The Brilliant & Forever

On an island like no other, the annual Brilliant & Forever festival is a much anticipated event; its participants a story away from either glory or infamy. This year, three best friends – two human, one alpaca – are chosen to compete, so victory is not only about reward.The glitterati descends, the festival begins: thirteen performers, each have their own story to tell. Who will be chosen by the judges? Who will be chosen by the people?This is a novel like no other; a whip-cracking, energetic, laugh-out-loud satire on what we value in culture, and in our lives. And yet, written with exquisite warmth and empathy, The Brilliant & Forever is also a moving exploration of integrity, friendship and belonging. It’ll split your sides and break your heart.

Reviews of The Brilliant & Forever

'Ultimately, this is a book about how everyone has a story worth telling, and one worth hearing too. Terrific stuff' – Independent; 'MacNeil shows himself hugely adept at creating a series of distinctive literary voices, and skilfully weaves these various set-pieces into the main narrative before finally poleaxing the reader with a completely unexpected tragicomic final act … a wise warm-hearted meditation on the human condition' – Scotsman; 'Reading The Brilliant & Forever, I felt I was in possession of something really special, far bigger than the sum of its words… It is truly original & memorable, heartbreaking & funny, a bit like life itself…' – Vivian Bannerman, Main Street Trading Company; 'Lyrical, satirical, funny and utterly, utterly heartbreaking' – Heat Magazine; 'It is a joy to read such an engaging, luminous novel' – The Guardian