Set in the aftermath of Guatemala’s civil war, Even the Birds is a beautifully written and entrancing story about the struggles among three generations of women in a family torn apart by the war and divided in their beliefs and loyalties. Through vividly drawn, unforgettable characters, this novel brings to life one of the most violent and horrific periods of Guatemala’s history and offers glimmers of a way forward through reconciliation. A sweeping page turner.

Like an archeological excavation, Ruth Taylor’s Even The Birds systematically digs and uncovers and exposes personal ghosts, long-held secrets and uncertainties, crimes against an Indigenous population, and asks the critical question of whether the gain was worth the sacrifice. Set in post-civil war Guatemala, told through the eyes of three generations of women, this powerful and confident debut marks Taylor as a writer to watch.

In this layered, deeply affecting debut, Taylor explores the legacy of armed conflict—the wounds, divisions and fears that persist after the guns of war are silent. Rendered with clear-eyed empathy, her characters struggle to find the peace they’ve been promised, either in themselves or in their nation. Yet they persevere. Even the Birds is a story both heart-wrenching and life-affirming, peopled with characters readers will not soon forget.

In her debut novel, Ruth Taylor has written three unforgettable women navigating themes of duty versus desire. Set in Guatemala during the 1990s Peace Process, Taylor’s clean and sharp prose creates a snapshot of a key historical moment through an intimate, multi-generational story. A gripping, moving character study that will stay with you well past the final page.