Best Selling Books by Frances Hardinge

Costa Book of the Year: This novel of science, magic, murder, and a determined Victorian-era teenager is a “heady concoction . . . absolutely unforgettable” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Faith Sunderly leads a double life. To most people, she is modest and well mannered—a proper young lady who knows her place. But inside, Faith is burning with questions and curiosity. She keeps sharp watch of her surroundings and, therefore, knows secrets no one suspects her of knowing—like the real reason her family fled to the close-knit island of Vane. And that her father’s death was no accident. In pursuit of revenge and justice for the father she idolizes, Faith hunts through his possessions, where she discovers a strange tree. A tree that bears fruit only when she whispers a lie to it. The fruit, in turn, delivers a hidden truth. The tree might hold the key to her father’s murder. Or, it might lure the murderer directly to Faith herself, for lies—like fires, wild and crackling—quickly take on a life of their own. “Frances Hardinge has joined the ranks of those writers of young-adult fiction, like Philip Pullman, whose approach to fantasy proves so compelling that they quickly develop an adult following, and The Lie Tree is a good demonstration of why this is so . . . [a] page-turner.” —Locus “The time is nineteenth-century England just after Darwin’s theory of evolution has thrown the scientific world into turmoil; the setting is the fictional island of Vane, between land and sea; the main character is a fourteen-year-old girl caught between society’s expectations and her fierce desire to be a scientist. . . . A stunner.” —The Horn Book (starred review) “A murder mystery that dazzles at every level, shimmering all the more brightly the deeper down into it you go.” —Chicago Tribune “Haunting, and darkly funny . . . features complex, many-sided characters and a clear-eyed examination of the deep sexism of the period, which trapped even the most intelligent women in roles as restrictive as their corsets.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Hardinge, who can turn a phrase like no other, melds a haunting historical mystery with a sharp observation on the dangers of suppressing the thirst for knowledge.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

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

“Full of rich language that is reminiscent of an old fairy tale. . . . [a] spine-chilling, creative work [and] a well-wrought fantasy.” —School Library Journal (starred review) Following a mysterious incident that leaves her feverish and sopping wet, Triss awakens to a world that’s eerily off-kilter. Her memories are muddled, her sister despises her, and when she brushes her hair, out come crumbled fragments of leaves. Is she going mad? Or has she endured a nightmarish chain of events? Is this related to the illnesses she’s had since her brother died in the Great War? And why is she so hungry? In her search for the truth, Triss ventures from the shelter of her parents’ protective wings into the city’s underbelly. There she encounters strange creatures whose grand schemes could forever alter the fates of her family, in an unnerving tale of one girl’s struggle to confront her darkest fears. “Few authors can evoke a twinned sense of terror and wonder better . . . Vivid, frightening, and inventive, with narrative twists and turns. . . . A piercing, chilling page-turner.” —Booklist (starred review) “Nuanced and intense.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Quiet but elegant prose moves the story seamlessly from an effectively creepy horror tale to a powerful, emotionally resonant story of regret and forgiveness.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) “Gorgeously written and disconcerting . . . Hardinge delves deeply into the darker side of family life.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Cuckoo Song transcends its teen-reader designation. The psychological and historical nuances . . . will mesmerize older readers as well.” —BookPage

“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)

The award-winning author of The Lie Tree “has created a distinctly imaginative world full of engaging characters, robust humor, and true suspense” (School Library Journal, starred review). Everybody knew that books were dangerous. Read the wrong book, it was said, and the words crawled around your brain on black legs and drove you mad, wicked mad. Mosca Mye’s father insisted on teaching her to read—even in a world where books are dangerous, regulated things. Eight years later, Quillam Mye died, leaving behind an orphaned daughter with an inauspicious name and an all-consuming hunger for words. Trapped for years in the care of her cruel uncle and aunt, Mosca leaps at the opportunity for escape, though it comes in the form of sneaky swindler Eponymous Clent. As she travels the land with Clent and her pet goose, Mosca begins to discover complicated truths about the world she inhabits and the power of words. “Intricate plotting, well-developed and fascinating characters, delicious humor, and exquisite wordcraft envelop readers fully into this richly imagined world.” ?The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) “Hardinge’s stylish way with prose gives her sprawling debut fantasy a literate yet often silly tone that calls to mind Monty Python.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Mosca’s ferocity and authentic inner turmoil [are] both reminiscent of Philip Pullman’s Lyra Belacqua.” ?Booklist “Incredibly well written.” ?The Seattle Times

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)

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)

Part gothic thriller and part coming-of-age story, a new illustrated middle-grade fantasy from award-winning author Frances Hardinge and acclaimed illustrator Emily Gravett about a strange island filled with ghosts and long-buried secrets On the misty island of Merlack, the lingering dead can cause unspeakable harm if they’re not safely carried to the island of the Broken Tower, where they can move on. Milo’s father always told him that he wasn’t suited for dealing with the dead and could never become the Ferryman of the Dead—but one day, he’s unexpectedly thrust into the role. And his father is his first passenger . . . Soon after, the teenage daughter of the Lord of Merlock passes. But the Lord of Merlock isn’t prepared to give her up, and he follows Milo’s boat in pursuit, in a boat filled with armed men and two sinister magicians at his command. It’s a race to the island as Milo must face swarms of sinister moths, strange headless birds, and chillingly shrouded figures to carry his ghostly passengers across the secret seas. Filled with suspense and Hardinge’s signature sparkling prose, this new story—accompanied throughout by striking illustrations by award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett—will keep you on the edge of your seat in this remarkable and ultimately heartwarming story of grief, family, kindness, and being true to yourself.

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 . . .

Winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2015, The Lie Tree is a dark and powerful novel from universally acclaimed author, Frances Hardinge. It was not enough. All knowledge - any knowledge - called to Faith, and there was a delicious, poisonous pleasure in stealing it unseen. Faith has a thirst for science and secrets that the rigid confines of her class cannot suppress. And so it is that she discovers her disgraced father''s journals, filled with the scribbled notes and theories of a man driven close to madness. Tales of a strange tree which, when told a lie, will uncover a truth: the greater the lie, the greater the truth revealed to the liar. Faith''s search for the tree leads her into great danger – for where lies seduce, truths shatter . . . ''Brilliant, dark, thrilling, utterly original'' Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls. ''The Lie Tree is a wonder. I can''t think of anyone who would not love this story'' Matt Haig, author of The Humans.

“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)

On an island of sandy beaches, dense jungles, and slumbering volcanoes, colonists seek to apply archaic laws to a new land, bounty hunters stalk the living for the ashes of their funerary pyres, and a smiling tribe is despised by all as traitorous murderers. It is here, in the midst of ancient tensions and new calamity, that two sisters are caught in a deadly web of deceits. Arilou is proclaimed a beautiful prophetess—one of the island''s precious oracles: a Lost. Hathin, her junior, is her nearly invisible attendant. But neither Arilou nor Hathin is exactly what she seems, and they live a lie that is carefully constructed and jealously guarded. When the sisters are unknowingly drawn into a sinister, island-wide conspiracy, quiet, unobtrusive Hathin must journey beyond all she has ever known of her world—and of herself—in a desperate attempt to save them both. As the stakes mount and falsehoods unravel, she discovers that the only thing more dangerous than the secret she hides is the truth she must uncover.

Three friends fall prey to the demands of the Well Witch when they trespass in her wishing well and steal some coins.

''Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now.'' Patrick NessTwilight 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 . . .

Enthralling children''s fiction for everyone who loves Robin Steven''s Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries and Frances Hardinge''s The Lie Tree. Twelve mysteries. Twelve authors. One challenge: can YOU solve the crimes before the heroes of the stories? These are twelve brand-new short stories from twelve of the best children''s crime writers writing today. These creepy, hilarious, brain-boggling, heart-pounding mysteries feature daring, brilliant young detectives, and this anthology is a must for fans of crime fiction and detection, especially the Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries, The Roman Mysteries and The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow. The Crime Club are twelve UK-based authors who are mad about crime fiction. Clementine Beauvais, Elen Caldecott, Susie Day, Julia Golding, Frances Hardinge, Caroline Lawrence, Helen Moss, Sally Nicholls, Kate Pankhurst, Robin Stevens, Harriet Whitehorn and Katherine Woodfine can be found anywhere there is a mystery to be solved, a puzzle to be cracked or a bun to be eaten, and they are always ready for the next puzzling case.

A cabinet of magic! A cavalcade of wonder! A collection of stories both strange and wondrous, of tales filled with wild adventure and strange imaginings. Fearsome Magics, the second New Solaris Book of Fantasy, is all these things and more. It is, we think, one of the best books you will read all year. Award-winning editor Jonathan Strahan has invited some of the best and most exciting writers working in fantasy today to let their imaginations run wild and to deliver stories that will thrill and awe, delight and amuse. And above all, stories that are filled with fearsome magic! Authors include Garth Nix, K.J. Parker, Justina Robson, Ellen Klages, Christopher Rowe, Isobelle Carmody, Tony Ballantyne, James Bradley, Karin Tidbeck, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Frances Hardinger, Kaaron Warren, Genevieve Valentine and Robert Shearman.

Winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2015, The Lie Tree is a dark and powerful novel from universally acclaimed author, Frances Hardinge, and illustrated by Children''s Laureate, Chris Riddell It was not enough. All knowledge- any knowledge - called to Faith, and there was a delicious, poisonous pleasure in stealing it unseen. Faith has a thirst for science and secrets that the rigid confines of her class cannot supress. And so it is that she discovers her disgraced father''s journals, filled with the scribbled notes and theories of a man driven close to madness. Tales of a strange tree which, when told a lie, will uncover a truth: the greater the lie, the greater the truth revealed to the liar. Faith''s search for the tree leads her into great danger - for where lies seduce, truths shatter . . . The Lie Tree: Illustrated Edition is packed full of gorgeous black and white illustrations by double Kate Greenaway Medal winning-illustrator, Chris Riddell, author of the Goth Girl and Ottoline series. ''Brilliant, dark, thrilling, utterly original'' Patrick Ness ''The Lie Tree is a wonder. I can''t think of anyone who would not love this story'' Matt Haig ''I loved this book so much'' Lucy Mangan ''Complex and intelligent: a lustrous, delicious romp.'' Philip Womack, The Telegraph

A dark and thrilling tale about a young girl''s fight for survival in a treacherous world from two bestselling talents.

Diverse new anthology from the acclaimed editors of The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories These are the stories of people who live at night: under neon and starlight, and never the light of the sun. These are the stories of poets and police, tourists and traders; the hidden and the forbidden; the lonely and the lovers. This is their time. The Outcast Hours gathers over two dozen brand-new stories from award-winning writers across genres and continents, including bold new fiction from Marina Warner, Frances Hardinge, China Miéville, Sami Shah, Omar Robert Hamilton, Kuzhali Manickavel, Will Hill, Indrapramit Das, Silvia Moreno Garcia, Jeffrey Alan Love, Maha Khan Phillips, and many, many more.

For anyone who still considers woman to be the weaker sex, think again... Tales of Dark SF, Fantasy and Horror from: Frances Hardinge Storm Constantine Ruth Booth Andrew Hook Stewart Hotston Holly Ice Adele Kirby Maura McHugh Jonathan Oliver Stephen Palmer John Llewellyn Probert Benjanun Sriduangkaew

Collection includes two annotated typescripts and a galley proof of Frances Hardinge''s young adult novel, Cuckoo Song. The typescripts comprise an earlier and later draft of the novel and include editorial annotations. The galley proof contains editorial annotations in red ink and bears the faint remnants of earlier photocopied editorial comments.

Typescript. A complete draft of the novel, including handwritten annotations and revisions.