A Skinful of Shadows
by Frances Hardinge
A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge is a historical fantasy novel set in the reign of Charles I. It’s aimed at young adult (13+) readers and a good way to learn about life in 17th century England and the civil war that tore the country apart. Hardinge previously won the Costa Book Award for her book The Lie Tree and A Skinful of Shadows was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year in 2017.
Recommendations from our site
“Hardinge is the queen of younger teen stories, a largely neglected space in young adult publishing right now. Her magical concepts are always elegant, with a single paranormal addition to our world that changes everything for the protagonist. Here, the premise is an unsettling one: some people have the capacity to store spirits of the deceased inside themselves – a living vessel for the dead.” Read more...
“Thanks to large amounts of gold, the Fellmotte family have managed to persuade Charles I not to expose their supernatural dealings. Makepeace must navigate these tricky territories, while staying true to her brother James”
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