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. I really enjoyed the book because it was not something I was used to reading about. My favourite character in the book is Makepeace as she is very independent and she figures things out using little things around her. She is also very clever, even though she doesn't know how to read, Makepeace is a very creative person and most of the things she solves in the story can be related in real life situations. I thought some of the history in the book was realistic but, most of it wasn't since it is fantasy. Considering the fact that it was set a long time ago, certain people might have actually believed that ghosts entering people's body can actually happen. The book was very interesting and because I already read a book by the author I wanted to read it to see how good the book was. I just wanted to say the book is really weird in a good way but, it's very creative and I loved it. The Best Most Epic Fantasy Series of All Times on 5 Reasons That Make Discworld one of the Best Fantasy Series Ever A Skinful of Shadows' is a great book full of mystery, secrets and the supernatural. However I do not think it focuses too much about the time and context, although it does not mean it is not present, but it is not the theme of the story. But it is a very good book that I would recommend to anyone interested In ghosts and the supernatural. While interesting and original this young adult horror story had a bit of an identity crisis as it tried to marry its horror story with historical war.

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

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 . . . The pull of the story is towards subversion, and Makepeace ends by reappropriating her inherited gifts, and using them not to provide a vessel for antiquated mores, but to succour the weak and the dispossessed. This is a wonderful, resonant narrative whose subtlety and insight will challenge, entertain and enchant. Perhaps in response to the Puritan elements in the story, Hardinge’s language in this novel is less elaborate than it has been, resulting in a cleaner, sharper diction. There are many wonderful moments that have the unmistakable Hardinge tang. Makepeace accidentally absorbs the ghost of a bear, symbolising both the uncontrollable id that she must subdue and the violence threatening to tear apart the country in “surprising zigzags”. She develops a deep rapport with her beastly fellow traveller, but often it’s “like reasoning with a thundercloud”. Like in the The Lie Tree Hardinge brings this historical period to intricate life, but not without keeping the story suspenseful as Makepeace's family are revealed in their full horrific detail. Her journey is an interesting one for YA in that the issue is not so much about defining her identity, but the much more basic one of whether she is entitled to an identity separate from that of her family at all.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.

A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge | Waterstones

This is one of the grimmest coming of age stories I have ever read - not because there's tons of gore or violence, but because Makepeace is broken a little at a time so many times: For Paranormal Romance fans who love a good ghost story, there is First Grave on the Right by author Darynda Jones. 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. The Charley Davidson series combines excellent detective work with engrossing paranormal romance. Definitely one of the best books in the ghosts as central characters genre. 5) Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire Now Eve must stop Nix who has been able to drive all her previous hunters insane and is also capable of doing a lot of damage herself.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. I'm fascinated by the English Civil War for so many reasons. I like periods of change, and at that time there was a sense that everyone had run off the edge of the world that they knew and were now in freefall. None of the old rules seemed to work any more. In fact, a lot of people thought that the world was about to end. A Skinful of Shadows starts out very solid as we learn about our lead gals odd ghost 'issues'. Her Mother that appears cruel and the Aunt and Uncle who have no interest in her sets our lead gal up as a neglected, alone and forgotten soul. Not unlike some ghost/spirits might be. While there are many ghost/spirit haunting stories, and there may even be some in which the spirits haunt live bodies, A Skinful of Shadows still stood out for me as an unique and compelling story. The added touch of a dynasty family with great political and financial power helped put our characters front and centre to many situations we may not have encountered otherwise. This use of a non-noble but high ranking household is brilliant by Hardinge. And while servants, like our main gal, embroiled in high family affairs is not a new setting, Hardinge takes it to a whole new level by defining a servant as something more than a pushy kitchen girl and instead she is a rare commodity that the main family cannot afford to lose. A Skinful of Shadows is yet another beautiful, multi-layered novel by one of the brightest stars in the YA sky. Highly, highly recommended.

A Skinful of Shadows - Wikipedia

Access-restricted-item true Addeddate 2023-01-12 13:45:53 Boxid IA40146105 Camera USB PTP Class Camera Collection_set printdisabled External-identifier Her first rescue, to which she becomes host, is a mistreated circus bear. Makepeace discovers just how difficult it is to trust people, a good life lesson. This becomes more and more important as she wanders through the countryside searching for safety. 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.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. Sarah Perry, author of The Essex Serpent Hardinge is a talent who deserves to be read by children and adults alike.