<p><i>Valery the Great</i> is a crackling, electric collection of dark humour that follows the bizarre and beautiful lives of its protagonists. Sometimes sweet and gentle, sometimes sharply sarcastic, the unique narrative voices in this collection are always powerfully touching.</p><p>Praise for <i>Valery the Great</i>:</p><p>'15 Finest Book Covers in Spring Fiction This Year' selection (<i>Something Daily</i> blog)</p><p>“By turns comic, pathetic, and tenderly tragic, <i>Valery the Great</i> is a charming collection.” (<i>Quill &amp; Quire</i>)</p><p>“Her voice is scathing, very funny, her stories twisting at the end to leave me a bit stunned. … I loved this book, a short story collections whose curation had as much thought put into it as the stories themselves, a fantastic package with a gorgeous design. In addition to considerable talent, there is furious energy at work here, McCluskey giving it her all, and as a result, reading was a pleasure.” (<i>Pickle Me This</i>)</p><p>“McCluskey is at her finest when she uses sharp humour and skillful, economic description to communicate her fatalistic worldview.” (<i>The Globe and Mail</i>)</p>