal
"Skinner Luce paints a heroine who's more human than most in her fears and ambitions and who will grab your heart. This book will haunt you long after you put it down." Omnivoracious, "The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of January"
"Ward's prose is expressive and often unexpectedly beautiful. . . High-caliber, often engrossing literary sci-fi." Kirkus Reviews
Review that originally appeared in SF Signal
The Bullet Collection, Graywolf Press, 2003
GLCA New Writers Award
Anahid Literary Award
Hala Maksoud Award for Outstanding Emerging Writer
"A startlingly insightful female coming-of-age in a time of war." Booklist (starred review)
"War and the tumult of adolescence leave their scars on the hearts of two Beirut-born sisters in this sharply drawn, moving debut about a family in exile." Publishers Weekly
"A heartbreaking education about the emotional damage done to those who were, literally, caught in the crossfire." Ararat
"Passionate, lyrical, and deeply humane, this take of two sisters caught in a war without end moves effortlessly through space and time, illuminating the private terrors of a dispossesed family and the public terror--more relevant than ever, now--arising from clashing cultures. This is an astonishing first novel." Andrea Barrett
"A work of great maturity and assurance." Banipal
GLCA New Writers Award
Anahid Literary Award
Hala Maksoud Award for Outstanding Emerging Writer
"A startlingly insightful female coming-of-age in a time of war." Booklist (starred review)
"War and the tumult of adolescence leave their scars on the hearts of two Beirut-born sisters in this sharply drawn, moving debut about a family in exile." Publishers Weekly
"A heartbreaking education about the emotional damage done to those who were, literally, caught in the crossfire." Ararat
"Passionate, lyrical, and deeply humane, this take of two sisters caught in a war without end moves effortlessly through space and time, illuminating the private terrors of a dispossesed family and the public terror--more relevant than ever, now--arising from clashing cultures. This is an astonishing first novel." Andrea Barrett
"A work of great maturity and assurance." Banipal
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For more on The Bullet Collection, see my interview in Delphi Quarterly; Amira Pierce's review in JSTOR; Pauline Homsi Vinson's review in Al-Jadid Magazine; Syrine Hout, "Revisiting Lebanon: Testimony, Trauma, and Transition in Patricia Sarrafian Ward's The Bullet Collection," Middle Eastern Literatures, Vol. 12, No. 3, December 2009 here; Syrine Hout, Post-War Anglophone Lebanese Fiction: Home Matters in the Diaspora, Edinburgh University Press, 2012 here. An excerpt is available in Archipelago.
THE CHERISHED (HarperTeen 2023)
"[An] atmospheric, creepy fantasy... a thoroughly engaging read." -- YA Books Central"For fans of Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, Lebanese-American author Ward draws from her experience to create a frightening story exploring identity, grief, and what it means to be family." -- Robin Roe, author of Dark Room Etiquette
"[A] pulse-pounding thriller, pairing brisk pacing with frenetic plotting that adds a layer of unease to Jo's harrowing situation." -- Publishers Weekly
"A captivating mix of mystery and mythology." -- School Library Journal
"A slow-burn mystery rooted in family bonds and duty... An oppressive unease effectively pervades the novel until Jo at last finds purpose and belonging. Hand to those who enjoy atmospheric character studies." -- Booklist
"An exploration of belonging, a tale of generational trauma, and a fantasy thriller oozing with mystery around every corner." -- Mugglenet
Guest post "Sometimes, You Just Need to Listen to Your Art Self," Teen Librarian Toolbox Interview with YA Books Central
Essay on Crimereads.com about writing while growing up during a war
MERCY (HarperCollins 2025)
ONE OF KIRKUS REVIEWS' BEST YA BOOKS OF 2025"Early exposition sets the stage for a plot that unfolds slowly at first, effectively building a sense of dread and oppression. By the time this evocatively written story reaches its haunting climax, readers will be fully invested... A deeply atmospheric portrait of generational trauma." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A gorgeously written parable about the healing power of truth." - N. West Moss, author of Birdy
"This small-town mystery keeps evidence close to its heart and exposes just how deeply old wounds can fester." - Booklist
"A story about the power of family, breaking the mold from generations before, and standing up for what's right." - The Southern Bookseller Review
"If you're craving a small-town, gothic, supernatural mystery, Mercy is for you. As Mercy seeks the truth behind her family's curse, Ward crafts a story that's both haunting and deeply human." - Teenage Reads
Interview with Nerd Daily: https://thenerddaily.com/patricia-ward-mercy-author-interview/
