The Island, which lends its name to the title, once served as a prison for political dissenters but is now home to the mysterious Magistra and her Contemplatives. Together, they have created a sanctuary of peace in a world darkened by moral ruin.

Five powerful characters arrive on the Island to ponder ethical decay and the tyranny which drives the status quo. Under the watch of Magistra, and in the presence of a sixth person who remains concealed in the shadows, they consider the power of creativity and truth in facing up to tyranny.

This novel is surreal, mildly gothic, steeped in the poetic and underscored by fidelity. It crosses genre boundaries and, while saturated with the fantastical, with beauty and delicious cuisine, serves as a pertinent expression against war and the recurring fascism within our human narrative. It can be read as a cautioning during these times of rising nationalism and totalitarianism and could serve as an inspiration toward the higher qualities of human endeavours.