A Skinful of Shadows

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Mother was like this sometimes. Conversations became riddles with traps in them, and your answers had consequences.” And Trust was like mould. It accumulated over time in unattended areas. Trusting her was convenient; distrusting her would have been inconvenient and tiresome. Over the years, Makepeace had become encrusted with other people's inattentive trust. The story (so far) follows Makepeace, a strange young girl with the ability to see dead things. Except, these aren't the sort of ghosts you'd want to meet on a dark night - we're talking wild, dangerous wisps that try to enter her mind and take over. Her mother tells her to arm herself against these spirits, before dying herself - which leaves Makepeace at the mercy of her father's strange and sinister family... Soon Triss discovers that what happened to her is more strange and terrible than she could ever have imagined, and that she is quite literally not herself. In a quest to find the truth she must travel into the terrifying Underbelly of the city to meet a twisted architect who has dark designs on her family – before it's too late . . . Charley can not only talk to the dead but it is also her job to convince them to go over to the other side – to the light – after their death.

A Skinful of Shadows / Young Quills Awards 2018 – Winners and A Skinful of Shadows / Young Quills Awards 2018 – Winners and

Frances Hardinge’s last novel, The Lie Tree, won the overall Costa book award in 2015; the only other children’s book to have done so is Philip Pullman’s The Amber Spyglass, in 2001. Hardinge is at the forefront of children’s fiction, with a rich, unusual taste for language, an eye for the striking and apt image and stories that reveal a staunch defence of the weak and the oppressed. What is more, she combines a subtle, intellectual approach with plots that swoop and soar. This is a really interesting book with Shari understanding that she had been murdered. Now she has to investigate and solve her own murder while uncovering other mysteries surrounding her circumstances. 4) First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson Series) by Darynda Jones of the Best Supernatural Fantasy Books for Tweens | SpookShelf on The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Review This was my first Hardinge book. I have more a couple more of hers on my shelf for the future and I'm definitely excited to read them. While I give this a 3.5 stars it's a solid 3.5. Assuming you can push through the dragging war bound middle of the novel then I believe most will enjoy Hardinge's creepy and (mostly) compelling ghost story. This goes deep into the character in other ways too: does she deserve a second chance? She doesn’t know but she knows she wants to live. That principle, the urge to live, shapes other characters’ motivations too and the cost can be high. To some is death. To other, losing something far more precious. The allure of power to those who don’t usually have it is looked at with down-to-earth lenses and over and over, Makepeace decides to trust people and to believe them.A Skinful of Shadows is everything I know Hardinge is capable of. The story is creepy and brilliant, but heartfelt and emotive. I loved the main character, Makepeace, but as is usual for Frances Hardinge, all of her characters are vivid and filled with life. No complaints about the quality of the writing either; it is a joy to read. The Best Most Epic Fantasy Series of All Times on 5 Reasons That Make Discworld one of the Best Fantasy Series Ever In the 1640s during the English Civil War, the twelve-year-old illegitimate daughter of an aristocratic family shares their unique hereditary gift: the capacity to be possessed by ghosts This was a 5 chapter sampler given by Netgalley as an ARC. It was great! This in itself is no surprise if you have read The Lie Tree by the same author. Twelve-year-old Makepeace has learned to defend herself from the ghosts which try to possess her in the night, desperate for refuge, but one day a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard.

A Skinful of Shadows - Historical Association A Skinful of Shadows - Historical Association

As a coming-of-age tale, this book really shines in showing the emotional impact of living a life caught in the middle. Makepeace has never felt like she belonged in Poplar, and later finds out that her ability to see ghosts and absorb them into herself is the result of her father’s bloodline. And yet, when she finds herself at Grizehayes, the ancestral home of her father’s family, she is quite horrified to discover what exactly her powers can be used for. Worst of all, instead of finding acceptance with others like her, she is threatened and manipulated, and the only person she ends up trusting is a half-brother named James, who shows her kindness. It is about a girl called Makepeace. One day she finds herself responsible for her mother's death and all alone. She is acting strange so her uncle sends her to live with one of the most powerful families in England, who are also her father's family. She meets her half-brother and they try to escape. They try to find out more about their family secret, but they find out more than she wants. Maybe she's now got to hide more than one secret? With her wild tempers, which come from inside, does she really know whose souls are inside her? Frances Hardinge is an amazing writer. She is one of my favorites when it comes to word-smithing; never purple, but frequently vivid and full of emotional shading. Unfortunately, she tends to be the fantasy equivalent of Tana French: stories filled with a foreboding atmosphere, enough struggle to make one despair, and characters one would rather avoid. A deliciously sinister read full of mayhem and menace. Frances Hardinge is a very powerful and poetic writer – weaving a very dark and magical tale to entrance and enthral her readers. The Best Most Epic Fantasy Series of All Times on Books you will love if you like The Kingkiller ChroniclesThe intriguing and imaginative world of Everlost explores the middle-realm of afterlife and is filled with captivating characters, plotlines and adventure. 7) Haunted by Kelley Armstrong This book was extraordinary from the start because of the exhilarating storyline, sudden plot twists and amazing detail. It's an enjoyable read which I have found unputdownable from the start. Frances Hardinge constantly adds new elements which keeps you thinking about the storyline. For example when Makepeace recruits a ghost to help her, Frances Hardinge has added a completely new element to the storyline and makes the reader think about what has happened in more detail than written.

A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge | Goodreads A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge | Goodreads

There's no real reason A Skinful of Shadows needed to have an identity crisis. Set during the English civil war, our horror story is the focus, but certainly our characters are affected by the battle events around them. Which was all well and good until our lead gal ends up caught up in a scheme that will benefit one side of the war. While it gets our characters away from certain situations this interlude of smuggling, spies, infantry movements and battlement sieges is just dull. Instead of having an engaging reason to care, and partially because our lead gal doesn't care who wins, I just couldn't bring myself to feel any passion about the war or whose side wins or losses. Perhaps it's very sad and pathetic of me but the use of a bear spirit in this kept reminding me of Disney's Brave. Don't get me wrong I adored our bear and his ferocious, confused and yet protective role in our story. But each time a bear spirit was referenced all I saw was our lead girl dressed up as Meredith. This was distracting for me. And so I think a different animal might have been a better choice. A cougar could easily have played the same role and maybe helped distance the small similarities to Brave bear spirit. I'll never reread this one and feel no desire to own it, but it would have been the perfect October read: sinister, twisty, and teeming with ghosts.

The magic system in this book was new to me. Makepeace’s rebellion against Fellmote is quite inspiring. She takes some great decision many times but at others her naïve and honest self puts her in dangerous situation. It was a remarkable journey of a girl who wanted to be loved but got herself tangled in the power struggle of Fellmotte family and then later on English civil war. Also, I loved how Makepeace’s transition from a timid girl to a clever girl. I was worried for her survival but the author made her change flawless. It was not sudden but gradual hence so believable.