I am thrilled that my debut novel, Cycling to Asylum now has a new life with Invisible Line, and that I had the privilege of revisiting my characters and continuing their stories in Five Points on an Invisible Line!

Praise for Invisible Line:

Rich Larson, award-winning author of Changelog and Ymir :

“Prescient a decade ago, pressing now. Invisible Line will take you to the lowest darkest places, then fly you up into the air and scatter you into joyful molecules.”

The Seaboard Review of Books :

“One of Invisible Line’s appealing factors is that it goes beyond the usual tropes of speculative fiction as it explores issues like authoritarianism, activism, and community…. In the ten-plus years since Sokol first wrote Cycling to Asylum, societal and political changes seem to have brought us closer to, not farther from, the authoritarian future depicted in the novel. Resonating with a sense of authenticity, Invisible Line is an engaging story that sets the stage for its soon-to-come sequel ….“ (You can read the full review here.)”

Description:

Some revolutions start with a roar, others with the quiet turn of a wheel.

A hostile government.

A desperate escape.

A sanctuary city that holds their future.

In a near-future New York crushed under authoritarian rule, history teacher Laek can no longer hide his radical past. After a brutal confrontation with the NYPD, he and his family must flee across the border—by bicycle—into Québec. Their only chance lies in convincing Montreal to grant them refugee status.

Janie, an activist lawyer, fights to build a new life while protecting her family in a transformed Montreal. Between legal battles and cultural adjustments, she discovers that sanctuary comes with its own challenges.

Their children, Siri and Simon, must navigate a new world where everything is different—the language, the culture, and their place in it. As they adapt to their refuge, they learn that sometimes the strongest borders are the invisible ones we create ourselves.

Will they find safety in their new home, or will the past catch up with them?

Praise for Five Points on an Invisible Line:

ImaginAtlas :

“After several years of anticipation, the sequel to Su J. Sokol’s Cycling to Asylum (which has received a new edition under the title Invisible Lines) is finally here ….  This hopepunk novel set in near-future Canada offers a powerful tale of resistance and survival that compellingly takes up sci-fi’s mandate to examine present issues through the future and offers an intriguing portrayal of how revolutionaries must contend with new (and more powerful than ever) surveillance states.

Five Points on an Invisible Line is a sequel that more than lives up to the hype. I am still in awe of Sokol’s ability to juggle so many balls without dropping a single one. Ultimately, the message of both installments in this series is the same: through the struggles and grit, there is always hope.” (You can read the full review here.)

The Seaboard Review of Books :

“Five Points on an Invisible Line is also enjoyable for its portrayal of near-future society. It’s a future that isn’t here yet, but it isn’t all that unbelievable, either, which adds to the immediacy and the appeal of the novel.

Those who enjoyed Cycling to Asylum or the updated version, Invisible Line, should find much to like in Five Points on an Invisible Line…. “(You can read the full review here.)

The Ottawa Review of Books :

“A thoughtful and intriguing accomplishment.” (You can read the full review here.)

Claudie Arseneault, author of the Val-de-Mer series :

“I will always marvel at Sokol’s ability to bring Montréal to life in all of its glorious contradictions and to interweave the deeply personal stories of a small queer family with a wider struggle against a fascist surveillance state. Although the future presented in Five Points on an Invisible Line is sometimes bleak, the novel is also infused with unyielding empathy and the sense of gritty hope and togetherness that I always find in activism. Truly, Sokol’s work only grows more relevant with time.”

One of the appealing points of Sokol’s first novel was the likeability of the characters, and the reader’s ability to connect with them. This continues in Five Points on an Invisible Line, perhaps more powerfully as Siri and Simon have grown older and are able to take more initiative.“

Chris DiRaddo, author of The Family Way :

“Told through five powerful points-of-view, this timely and provocative work of hopepunk weaves together activism, polyamory, political asylum and social justice into a near-future Montreal reimagined with grit and hope. A tender ode to resilience, family and radical love, Five Points offers a vivid portrait of a city—and world—on the brink, guided by a cast of memorable and distinct voices, each shimmering with optimism and empathy. A fierce and inspiring call-to-action.

What a thrill to find Laek, Janie, Siri, and Simon again, now more established in Sokol’s near future Montreal—and to add Philip’s narration to the lot! Much like its predecessor, Five Points on an Invisible Line reels you in through stellar, complex characters and relationships made taut by love and secrets.”

Description:

Some families we choose, some battles we can’t avoid, some lines we must cross together.

A bomb at the airport.

A mysterious disappearance.

A family pushing boundaries.

Three years after finding refuge in near-future Montreal, Laek and Janie prepare to expand their unconventional family. But when their friend Philip’s arrival coincides with an explosion at the airport, their sanctuary begins to crack.

Struggling with PTSD, Laek must forge an alliance with someone he doesn’t trust as street kids start vanishing from his school. Meanwhile, Janie dreams of building a larger family through a polyamorous union, even as dangers mount around them.

Their community of queer, poly, and neurodivergent activists fights for justice in a city that’s both haven and battleground. But when protecting others means risking everything they’ve built, how much are they willing to sacrifice?

In a world of invisible lines, which ones are worth crossing?

Where to Find the Books:

Invisible Line will be available on August 12, 2025

Five Points on an Invisible Line will be available on September 16, 2025

Both books can be preordered through Flame Arrow Publishing or at your favourite bookstore!