The Peculiar - by Stefan Bachmann (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The international bestseller and debut novel by teenage author and classical musician Stefan Bachmann is part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part clockwork adventure. Best-selling author Rick Riordan said of The Peculiar, "Stefan Bachmann breathes fresh life into ancient magic."

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged. In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew and his little sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are Peculiars, and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them. But when Peculiars start showing up in London murdered and covered with red tattoos, Bartholomew breaks all the rules and gets himself noticed. Full of magic, dazzling inventions, and intriguing characters such as Mr. Jelliby and Lord Lickerish, this story of friendship, bravery, and nonstop action adventure was hailed by best-selling author Christopher Paolini as "swift, strong, and entertaining. Highly recommended." The Peculiar ends with a spectacular cliff-hanger, and the story concludes in The Whatnot.

From the Back Cover

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

Part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part steampunk adventure, The Peculiar is Stefan Bachmann's riveting, inventive, and unforgettable debut novel.

Review Quotes

"It's not your typical faery story-it has elements of steampunk and murder mystery that make it a really exciting, fresh read." - The Atlantic Wire

"The Peculiar has the kind of enchantment, whimsy, and utter wonder that stands the test of time. An astounding debut!" - Marie Lu, New York Times best-selling author of the Legend trilogy

"Stefan Bachmann's sparkling debut is sure to get a lot of well-deserved notice. He breathes fresh life into ancient magic." - RICK RIORDAN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson and The Olympians

"Richly realized . . . accomplished ... This is a story young fantasy buffs are sure to enjoy." - The New York Times Book Review

"Imaginative, highly descriptive writing . . . Thrilling adventure." - Booklist

"An absolute treat for readers of any age." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Gripping . . . with a wry humor and unusual characters. Fans of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins, 2008) and young steampunk enthusiasts will find much here to enjoy." - School Library Journal

"Polished and fun to read...Bachmann's steampunk fairy tale...recalls Dostoevsky, Dickens, and more recent classics, such as J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events....Bachmann leavens the dark goings-on with whimsy...in spectacular and hilarious fashion....[An] unusually gifted young writer." - Los Angeles Times

When a teenager writes a publishable book, it's noteworthy, but when the book is this good, it's something special. Bachmann, now 19, has a polished and witty writing style; his characters are skillfully developed, the action is nonstop, and his faery society is fascinating. An absolute treat for readers of any age." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Bachmann's prose is beautiful, and his story is swift, strong, and entertaining. Highly recommended. I can't wait to see what Bachmann writes next." - CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle)