The Parliament

Madigan Purdy, called Mad, is trapped in the library of her hometown. Tens of thousands of owls have landed on the building, and they tear at anyone who steps outside. Mad is responsible for the students sheltering with her, and she has to keep them safe and keep their minds off what waits beyond the doors.

Food and fresh water are running low, so the group cannot stay put for long. They need a way out soon, and the owls show no sign of leaving. One possible source of ideas is The Silent Queen, Mad's favorite book from childhood, which the group turns to while they look for a solution.

The book is a horror-tinged survival story with a streak of dark humor. Its premise is an animal attack on a siege scale, and the tone mixes menace with banter among the characters, including a student named Jude who has strong views on how extreme owls can get. Comparisons to The Birds and The Princess Bride point to that blend of nature's menace and storybook adventure.

Underneath the threat, the novel deals with grief and missed opportunities, as well as courage and hope. Mad has to lead while carrying her own history, and the confined setting keeps the pressure on from the first pages.