How to Kill a Cherub

Ordelia Griswold doesn’t play with dolls or dream of ponies. She dreams of power, pain, and precision. Gifted beyond her years and devoid of empathy, Ordelia hides her true nature behind a mask of angelic innocence. Set in a seemingly quiet Colorado suburb, this darkly satirical story follows the rise of a child prodigy whose genius is rivaled only by her cruelty. Ordelia begins orchestrating a series of chilling and calculated “incidents” that blur the line between childhood mischief and full-blown psychopathy. As her talents evolve, so do her ambitions — and her methods. She finds guidance in an equally twisted adult mentor, a failed professional with his own history of sadism, who recognizes Ordelia’s potential and helps sharpen her skills. But while others see a bright little girl with a sharp mind, Ordelia is building something far more dangerous beneath the surface. With its razor-edged humor, stylized suspense, and a protagonist who is both captivating and terrifying, How to Kill a Cherub is a bold exploration of a child’s descent into darkness — not because she’s broken, but because she was never meant to be anything else.