What Remains After A Fire

Kanza Javed’s What Remains After a Fire is a powerful and haunting collection of short stories that explores the lives of women scorched by the trials of existence. From a wife tormented by the ghost of her sister and trapped in a loveless marriage, to a solitary woman fixated on a cloth worry doll, each narrative delves into the emotional and psychological depths of its characters. A young girl recalls her childhood with a rebellious maid, while a father’s violent lessons to his son unleash irreversible consequences on his family. These stories offer an unflinching portrayal of mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters—some who rise from the ashes, others who endure quietly, and a few who fade into oblivion. Provocative, tender, and wise, Javed’s writing captures the universal longing for love and acceptance in a world shaped by patriarchal forces. A celebrated author, Kanza Javed holds an MPhil from Kinnaird College for Women and an MFA in fiction from West Virginia University. She has received the Rebecca Mason Perry Prize and the Reynolds Price Prize for Fiction, and has been a finalist for several prestigious literary awards.