This beautifully written New Age, philosophical novel is the joyful and tragic, thought-provoking and enchanting story about a mixed-race family living under apartheid. Katherine Dernison’s father believes his philosophy of the Amaranth Bloom can create a world without war. But when their home is threatened by the South African apartheid government, they must put their beliefs into practice. Katherine learns heartbreaking lessons about love, loyalty, loss, and the truth of her father’s words: if you aren’t actively fighting for something, you are actively fighting against it."THE AMARANTH BLOOM is sheer magic. Gorgeous writing, irresistible characters, a sense of wonder that won’t quit, and a cosmology that is both fantastic and as familiar as the natural world upon which our souls so depend for breath-these are the spells Deborah Goemans’ debut novel wields. This rare novel is not to be missed."-Bruce McAllister, author of Dream Baby and The Girl Who Loved Animals.