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A Skinful of Shadows
- Author
- Frances Hardinge
- Narrator
- Tuppence Middleton
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 21 September 2017
- Run Time
- 11 hours 51 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
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What to expect
Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2017.
'A Skinful of Shadows confirms Hardinge's status as one of our finest storytellers. It's rare to find a book which is every bit as intelligent and stylish as it is riveting - I was enthralled' - Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent.
Frances Hardinge weaves a dark, otherworldly tale in A Skinful of Shadows, her first book since the Costa Award-winning The Lie Tree.
When a creature dies, its spirit can go looking for somewhere to hide.
Some people have space inside them, perfect for hiding.
Makepeace, a courageous girl with a mysterious past, defends herself nightly from the ghosts which try to possess her. Then a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard for a moment.
And now there's a ghost inside her.
The spirit is wild, brutish and strong, but it may be her only defence in a time of dark suspicion and fear. As the English Civil War erupts, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession – or death.
Critics Review
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Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now.
Patrick Ness
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'A Skinful of Shadows confirms Hardinge's status as one of our finest storytellers. The striking originality of its magical element is matched by a thrilling depiction of a 17th century England riven with political and religious unease. At the centre of the novel, young Makepeace is a vital and engaging presence amid a cast of extraordinary and villainous characters, and she had my heart from the first. It's rare to find a book which is every bit as intelligent and stylish as it is riveting - I was enthralled'
Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent
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Hardinge is a talent who deserves to be read by children and adults alike.
Guardian
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Hardinge's hypnotic prose and resourceful heroine will appeal to young adults and adult readers alike.
The Mail on Sunday
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Hardinge’s tale of ghosts, puritans and shaping your own destiny is an unmissable, hypnotic treat.
Observer Children’s Book of the Week
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Creepy, clever and mind-blowing.
Emerald Street
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Chillingly atmospheric, historically fascinating, it’s also blackly comic in parts and beautifully written.
Daily Mail
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Frances Hardinge’s latest novel, A Skinful of Shadows has a plot every bit as strange as her last, Costa-winning The Lie Tree. The thrilling story follows a 12-year-old girl who has imbibed the spirit of a bear, and is in danger from demonically possessed aristocrats.
Daily Telegraph (Books of the Year)
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Electrifyingly good, A Skinful of Shadows dances between reason, compassion and the supernatural with exceptional artistry. Even in a remarkable year for children's books, it strikes gold.
New Statesman
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Frances Hardinge
- Narrator
- Tuppence Middleton
- Duration
- 11 hours 51 minutes
- Release Date
- 21 September 2017
- ISBN
- 9781509865710
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Thrillers / suspense
Synopsis
Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year 2017.'A Skinful of Shadows confirms Hardinge's status as one of our finest storytellers. It's rare to find a book which is every bit as intelligent and stylish as it is riveting - I was enthralled' - Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent.Frances Hardinge weaves a dark, otherworldly tale in A Skinful of Shadows, her first book since the Costa Award-winning The Lie Tree.When a creature dies, its spirit can go looking for somewhere to hide. Some people have space inside them, perfect for hiding.Makepeace, a courageous girl with a mysterious past, defends herself nightly from the ghosts which try to possess her. Then a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard for a moment.And now there's a ghost inside her.The spirit is wild, brutish and strong, but it may be her only defence in a time of dark suspicion and fear. As the English Civil War erupts, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession – or death.
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