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To Be a Man: 'One of America's most important novelists' (New York Times)
by Nicole KraussAn electrifying short story collection from 'one of America's most important novelists' (New York Times); the twice Orange Prize-shortlisted author of the bestselling The History of Love A TIME BOOK OF THE YEAR'One of our most formidable talents in fiction' ESQUIRE'Krauss's writing is as lyrical as ever' FINANCIAL TIMESDeftly weaving from one end of life to another – from ageing parents to newborn babies, from a young girl's coming-of-age to an old woman's unexpected delivery of a strange new second youth, from mystery and wonder at a life at its close or at a future waiting to unfold, Nicole Krauss's stories illuminate the moments in the lives of women in which the forces of sex, power and violence collide.With sons and lovers, seducers and friends, husbands lost and regained, or husbands who were never husbands at all, how many men does can a woman's lifetime hold? What does it mean to be a man and a woman together; or a man and a woman, once together and now apart?Beautiful, taut and dark, spinning across the world, from Switzerland, Japan and New York to Tel Aviv, Los Angeles and South America, To Be a Man delves with originality and timeliness into questions of masculinity and violence, regret and regeneration, control and desire; and shines a fierce, unwavering light onto men and women, and into the uncharted gulfs that lie between them.
The Mask Falling (The Bone Season)
by Samantha ShannonPaige Mahoney has eluded death again. Snatched from the jaws of captivity and consigned to a safe house in the Scion Citadel of Paris, she finds herself caught between those factions that seek Scion's downfall and those who would kill to protect the Rephaim's puppet empire.The mysterious Domino Programme has plans for Paige, but she has ambitions of her own in this new citadel. With Arcturus Mesarthim - her former enemy - at her side, she embarks on an adventure that will lead her from the catacombs of Paris to the glittering hallways of Versailles. Her risks promise high reward: the Parisian underworld could yield the means to escalate her rebellion to outright war.As Scion widens its bounds and the free world trembles in its shadow, Paige must fight her own memories after her ordeal at the hands of Scion. Meanwhile, she strives to understand her bond with Arcturus, which grows stronger by the day. But there are those who know the revolution began with them - and could end with them . . .
Illuminations
by Alan Moore'A wonderful collection, brilliant and often moving ... Both mind-expanding and cosmic while utterly rooted in our urban reality'NEIL GAIMAN'One of the great fiction minds of his generation' ROLLING STONEIn his first-ever short story collection, which spans forty years of work and features many never-before-published pieces, international bestselling author and legendary creator of From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and other modern classics, Alan Moore, presents nine stories full of wonder and strangeness, each taking us deeper into the fantastical underside of reality.In A Hypothetical Lizard, two concubines in a brothel for fantastical specialists fall in love, with tragic ramifications. In Not Even Legend, a paranormal study group is infiltrated by one of the otherworldly beings they seek to investigate. In Illuminations, a nostalgic older man decides to visit a seaside resort from his youth and finds the past all too close at hand. And in the monumental novella What We Can Know About Thunderman, which charts the surreal and Kafkaesque history of the comics industry over the last seventy-five years through several sometimes-naive and sometimes-maniacal people rising and falling on its career ladders, Moore reveals the dark, beating heart of the superhero business.From ghosts and otherworldly creatures to theoretical Boltzmann brains fashioning the universe at the big bang, Illuminations is exactly that - a series of bright, startling tales from a contemporary legend that reveal the full power of imagination and magic.'One of the most significant fiction writers in English ... Moore's influence can be felt everywhere - in our literature, on our screens, in our politics'GUARDIAN
Illuminations
by Alan Moore'A wonderful collection, brilliant and often moving ... Both mind-expanding and cosmic while utterly rooted in our urban reality'NEIL GAIMAN'One of the great fiction minds of his generation' ROLLING STONEIn his first-ever short story collection, which spans forty years of work and features many never-before-published pieces, international bestselling author and legendary creator of From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and other modern classics, Alan Moore, presents nine stories full of wonder and strangeness, each taking us deeper into the fantastical underside of reality.In A Hypothetical Lizard, two concubines in a brothel for fantastical specialists fall in love, with tragic ramifications. In Not Even Legend, a paranormal study group is infiltrated by one of the otherworldly beings they seek to investigate. In Illuminations, a nostalgic older man decides to visit a seaside resort from his youth and finds the past all too close at hand. And in the monumental novella What We Can Know About Thunderman, which charts the surreal and Kafkaesque history of the comics industry over the last seventy-five years through several sometimes-naive and sometimes-maniacal people rising and falling on its career ladders, Moore reveals the dark, beating heart of the superhero business.From ghosts and otherworldly creatures to theoretical Boltzmann brains fashioning the universe at the big bang, Illuminations is exactly that - a series of bright, startling tales from a contemporary legend that reveal the full power of imagination and magic.'One of the most significant fiction writers in English ... Moore's influence can be felt everywhere - in our literature, on our screens, in our politics'GUARDIAN
The Secret Society of Very Important Post: A Wishyouwas Mystery
by Alexandra PageIt's 1953, just days from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and Penny Black can't get into the summer holiday spirit. Not when she's about to move to Scotland – and away from everything she knows – for good. But when Wishyouwas plops into the fireplace in a cloud of soot and chaos, with a summons from the Royal Postmistress herself, all of Penny's plans suddenly go up in smoke. The intrepid pair are soon on the trail of a mysterious traitor and a potentially deadly plot to halt the coronation. Their investigation will take them across London's busy streets, high up in the air and deeper into danger than they've ever been before …
The Secret Society of Very Important Post: A Wishyouwas Mystery
by Alexandra PageIt's 1953, just days from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and Penny Black can't get into the summer holiday spirit. Not when she's about to move to Scotland – and away from everything she knows – for good. But when Wishyouwas plops into the fireplace in a cloud of soot and chaos, with a summons from the Royal Postmistress herself, all of Penny's plans suddenly go up in smoke. The intrepid pair are soon on the trail of a mysterious traitor and a potentially deadly plot to halt the coronation. Their investigation will take them across London's busy streets, high up in the air and deeper into danger than they've ever been before …
The Kingdoms
by Natasha PulleyFor fans of Matt Haig, Stuart Turton and Bridget Collins comes a sweeping historical adventure from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street'Original, joyous and horrifying, The Kingdoms is an awe-inspiring feat of imagination and passion which had me in tears by the end' - Catriona WardCome home, if you remember. The postcard has been held at the sorting office for ninety-one years, waiting to be delivered to Joe Tournier. On the front is a lighthouse – Eilean Mor, in the Outer Hebrides.Joe has never left England, never even left London. He is a British slave, one of thousands throughout the French Empire. He has a job, a wife, a baby daughter. But he also has flashes of a life he cannot remember and of a world that never existed – a world where English is spoken in England, and not French. And now he has a postcard of a lighthouse built just six months ago, that was first written nearly one hundred years ago, by a stranger who seems to know him very well. Joe's journey to unravel the truth will take him from French-occupied London to a remote Scottish island, and back through time itself as he battles for his life – and for a very different future.
Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night)
by Brigid KemmererThe embers of revolution continue to simmer in Kandala. The country is still plagued by disease, and the only cure is a scarce moonflower elixir only the rich can afford.Tessa Cade has gone from masked outlaw to palace advisor – and she's determined to help the people of Kandala. With supplies of the moonflower running out, Tessa embarks with Prince Corrick on an uncertain journey to the mysterious neighbouring kingdom of Ostriary.The journey could be their only chance to save the people of Kandala – but it will hold untold danger for both Tessa and Prince Corrick as they navigate perilous waters and confront their feelings for each other. No one is who they seem to be, and the consequences will be dangerous and unpredictable … It's time to rise up and DEFEND THE DAWN.
Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night)
by Brigid KemmererThe embers of revolution continue to simmer in Kandala. The country is still plagued by disease, and the only cure is a scarce moonflower elixir only the rich can afford.Tessa Cade has gone from masked outlaw to palace advisor – and she's determined to help the people of Kandala. With supplies of the moonflower running out, Tessa embarks with Prince Corrick on an uncertain journey to the mysterious neighbouring kingdom of Ostriary.The journey could be their only chance to save the people of Kandala – but it will hold untold danger for both Tessa and Prince Corrick as they navigate perilous waters and confront their feelings for each other. No one is who they seem to be, and the consequences will be dangerous and unpredictable … It's time to rise up and DEFEND THE DAWN.
Curse So Dark and Lonely: A 3 Book Bundle (The\cursebreaker Ser.)
by Brigid KemmererFour royals. Two thrones. One deadly curse.In the heart of Emberfall, Prince Rhen is trapped by a curse, haunted by the beast inside, while beyond the palace walls, his kingdom falls to ruin.Far away, in modern day Washington DC, Harper plays lookout for her brother. When she sees a woman in danger, she rushes to help - only to be sucked into Rhen's cursed world.What begins as a fairy tale twist unfurls into an epic tale of magic, danger, love and betrayal in Brigid Kemmerer's New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series, as brother fights brother to claim the throne of Emberfall and save the kingdom once and for all.Now, for the first time, explore Emberfall and fall in love with Harper, Rhen, Grey and Lia Mara in one convenient eBook collection.This collection contains:A Curse So Dark and LonelyA Heart So Fierce and BrokenA Vow So Bold and Deadly
Mischief Acts
by Zoe Gilbert'A work of extraordinary ambition, brilliantly realised' OBSERVER'A mesmerising journey down the byways of English folklore' MAIL ON SUNDAY'Verbally dextrous, inventive, and hugely entertaining' THE TIMESHerne the hunter, mischief-maker, spirit of the forest, leader of the wild hunt, hurtles through the centuries pursued by his creator. A shapeshifter, Herne dons many guises as he slips and ripples through time – at candlelit Twelfth Night revels, at the spectacular burning of the Crystal Palace, at an acid-laced Sixties party. Wherever he goes, transgression, debauch and enchantment always follow in his wake. But as the forest is increasingly encroached upon by urban sprawl and gentrification, and the world slides into crisis, Herne must find a way to survive – or exact his revenge. With its intoxicating, chameleonic voice and boundless imagination, Mischief Acts is British folklore as you've never read it before: dangerous, sexy, troubling, daring, savage, an exhilarating race through time and space, weaving together the ancient and the contemporary.'A dark-dazzling archive of enchantments, pursuit, and desire' ELEY WILLIAMS'This is the most adventurous, stylistically magnificent thing I've read for years. Nobody does fantasy like Zoe Gilbert' NATASHA PULLEY'Mischief Acts is brimming with magic ... The story of Herne, like the forest itself, transforms, entangles and enchants' LUCY WOOD'A dazzling new take on an ancient myth, reminding us of the wildness within. I adored it' KERRY ANDREW'Superb. A work of shimmering allure' IRENOSEN OKOJIE
Tenderness
by Alison MacLeodThe spellbinding story of Lady Chatterley's Lover, and the society that put it on trial; the story of a novel and its ripple effects across half a century, and about the transformative and triumphant power of fiction itself.'Tenderness is a triumph and it will conquer your heart. Stunning, illuminating, but also, profoundly moving' ELIF SHAFAK'A passionate, epic joy' MADELINE MILLER'Powerful, moving, brilliant ... An utterly captivating read' ELIZABETH GILBERT'As sublimely crafted as a novel could ever be. I'm in awe of Alison MacLeod's powers' ISABELLA TREE________________________D. H. Lawrence is dying. Exiled in the Mediterranean, he dreams of the past. There are the years early in his marriage during the war, where his desperation drives him to commit a terrible betrayal. And there is a woman in an Italian courtyard, her chestnut hair red with summer. Jacqueline and her husband have already been marked out for greatness. Passing through New York, she slips into a hearing where a book, not a man, is brought to trial. A young woman and a young man meet amid the restricted section of a famous library, and make love. Scattered and blown by the winds of history, their stories are bound together, and brought before the jury. On both sides of the Atlantic, society is asking, and continues to ask: is it obscenity – or is it tenderness?'Gorgeously written and meticulously conceived' DAVID LEAVITT
Forging Silver into Stars
by Brigid KemmererRediscover the worlds of Emberfall and Syhl Shallow in this irresistible return to Brigid Kemmerer's New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series.Tycho of Rillisk has been a lot of things: son and brother, stablehand, prisoner, soldier and friend to the king. Now, four years after Grey took the throne of Emberfall, Tycho has taken on a new role: courier and spy. As the only person the king can trust, Tycho carries secret messages back and forth between the kingdoms of Emberfall and Syhl Shallow.But even though the war is over, peace still seems far away. A dangerous anti-magical faction is rising, and when Tycho discovers a plot to assassinate Grey and Queen Lia Mara, ruler of Syhl Shallow, he must fight for everything he believes in.Nothing here is as it seems, and after a devastating betrayal, it becomes clear that the danger is only just beginning …
Forging Silver into Stars
by Brigid KemmererRediscover the worlds of Emberfall and Syhl Shallow in this irresistible return to Brigid Kemmerer's New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series.Tycho of Rillisk has been a lot of things: son and brother, stablehand, prisoner, soldier and friend to the king. Now, four years after Grey took the throne of Emberfall, Tycho has taken on a new role: courier and spy. As the only person the king can trust, Tycho carries secret messages back and forth between the kingdoms of Emberfall and Syhl Shallow.But even though the war is over, peace still seems far away. A dangerous anti-magical faction is rising, and when Tycho discovers a plot to assassinate Grey and Queen Lia Mara, ruler of Syhl Shallow, he must fight for everything he believes in.Nothing here is as it seems, and after a devastating betrayal, it becomes clear that the danger is only just beginning …
How High We Go in the Dark
by Sequoia NagamatsuFor fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven, Sequoia Nagamatsu's debut is a wildly imaginative, genre-bending work spanning generations across the globe as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague.'Haunting and luminous … An astonishing debut' – Alan Moore, creator of Watchmen and V for Vendetta'A powerfully moving and thought provoking read. At times sublime, strange and deeply human' Adrian Tchaikovsky, bestselling author of the Children of Time seriesDr. Cliff Miyashiro arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue his recently deceased daughter's research, only to discover a virus, newly unearthed from melting permafrost. The plague unleashed reshapes life on earth for generations. Yet even while struggling to counter this destructive force, humanity stubbornly persists in myriad moving and ever inventive ways.Among those adjusting to this new normal are an aspiring comedian, employed by a theme park designed for terminally ill children, who falls in love with a mother trying desperately to keep her son alive; a scientist who, having failed to save his own son from the plague, gets a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects-a pig-develops human speech; a man who, after recovering from his own coma, plans a block party for his neighbours who have also woken up to find that they alone have survived their families; and a widowed painter and her teenaged granddaughter who must set off on cosmic quest to locate a new home planet.From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead, How High We Go in the Dark follows a cast of intricately linked characters spanning hundreds of years as humanity endeavours to restore the delicate balance of the world. This is a story of unshakable hope that crosses literary lines to give us a world rebuilding itself through an endless capacity for love, resilience and reinvention.Wonderful and disquieting, dreamlike and all too possible. [How High We Go in the Dark] reaches far beyond our stars while its heart remains rooted to Earth, and reminds us that our wellbeing depends on the wellbeing of our world - Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms
by Jamar J. PerryPercy Jackson meets Black Panther - this blockbuster middle-grade adventure is perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers.Cameron Battle grew up reading The Book of Chidani, cherishing stories about the fabled kingdom that cut itself off from the world to save the Igbo people from danger. Passed down over generations, the Book is Cameron's only connection to his parents, who disappeared one fateful night two years ago. Ever since, his grandmother has kept the Book locked away, but it calls to Cameron. When he and his best friends, Zion and Aliyah, decide to open it again, they are magically transported to Chidani. Instead of a land of beauty and wonder, they find a kingdom in extreme danger, as the queen's sister seeks to destroy the barrier between worlds. The people of Chidani have been waiting for the last Descendant to return and save them … Is Cameron ready to be the hero they need? Inspired by West African and Igbo history and mythology, this adventure-filled fantasy introduces readers to Cameron Battle as he begins his journey to greatness.
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms
by Jamar J. PerryPercy Jackson meets Black Panther - this blockbuster middle-grade adventure is perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers.Cameron Battle grew up reading The Book of Chidani, cherishing stories about the fabled kingdom that cut itself off from the world to save the Igbo people from danger. Passed down over generations, the Book is Cameron's only connection to his parents, who disappeared one fateful night two years ago. Ever since, his grandmother has kept the Book locked away, but it calls to Cameron. When he and his best friends, Zion and Aliyah, decide to open it again, they are magically transported to Chidani. Instead of a land of beauty and wonder, they find a kingdom in extreme danger, as the queen's sister seeks to destroy the barrier between worlds. The people of Chidani have been waiting for the last Descendant to return and save them … Is Cameron ready to be the hero they need? Inspired by West African and Igbo history and mythology, this adventure-filled fantasy introduces readers to Cameron Battle as he begins his journey to greatness.
The Golden Swift
by Lev GrossmanDiscover the magical, timeless, bestselling children's adventure series from Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The MagiciansIt's been a year since Kate and Tom became conductors on the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway, and life has changed completely! Delivering animal passengers to their rightful habitats using their very own secret steam train, The Silver Arrow, is exciting and magical and fulfilling. Until one day a new and mysterious train almost rams them off the track! Its name? The Golden Swift. Kate catches a glimpse of the conductors. They're children, like them, and they're dropping animals off at all the wrong stations!Kate is determined to catch up with their rivals and confront them. Her actions will lead to an adventure bigger than she could have dreamed of, racing through the highlands of Western Scotland, trekking in the Australian outback and diving down deep into the Bering Sea on a magical submarine. Kate will have to discover a whole new way to offer endangered animals safe and lasting homes …
The Golden Swift
by Lev GrossmanDiscover the magical, timeless, bestselling children's adventure series from Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The MagiciansIt's been a year since Kate and Tom became conductors on the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway, and life has changed completely! Delivering animal passengers to their rightful habitats using their very own secret steam train, The Silver Arrow, is exciting and magical and fulfilling. Until one day a new and mysterious train almost rams them off the track! Its name? The Golden Swift. Kate catches a glimpse of the conductors. They're children, like them, and they're dropping animals off at all the wrong stations!Kate is determined to catch up with their rivals and confront them. Her actions will lead to an adventure bigger than she could have dreamed of, racing through the highlands of Western Scotland, trekking in the Australian outback and diving down deep into the Bering Sea on a magical submarine. Kate will have to discover a whole new way to offer endangered animals safe and lasting homes …
The Yawnicorn
by Emily HamiltonA magical picture book featuring a very special unicorn, specially designed to help children settle down for bedtime.Do you ever have trouble dropping off to sleep? Is your head all busy? Does your duvet feel itchy? Well, don't worry, because the Yawnicorn is here to help!Yawnicorn knows when you can't get to sleep, and he's about to sweep you away on a magical nighttime adventure through rainforests, oceans and across the starry skies before bringing you home, nicely worn out and ready to fall into a happy, deep slumber. This magical, soothing and reassuring story is perfect for anyone who has ever felt anxious or found it hard to get to sleep - perfect for bedtime, night after night. Get ready to join the Yawnicorn on an adventure you'll never forget! From the much-loved illustrator of The World Made a Rainbow.
Fablehouse
by Emma NorryUnlock the legends. Unleash the magic. Save your home. 'An exciting, heartrending story with a magical twist' - Jacqueline WilsonFablehouse, a mysterious mansion surrounded by ancient woodland, is Heather's new home. Roaming the countryside with some of the other mixed-race kids who are in care there, she finds a stone tower that feels strangely magical. There they meet Palamedes, the Black knight from King Arthur's court. He warns them that danger lurks in a world beneath their feet. Heather, Pal and friends set off to rescue children who have been taken to this threatening underworld. No child will be forgotten on their watch. Heather and friends realise they have been specially chosen for this quest. They must use the talents they've been given in the battle to save Fablehouse and all the children who have found shelter there.'A powerful and important book, bursting with hope and wonder. Fablehouse is a glorious celebration of friendship ' - Tolá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun 'A brilliant, magical, insightful novel, filled with heart'- Joseph Coelho, Children's Laureate 'Exciting, important and endlessly entertaining … this is going to be huge' - Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out'Fast-paced and full of heart … a wonderful celebration of friendship, folklore and finding your place in the world' Anna James, author of Pages & Co.'PERFECT … It's heartfelt, thrilling, glistening with magic and adventure' Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs'Unforgettable … powerful and extraordinary … Absolutely magical' Zillah Bethell, author of The Shark Caller
Fablehouse
by Emma NorryUnlock the legends. Unleash the magic. Save your home. 'An exciting, heartrending story with a magical twist' - Jacqueline WilsonFablehouse, a mysterious mansion surrounded by ancient woodland, is Heather's new home. Roaming the countryside with some of the other mixed-race kids who are in care there, she finds a stone tower that feels strangely magical. There they meet Palamedes, the Black knight from King Arthur's court. He warns them that danger lurks in a world beneath their feet. Heather, Pal and friends set off to rescue children who have been taken to this threatening underworld. No child will be forgotten on their watch. Heather and friends realise they have been specially chosen for this quest. They must use the talents they've been given in the battle to save Fablehouse and all the children who have found shelter there.'A powerful and important book, bursting with hope and wonder. Fablehouse is a glorious celebration of friendship ' - Tolá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun 'A brilliant, magical, insightful novel, filled with heart'- Joseph Coelho, Children's Laureate 'Exciting, important and endlessly entertaining … this is going to be huge' - Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out'Fast-paced and full of heart … a wonderful celebration of friendship, folklore and finding your place in the world' Anna James, author of Pages & Co.'PERFECT … It's heartfelt, thrilling, glistening with magic and adventure' Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs'Unforgettable … powerful and extraordinary … Absolutely magical' Zillah Bethell, author of The Shark Caller
Fablehouse: Heart of Fire
by Emma NorryProtect your home. Conjure your fire. Fulfil your fate. A gripping story about children finding their power within, with the guidance of the Black Knight from King Arthur's Round Table. Fablehouse is a children's home like no other. Heather and her friends who live here have magic at their fingertips. The children have a powerful friend in Pal, an Arthurian knight. But not everyone the children meet is on their side. Fablehouse is threatened by an inspector who is searching for a reason to close down this safe haven for mixed-race children. The kids are desperate to save their home, but Pal is distracted. He cannot rest until he's completed the quest given to him by King Arthur centuries ago. Can magic help the children to fulfil their destiny, or will they be more isolated than ever? Heather can conjure up fire, but is scared that she can't control it. Fire can destroy – but could Heather also use its warmth and protection to save her friends and their home?
Fablehouse: Heart of Fire
by Emma NorryProtect your home. Conjure your fire. Fulfil your fate. A gripping story about children finding their power within, with the guidance of the Black Knight from King Arthur's Round Table. Fablehouse is a children's home like no other. Heather and her friends who live here have magic at their fingertips. The children have a powerful friend in Pal, an Arthurian knight. But not everyone the children meet is on their side. Fablehouse is threatened by an inspector who is searching for a reason to close down this safe haven for mixed-race children. The kids are desperate to save their home, but Pal is distracted. He cannot rest until he's completed the quest given to him by King Arthur centuries ago. Can magic help the children to fulfil their destiny, or will they be more isolated than ever? Heather can conjure up fire, but is scared that she can't control it. Fire can destroy – but could Heather also use its warmth and protection to save her friends and their home?
Ordinary Monsters: (The Talents Series – Book 1)
by J M Miro'A thrilling blend of fantasy and horror, richly imagined and masterfully executed' SFX'Terrific . . . A book that creeps up on you, wearing brass knuckles' CONN IGGULDEN'A dazzling mountain of wild invention, Dickensian eccentrics, supernatural horrors and gripping suspense' JOE HILL'Expansive in scope and storytelling, Ordinary Monsters builds an electrifying Victorian world' CARI THOMAS____________The first in a captivating new historical fantasy series, ORDINARY MONSTERS introduces the Talents with a catastrophic vision of the Victorian world, and the gifted, broken children who must save it.There in the shadows was a figure in a cloak, at the bottom of the cobblestone stair, and it turned and stared up at them as still and unmoving as a pillar of darkness, but it had no face, only smoke . . .1882. North of Edinburgh, on the edge of an isolated loch, lies an institution of crumbling stone, where a strange doctor collects orphans with unusual abilities. In London, two children with such powers are hunted by a figure of darkness – a man made of smoke.Charlie Ovid discovers a gift for healing himself through a brutal upbringing in Mississippi, while Marlowe, a foundling from a railway freight, glows with a strange bluish light. When two grizzled detectives are recruited to escort them north to safety, they are confronted by a sinister, dangerous force that threatens to upend the world as they know it.What follows is a journey from the gaslit streets of London to the lochs of Scotland, where other gifted children – the Talents – have been gathered at Cairndale Institute, and the realms of the dead and the living collide. As secrets within the Institute unfurl, Marlowe, Charlie and the rest of the Talents will discover the truth about their abilities and the nature of the force that is stalking them: that the worst monsters sometimes come bearing the sweetest gifts.