Four artists are drawn into a web of rivalry and desire at an elite art school and on the streets of New York in this “gripping, provocative, and supremely entertaining” (BuzzFeed) debut
“Captures the ache-inducing quality of art and desire . . . a deeply relatable and profoundly enjoyable read, one drenched in prismatic color and light.”—Kristen Arnett, New York Times bestselling author of With Teeth
NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION 5 UNDER 35 HONOREE • FINALIST FOR THE MINNESOTA BOOK AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF 2022: Glamour, PopSugar, Debutiful
It’s 2011: America is in a deep recession and Occupy Wall Street is escalating. But at the elite Wrynn College of Art, students paint and sculpt in a rarified bubble. Louisa Arceneaux is a thoughtful, observant nineteen-year-old when she transfers to Wrynn as a scholarship student, but she soon finds herself adrift in an environment that prizes novelty over beauty. Complicating matters is Louisa’s unexpected attraction to her charismatic roommate, Karina Piontek, the preternaturally gifted but mercurial daughter of wealthy art collectors. Gradually, Louisa and Karina are drawn into an intense sensual and artistic relationship, one that forces them to confront their deepest desires and fears. But Karina also can’t shake her fascination with Preston Utley, a senior and anti-capitalist Internet provocateur, who is publicly feuding with visiting professor and political painter Robert Berger—a once-controversial figurehead seeking to regain relevance.
When Preston concocts an explosive hoax, the fates of all four artists are upended as each is unexpectedly thrust into the cutthroat New York art world. Now, all must struggle to find new identities in art, in society, and amongst each other. In the process, they have to find either their most authentic terms of life—of success, failure, and joy—or risk losing themselves altogether.
With a canny, critical eye, Sirens & Muses overturns notions of class, money, art, youth, and a generation’s fight to own their future.
ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Vanity Fair, BuzzFeed, The Millions, Bustle, Electric Lit, Autostraddle, Lambda Literary
Praise
“The characters in Sirens & Muses wake up each day and choose chaos. . . . Angress’s strength is her ability to create an engrossing plot, allowing readers to watch as her messy characters navigate their way to the finish line.”—New York Times Book Review
“Sirens & Muses holds the reader’s attention like a gallery so compelling that a visitor is torn between staring at one work and rushing on to the next room.”—Glamour
“Convincing and moving . . . Angress’ portrayal of the intersection—or disconnect—of art, politics, idealism, and practicality within the web of familial, romantic, and professional relationships is painterly, in the best sense of the word.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Donna Tartt’s The Secret History meets Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings in this entrancing portrait of 3 young artists who meet at an elite college at the height of the Occupy movement. Angress so deftly portrays the splendor and squalor of trying to create something great in the face of rampant capitalism, of love and lust in the face of tooth-and-claw competition.”—Electric Lit
“Angress opens an intelligent dialogue about the different relationships that people have with art. . . . The novel has crucial points to make, in particular, the struggle to center art in our lives and our culture at a time when money and commerce seem to be the forces that determine the worth of things. Angress does not offer easy answers, but pleasingly, she does not let those questions fade into the background while the characters sort out their own desires.” —Ploughshares
“A captivating, deftly written, and ultimately hopeful story.” —Chicago Review of Books
“Sexy and smart . . . confident and captivating . . . breathtaking . . . propulsive and immersive . . . structurally ambitious and wonderfully crafted.”—Autostraddle
“Antonia Angress has written [an] exceedingly good debut novel, a shrewd and expertly sustained rumination on what it takes to be a self-supporting artist and whether it's even worth it. . . . gripping . . . [A] dazzler of a debut novel.”—Shelf Awareness
“[An] astounding debut. . . Gripping, provocative, and supremely entertaining, [Sirens & Muses] is one to watch out for.” —Buzzfeed
“Antonia Angress is so talented, and her depiction of young artists—with their egos and inspirations and ambitions—is unforgettably impressive. Read. This. Book.”—Julie Schumacher, author of Dear Committee Members and The Shakespeare Requirement
“Brilliant . . . This narrative is intricate, moving, and often funny, and its scenes are beautifully crafted. . . . A wonderful book.”—Charles Baxter, author of The Sun Collective
“Sirens & Muses features characters as flawed as they are talented—full of desire, ambition, and aching regret. Their journeys engrossed me till the very last page.”—Dawnie Walton, author of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
“Powerful, elegant, and mesmerizing, Sirens & Muses reimagines ambition, passion, identity, and the intricate bonds between women. Antonia Angress is a writer to watch.”—Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, author of The Revisioners
“Sirens & Muses captivated me with its well-drawn, complex characters and vivid descriptions and settings. Antonia Angress is a keen observer of relationships, and this is a gorgeously rich and thoughtful novel.”—Annie Hartnett, author of Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals
“With wit, tenderness, and insight, Sirens & Muses explores why art matters, who gets to make it, and what it’s worth. Antonia Angress’s portrayal of the art world and its politics is stunning in its detail and inventiveness—and Louisa Arceneaux is a heroine to remember.”—V. V. Ganeshananthan, author of Love Marriage
“A page-turning, sexy, witty dive into making art and the art world and just how great the chasm is that lies in-between . . . This thoroughly modern novel explores classic themes of class, talent, and power and introduces Antonia Angress as a thrilling new voice.”—Joanna Hershon, author of St. Ivo
“[A] winning debut . . . Angress nimbly embodies each of her characters, allowing her exceptional storytelling abilities to shine. . . . [Sirens & Muses] is a standout.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A brilliant study of art, politics, male dominance, female passion, and the commercialized art world in the early 2010s. . . A highly recommended novel of art and heart." —Library Journal (starred review)
“An intriguing exploration of art and wealth spearheaded by messy, engrossing characters.”—Kirkus Reviews