Dessa's Crossing
A Novel and Other Stories
by Atanas Radenski
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date 24 Jun 2025 | Archive Date 30 May 2025
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Description
Bound by a promise. Trapped by a choice. Torn between duty and self-preservation.
Dessa Sinich, a search-and-rescue volunteer in the Pacific Northwest, has spent years honoring a vow to her late twin—helping his widow raise their son. But that promise has come at a cost. Bound to a family that isn’t truly hers and entangled with her sister-in-law-turned-fiancée, Dessa longs to break free. Freedom means crossing borders—both literal and emotional—and nothing worthwhile comes without risk.
Dessa’s Crossing is a story of duty, desire, and the struggle between obligation and self-preservation.
The novel is accompanied by seven interconnected short stories that illuminate Dessa’s world, giving voice to supporting characters whose journeys echo her own.
Atanas Radenski, based in Orange, California, writes fiction inspired by unusual yet real-life events, people, and places. Dessa’s Crossing draws on his daughter’s experience in mountain search and rescue in the Pacific Northwest.
💙 A tribute to the real-world heroes who risk everything—net proceeds from this book are donated annually to U.S. volunteer search and rescue organizations.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9798998518119 |
| PRICE | US$4.99 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Antonia D, Reviewer
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.
I've never read a book before that included both a novel and several short stories. It was an intriguing concept, but I'm not sure it really worked for me. I liked the short stories, but it took away from the impact of the ending of the novel.
Otherwise I did really enjoy the book, it was very different and interesting. I loved all the SAR stuff, I always gind that very interesting and it's cool to know that the author's daughter actually does SAR in that area.
Their whole family situation was so fucked up, but in a very fascinating way.
The writing was good in general, but the dialogue was a bit unnatural at times.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book to people who want to read something new and different.
Sarah J, Reviewer
Review: Dessa’s Crossing: A Novel and Other Stories by Atanas Radenski
🌉 Overview
Atanas Radenski’s Dessa’s Crossing is a haunting, multi-layered collection that blurs the lines between novel and short fiction, weaving together themes of memory, displacement, and the search for identity. The titular novella follows Dessa, a woman navigating physical and metaphorical borderlands, while the accompanying stories explore similar tensions—between past and present, freedom and constraint, silence and voice. Radenski’s prose is lyrical yet precise, imbuing each narrative with a quiet urgency that lingers long after the final page.
✨ Key Strengths
🌿 Atmospheric Storytelling – Radenski’s background in both academia and the arts shines through in his vivid, sensory-rich descriptions of landscapes and inner turmoil.
🗝️ Thematic Depth – The collection grapples with legacy and liberation, echoing the resonance of slave narratives (as hinted in search results) while carving its own modern path.
📖 Structural Boldness – The hybrid format (novella + stories) allows for a kaleidoscopic exploration of interconnected lives and historical echoes.
💔 Emotional Nuance – Characters feel achingly real, their struggles with belonging and autonomy rendered with compassion and complexity.
⚠️ Considerations
⏳ Pacing Variance – Some stories may feel more immersive than others, depending on reader preference for brevity versus depth.
🌐 Niche Appeal – Those seeking linear plots or light escapism may find the collection’s introspective weight demanding.
⭐ Score Breakdown (0–5 Stars)
✍️ Prose & Voice → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
🌌 Atmosphere & Setting → ★★★★★ (5/5)
🎭 Character Depth → ★★★★ (4/5)
🧩 Narrative Structure → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
A bridge between worlds—each step across its pages leaves footprints in the soul.
🎯 Perfect For Readers Who Love
📖 The Underground Railroad’s historical gravity meets Olive Kitteridge’s intimate character studies
🌊 Stories of migration, both geographical and emotional
🖋️ Experimental yet accessible literary fiction
🙏 Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Atanas Radenski for the advance review copy. Dessa’s Crossing is a testament to the power of stories to carry us—sometimes gently, sometimes ruthlessly—toward understanding.
(Note: Review based on an uncorrected proof; final publication may vary.)
