Anushka Shiell

A Box Full of Darkness

2006: A conversation with a military recruiter prompts 18-year-old Tessa Halifax to enlist in the US Army after graduation. This pivotal decision takes her from her New Jersey suburb to the streets of Baghdad, as a military working dog handler. In Iraq, Tessa meets disillusioned soldier Ryan Chao. Their experiences as soldiers lead them to make a dramatic departure from the careers they envisioned for themselves.

2025: Tessa’s ultimate goal as Chief of Staff to Vice President Ryan Chao is to help him win the White House in 2028. However, fallout from the events of the 2024 election cause a ripple effect that permanently alters Tessa’s life. 

A Box Full of Darkness is an intensely personal story of strength and resilience, of healing and rebuilding after loss, and of devotion to the causes – and people – that matter the most.

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What people are saying

“In A Box Full of Darkness, Shiell’s prose is at once delicate yet fierce, immensely heartfelt with a fiery core that amplifies both the agony and the joy of the narrative. The novel deftly swings between the past and present timelines of our young protagonist, Tessa Halifax, a war veteran turned politician who faces unimaginable tragedy and yet still endures, with iron will and fierce loyalty to her closest allies. A Box Full of Darkness is a beautiful sketch of a young woman’s life; a celebration of deep friendship, stoic survival, and fierce loyalty that will resonate with any reader, because as we watch Tessa grow from a heartbroken teenager to a disillusioned soldier, and finally, a pragmatic stateswoman, we realize her deepest desire reflects our own – to belong.”

— Reading on Rounds

“A Box Full of Darkness is a triumph of a debut novel. The writing is all-heart, breathing life into the characters until they are sitting right next to you. Richly detailed and spanning decades, this deeply moving work tells the singular tale of one woman’s survival through life. With insight and care, Shiell unravels the stunning complexities of being alive. It will bring tears to your eyes, make you laugh, and take your breath away. It is beautiful, intricate, and healing. Any description is insufficient. You must experience it for yourself.”

— Review from Advance Reader Copy