Listen to a sample
The Absolute Book
- Author
- Elizabeth Knox
- Narrator
- Anne-Marie Duff
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Publish Date
- 18 March 2021
- Run Time
- 18 hours 21 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Contemporary fantasy / Low fantasy, Urban fantasy, Mythical, legendary and supernatural beings, monsters and creatures, Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings, Narrative theme: environmental issues / the natural world, Adventure / action fiction, Crime and / or mystery fiction, Narrative theme: death, grief, loss
- Rating
- 3.0 (1 review)
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
Taryn Cornick believes her sister Bea was deliberately run down and killed. She believes it so hard she allows a man called the Muleskinner to exact the justice Bea was denied. An eye for an eye.
Which is when Taryn's problems really begin.
Because the police suspect Taryn's involvement in the death.
Worse, others have their eyes on Taryn - those in a faraway place who know what Taryn's family have been carefully hiding in their vast library. The Absolute Book.
They want it - and they want Taryn to help find it.
For the lives of those in more than one world depend upon it . . .
PRAISE FOR THE ABSOLUTE BOOK:
'MIND-BLOWING' LAINI TAYLOR
'ASTOUNDING' FRANCIS SPUFFORD
'Intricately plotted and gorgeously written, THE ABSOLUTE BOOK has something for everyone: the search for a mysterious book, talking ravens, police detectives and academics, gods and demons, a giant saltwater crocodile, the bucolic English countryside and magical gates to hidden worlds. Here is a cinematic tale that is by turns dark and dreamlike, yet ultimately hopeful' DEBORAH HARKNESS, author of A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES
'Gorgeous. The payoffs and reveals are mind-blowing' LAINI TAYLOR, author of DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE
'An angelic book, an apocalyptic book, an astounding book' FRANCIS SPUFFORD
© Elizabeth Knox 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021
Critics Review
-
An INSTANT CLASSIC, a work to rank alongside other modern masterpieces of fantasy such as Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series or Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Everything fantasy should be: original, magical, well read, compelling
Guardian
-
Intricately plotted and gorgeously written, THE ABSOLUTE BOOK has something for everyone: the search for a mysterious book, talking ravens, police detectives and academics, gods and demons, a giant saltwater crocodile, the bucolic English countryside and magical gates to hidden worlds. Here is a cinematic tale that is by turns dark and dreamlike, yet ultimately hopeful
author of A Discovery of Witches
-
An angelic book, an apocalyptic book, an astounding book
Francis Spufford
-
Gripping and hugely ambitious, the broad narrative flood sweeps us on to an extraordinary conclusion
Daily Mail
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
Gorgeous. The payoffs and reveals are mind-blowing
author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone
-
A marvellous argument for stories. There are Norse gods, references to Merlin, a tour through purgatory and a strange parallel world where magic is real and humans are bit players in the clash of supernatural realms. Bewitching
The Times
-
A magical book; doors between worlds; talking birds, vicious fairies and a trip to Purgatory. Stuffed with literary allusion and mythic echoes from the Norse legends to Alan Garner, straddling dimensions and hopping genres with ease, this is a one-of-a-kind fantasy novel that's worth getting lost in
Guardian, 50 Hottest Books
-
Epic, imaginative and exquisitely written, this is a feat of fantastical world-building
Daily Express
-
Reminded me of how I felt reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell or His Dark Materials - this is a masterpiece
Slate
-
A triumph. Book where the best hearts meet the best minds meet the best imaginations are few and far between
Pip Adam
User Reviews
Book 3.0
Narration 5.0
-
3.0 5.0
I really enjoyed this book, although it was not entirely what I expected. To me it seemed that the author was trying to look at the importance of books, language and libraries but set in a world where there is a parallel universe of magical creatures which can be accessed through 'gates'.
There were some places where I got lost because the plot seemed to move ahead too quickly and I felt that I had missed some crucial information. Other than that I loved the story and found it unique and engaging. The narration was also wonderful.
Overall this book reminded me of Patrick Rothfuss, so if you're a fan of his work definitely give this a go!elleninelle 2022-07-20
Details
- Author
- Elizabeth Knox
- Narrator
- Anne-Marie Duff
- Duration
- 18 hours 21 minutes
- Release Date
- 18 March 2021
- ISBN
- 9781405948913
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Genre
- Contemporary fantasy / Low fantasy, Urban fantasy, Mythical, legendary and supernatural beings, monsters and creatures, Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings, Narrative theme: environmental issues / the natural world, Adventure / action fiction, Crime and / or mystery fiction, Narrative theme: death, grief, loss
- Rating
- 3.0(1 review)
- Narration
- 5.0(1 review)
Synopsis
Brought to you by Penguin. Taryn Cornick believes her sister Bea was deliberately run down and killed. She believes it so hard she allows a man called the Muleskinner to exact the justice Bea was denied. An eye for an eye.Which is when Taryn's problems really begin.Because the police suspect Taryn's involvement in the death.Worse, others have their eyes on Taryn - those in a faraway place who know what Taryn's family have been carefully hiding in their vast library. The Absolute Book.They want it - and they want Taryn to help find it.For the lives of those in more than one world depend upon it . . .PRAISE FOR THE ABSOLUTE BOOK:'MIND-BLOWING' LAINI TAYLOR'ASTOUNDING' FRANCIS SPUFFORD'Intricately plotted and gorgeously written, THE ABSOLUTE BOOK has something for everyone: the search for a mysterious book, talking ravens, police detectives and academics, gods and demons, a giant saltwater crocodile, the bucolic English countryside and magical gates to hidden worlds. Here is a cinematic tale that is by turns dark and dreamlike, yet ultimately hopeful' DEBORAH HARKNESS, author of A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES'Gorgeous. The payoffs and reveals are mind-blowing' LAINI TAYLOR, author of DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE'An angelic book, an apocalyptic book, an astounding book' FRANCIS SPUFFORD© Elizabeth Knox 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.