Canon by Paige Lewis
Canon, the debut novel from poet Paige Lewis, is an outrageous and subversive new kind of biblical epic tale
Adventure, religion, war, and heroism are reimagined in Paige Lewis’s stunning debut novel Canon. In this remarkably creative book, the ordinary meets the extraordinary in hilarious and unexpected ways, and Lewis seamlessly blends mythological references, witty humour, and stark social commentary. It is impossible to pin down the tone or genre of this book, and that is what makes it so uniquely brilliant in its refusal to conform.
The narrative follows the separate yet intertwined adventures of unlikely hero Yara, a germaphobe grappling with being kicked out of her childhood home, and Adrena, God’s chosen prophet who recently seems to have been ‘unchosen’. Both strive in their divine quest to kill Dominic, leader of ‘The Bad Guys’, all while questioning their identities, purposes, and beliefs.
God is an active player throughout this story and is hilariously humanised by the witty omniscient narrative voice that guides the novel in a cleverly meta fashion, balancing light-hearted jokes with deeper, more moving social commentary. Through God’s starkly human portrayal, Lewis forces the reader to confront the morality behind the ‘divine quest’ and what this means for a character’s autonomy.
Canon is a unique and brilliantly clever book that subverts and challenges expectations at every step of the way, and Lewis’s poetic voice continually shines through. It’s undeniable that this novel’s exploration of queer identity, relationships, power, and heroism will leave a profound impact on any reader.
