Praise for Pale Shadows : 'In these sensitive and luminous pages, Dominique Fortier explores, through Dickinson's poetry, the mysterious power that books have over our lives, and the fragile and necessary character of literature.' - The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction 2025 Jury on Pale Shadows 'Gorgeous, aching prose . Pale Shadows is a breathtaking contemplation of grief, legacies, and how what a person leaves behind continues to change and inspire the world.' - starred review, Foreword Reviews 'Fortier's pair of books speak to Dickinson's continued relevance.' - Shara Kronmal, Necessary Fiction 'I was as delighted by this book as I was by Paper Houses , in part because I was happy to return to the lacework world Fortier creates with her voice . This handover between writers in time is the essence of literature. Because books do not die. That is the only consolation of mortals who read.

' - Chantal Guy, La Presse 'Dominique Fortier's sixth novel, Pale Shadows , is enchanted . It is meant to be taken in slowly, savouring each sentence.' - Ariane Cipriani, Radio-Canada's Culture Club 'This luminous story brings us closer to Emily Dickinson's poems, "leaves the light shines through," and closer to the inspired grace of Dominique Fortier.' - Monique Roy, Chatelaine ' Paper Houses and Pale Shadows are the positive and negative of a single image, two facets of the same story.' - Léa Harvey, Le Soleil 'A novel filled with figments and ghosts, the living and the dead, words and silence.' - Yvon Paré, Littérature du Québec 'I can't remember on what page I started to read Pale Shadows out loud, but it happened naturally. What I was left with, even more dazzlingly still, was the beauty of Dominique Fortier's prose and of Emily Dickinson's poetry . Pale Shadows is an elegant, delicate book, a treasure for your bookcase.

' - Marie-Anne Poggi, Club des irrésistibles Praise for Paper Houses : 'An exquisite fictional imagining of Dickinson's life.' - Sue Carter, Toronto Star 'Its language is luminous, precise; its structure, ambitious.' - Le Devoir 'In Paper Houses , anecdotes from the lauded American poet's childhood and adult life are expanded into a chronological series of vignettes featuring truly Dickinsonian details.' - Carly Vandergriendt, Quill & Quire.