An Immaculate Deception
Pernambuco, Brazil 1877. Madalena falls pregnant with a child conceived in sin and her mother issues a threat: marry or surrender the baby. Confident that the father will propose, Madalena sets off to his sprawling estate but discovers he is no longer the charming poet she knew. Trapped in a decaying house of secrets, she must uncover the truth before the men around her destroy her, and before the hell she fears becomes the one she’s living in…
Coming September 2026
“I was lucky enough to read an early version of this manuscript two years ago and I still think about it.”
Danai Christopoulou, literary agent and author
“This book blew me away. Jaw literally on the floor. This book is so spooky, scary, creepy and wonderful.”
Holly Riddle, writer and Round Table Mentor
“Fresh and raw, rich with all the lure of classic Gothic horror and an incredible exploration of the weight of the expectations that come with being a woman, Isabela’s writing is an absolute treat – the twist will leave readers everywhere shook to their core!”
Editor Millie Prestidge, Gollancz
About the Author
Isabela Livino writes fiction with a dark, speculative twist. She studied philosophy at the University of Rochester before receiving a Master’s from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. When she is not writing, you can find her riding horses, designing apps, gardening, or watching horror films while cuddling with her furbabies. A native of Pernambuco, Brazil, she currently lives in Connecticut with her husband, their two Caribbean-born adopted coconut retrievers, and the river ducks.
Her debut gothic horror novel AN IMMACULATE DECEPTION is coming out in autumn 2026 from Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in the US, and from Gollancz in the UK.
Translations will be published in France (Editions LeDuc), Poland (Foksal), and Romania (Bookszone).
Isabela is represented by Caitlin Mahony at William Morris Endeavor.
Contact Me.
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For rights inquiries, contact my literary agent, Caitlin Mahony at William Morris Endeavor.
CMahony [at] wmeagency [dot] com
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For all inquiries other than rights inquiries, you can reach me via Instagram at @isabelalivino.