Kelly K. Branyik sets release dates for dystopian novel about miscarriage and resistance

By AI, Created 11:24 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Kelly K. Branyik’s forthcoming novel “Shadows in Dream Stone” follows a woman jailed after a miscarriage in a near-future authoritarian state, using the story to explore reproductive rights, grief, and survival. The paperback arrives May 5, 2026, with ebook editions already available and hardcover and audiobook releases to follow.

Why it matters: - The novel centers reproductive justice in a dystopian setting, tying a personal tragedy to state violence and control over women’s bodies. - The story’s focus on grief, rage, and resistance gives the book timely relevance for readers tracking debates over bodily autonomy and women’s rights. - The planned trilogy suggests Branyik is building a larger speculative series around the same political and emotional terrain.

What happened: - Kelly K. Branyik announced the forthcoming release of “Shadows in Dream Stone,” a dystopian science fiction novel set in a near-future authoritarian world. - The book follows Abaddon Ordell, a teacher, fighter, and wife who is condemned to prison after suffering a miscarriage, which the regime treats as a crime. - The novel is scheduled for paperback release on May 5, 2026. - Ebook versions are already available. - The hardcover edition is set for September 2026. - An audiobook release is scheduled for February 2027.

The details: - The story follows a bisexual woman navigating a system that seeks to erase bodily autonomy and silence dissent. - The novel also explores unexpected connection, with an emotional bond between two women becoming a lifeline inside prison. - Branyik describes the book as intended to be unsettling and tied to real-world concerns about women’s rights and systemic harm. - Best-selling author Stephanie Butland, who edited and mentored Branyik, called the book, “Dystopia with a heart. I loved it.” - Branyik said the book is for women whose stories and trauma are often sidelined and said it is about grief that does not disappear, weaponized power, and survival that changes a person. - The novel is unapologetically sapphic and rooted in lived experience. - The book draws comparisons to themes in “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Chain Gang All Stars” while keeping its own mythic and speculative identity. - “Shadows in Dream Stone” is the first novel in the planned “Dark Stars” trilogy, with a prequel to follow. - The novel contains themes of pregnancy loss, incarceration, misogyny, and systemic violence. - Reader discretion is advised.

Between the lines: - Branyik is positioning the book as both entertainment and commentary, using speculative fiction to make contemporary political conflict more personal. - The prison bond at the center of the novel suggests the story will lean on intimacy and solidarity, not only oppression, as a source of tension and hope. - The comparison to major dystopian titles signals the book is aiming for a familiar genre audience while emphasizing a distinct queer and mythic lens.

What’s next: - Branyik will host a TikTok LIVE book launch party on May 5, 2026, at 6:00 pm MT. - Branyik will appear at a live author event at Tattered Cover in Littleton, Colorado, on July 24, 2026, at 6:00 pm MT. - The book is available for pre-order at local indie bookstores including Tattered Cover, Boulder Bookstore, Little District Books, Mager’s & Quinn, and Politics and Prose. - The novel is also available through major retailers. - Interested readers can find more information at Kelly Branyik’s website.