A Skinful Of Shadows

From the award–winning author of The Lie Tree, “a delicious combination of historical adventure, coming-of-age tale, and supernatural intrigue” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Sometimes, when a person dies, their spirit goes looking for somewhere to hide. Some people have space within them, perfect for hiding Young Makepeace has learned to defend herself from the ghosts that try to possess her in the night, desperate for refuge, but one day a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard. And now there’s a spirit inside her. The spirit is wild, brutish, and strong, and it may be her only defense when she is sent to live with her father’s rich and powerful family. There is talk of civil war, and they need people like her to protect their dark and terrible family secret. But as she plans to escape and heads out into a country torn apart by war, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession—or death. “Darkly splendid . . . a wonderful, resonant narrative whose subtlety and insight will challenge, entertain and enchant.” —The Guardian “A Skinful of Shadows is outlandishly creative and thoroughly blood-chilling. Her storytelling is visceral and unfurls at an exciting pace, making this novel a wonderful, weird and terrifying addition to her body of work.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review) “A book that only Hardinge could write . . . [a] masterful and spooky historical fantasy.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Hardinge’s writing is stunning, and readers will be taken hostage by its intensity, fascinating developments, and the fierce, compassionate girl leading the charge.” —Booklist (starred review) “Deliberate, impeccable, and extraordinary.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Touch is an electrifying thriller by the author of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August and 84K. He tried to take my life. Instead, I took his. It was a long time ago. I remember it was dark, and I didn't see my killer until it was too late. As I died, my hand touched his. That's when the first switch took place. Suddenly, I was looking through the eyes of my killer, and I was watching myself die. Now switching is easy. I can jump from body to body, have any life, be anyone. Some people touch lives. Others take them. I do both. More by Claire North:The Gameshouse84KThe End of the DayThe Sudden Appearance of HopeTouchThe First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

From the award-winning author, “a breathtaking journey of revenge and redemption that pits a stubborn, devoted girl against an unknown evil” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). On Gullstruck Island, legend has it that the mountain ranges and volcanoes are in charge. Anger them, and you’ll pay the price. Keep them happy, and you’ll enjoy their protection. These stories of the land’s command come in handy for quiet, near-invisible Hathin when she must run for her life. Hathin’s sister, Arilou, is believed to be a Lost. The Lost are held nearly sacred by those on Gullstruck, for they can send their senses away from their bodies. If Lost, Arilou can read a message across the island. If Lost, Arilou can hear whispers in the corners of private rooms. If Lost, Arilou can smell bread baking in the governor’s mansion. All from her beachside hut. But the question remains: Is Arilou really a Lost? When all the Lost drop dead, except Arilou, she and Hathin are swept into a grand conspiracy that leads them to the most sinister depths—and heights—of the island. “Filled with sentient volcanoes, gem-studded teeth, villains, heroes, revenge, love, and the world’s most frightening dentist, this is a book to rival The Princess Bride in scope, adventure, and excitement. It’s Hardinge’s magnum opus. One that I dearly hope both kids and adults enjoy in equal measure.” —A Fuse #8 Production, School Library Journal “Delightfully inventive . . . Ripe, rollicking, and endlessly creative.” —The Guardian “A luminous example of gifted storytelling at its best.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Equal parts dazzling fantasy, swashbuckling adventure, and tender coming-of-age tale” from the author of the Costa Book of the Year, The Lie Tree (Publishers Weekly, starred review). The gods are dead. Fifty years ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why. Now, even coin-sized scraps of dead god are worth a fortune because of the strange powers they’re said to possess. But few are brave enough to dive and search for them. When fifteen-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of one of these deities, he’ll risk everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, scientists, and cults who would kill for its power. Because Hark needs the heart if he wants to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But the power of a god was not meant for human hands. With the heart, Jelt begins to eerily transform, and Hark will have to decide if he can stay loyal to his friend—or what he’s willing to sacrifice to save him. “Hardinge is assured and sophisticated in her exploration of the dark temptations of power.” —The Wall Street Journal “Monsters and mortals collide in this fantasy adventure that explores the hypnotic allure of fear, the adamant grip of the past, and the redeeming power of stories . . . Thrilling.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Glorious thematic complexity inhabits a wildly inventive world, with the menacing roils of a dangerous sea threatening the archipelago and touches of steampunk rounding out the fantastical elements . . . Readers will be thrilled to be pulled into the alluring expanse of her work.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

Twilight Robbery is the extraordinary sequel to the award-winning Fly By Night by Costa winner Frances Hardinge. The city at night is a dangerous place . . . Mosca Mye and Eponymous Clent are in trouble again. Escaping disaster by the skin of their teeth, they find refuge in Toll, the strange gateway town where visitors may neither enter nor leave without paying a price. By day, the city is well-mannered and orderly; by night, it's the haunt of rogues and villains. Wherever there's a plot, there's sure to be treachery, and wherever there's treachery, there's sure to be trouble – and where there's trouble, Clent, Mosca and the web-footed apocalypse Saracen the goose can't be far behind. But as past deeds catch up with them and old enemies appear, it looks as if this time there's no way out . . . 'Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now' - Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls.

An amnesiac girl explores an enchanting underground world filled with sinister secrets in this YA fantasy from the award-winning author of The Lie Tree. In the underground city of Caverna, the world’s most skilled craftspeople toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare—wines that remove memories, cheeses that make you hallucinate, and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as he slits your throat. On the surface, the people of Caverna seem ordinary, except for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to express (or fake) joy, despair, or fear—at a steep price. Into this dark and distrustful world comes Neverfell, a girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must always wear a mask. Neverfell’s expressions are as varied and dynamic as those of the most skilled Facesmiths, except hers are entirely genuine. And that makes her very dangerous indeed . . . Praise for A Face Like Glass An ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Book “Hardinge is at the top of her game with this entrancing and action-packed adventure. Her voluptuous prose is full of sensory details and wildly imaginative descriptions, yet the world-building is controlled and gradually revealed. . . . VERDICT A compelling and triumphant follow-up to The Lie Tree for those who love to become immersed in a good story.” —School Library Journal, starred review “Using beautiful prose, Hardinge builds a richly imagined world that twists as much as the carefully orchestrated plot. Readers will eagerly follow noble Neverfell through its tunnels, marveling at the extraordinary sights and catching their breath at her daring escapades.” ―Booklist, starred review “Hardinge excels at wordplay and worldbuilding; witty but not trite, her utterly original setting and chaotic, fidgety protagonist anchor a cracking good story that raises important ideas surrounding the nature of friendship, the value of honesty, and the danger of too much.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A dark YA fantasy about learning to use your power and finding peace, from award-winning author Frances Hardinge In a world where anyone can create a life-destroying curse, only one person has the power to unravel them. Kellen does not fully understand his talent, but helps those transformed maliciously—including Nettle. Recovered from entrapment in bird form, she is now his constant companion and closest ally. But Kellen has also been cursed, and unless he and Nettle can remove his curse, Kellen is in danger of unravelling everything—and everyone—around him . . .

“Deliciously shiver-inducing . . . Fans of dark fantasies such as Neil Gaiman’s Coraline will find this tale irresistible”—from the award-winning author (School Library Journal). Verdigris (n.): a blue-green rust that tarnishes aging and forgotten copper coins, altering them entirely . . . Ryan feels invisible: At school, he’s in a class with students older and cooler than him, and at home, he’s largely ignored during his parents’ petty arguments. And then he meets Josh. Josh is popular in the way that only beautiful boys can be—he’s almost electric. Both Ryan and his chatterbox sidekick, Chelle, fall under Josh’s spell, and the three soon become inseparable. One summer afternoon, they sneak off to the troubled town of Magwhite. Trapped without bus fare for the ride home, Josh convinces his less mischievous companions their only solution is to steal coins from the infamous wishing well. Soon after, each develops a unique, sinister power. When the well witch appears, she gargles demands of her three new servants. Ryan, Josh, and Chelle have robbed her and now must obey her . . . and the wishes rotting at the bottom of her well. “A deliciously creepy tale . . . There is a vividness and energy to Hardinge’s imagination that makes almost every moment of this absorbing story shine with light or glossy darkness.” —The Horn Book (starred review) “Inescapably chilling . . . a dark, polished gem.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “There’s no denying Hardinge’s power as a storyteller, her ability to create beautiful, precise imagery, or her expectation that her readers will grasp the subtle ideas and reflections woven into the novel.” —Booklist (starred review)