A Skinful of Shadows
On the eve of the English Civil War, twelve-year-old Makepeace has an unusual problem. Not only do ghosts exist, they’re also scared, and her mind is one of the few places open for them to hide. This unfortunate aspect will lead her down the road of tragedy, witch hunts and powerful families and straight into the heart of a warring nation.
Hot off the runaway success of her Costa Award-winning novel The Lie Tree, Frances Hardinge has written another marvellously macabre novel with a plot as intricate as a spider’s web. Filled with compelling characters and stunning set pieces, the book parcels out twists and secrets so regularly, you are pleasantly surprised that it never runs out before the end. The period setting is impeccably researched and the supernatural aspects are deftly woven into the heated politics and the religious fervour. The author maintains an unsentimental view of a tumultuous time in English history, unflinching and never lapsing into caricature. A Skinful of Shadows is a lengthy read but fans of strange, spooky worlds will definitely wish to seek their own hiding place to read it all in one go. Also, there is a ghost bear! You can’t argue with a ghost bear.
