Traitors' Nest - by Frances Hardinge (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Lovely War meets Howl's Moving Castle in this new YA fantasy from acclaimed author Frances Hardinge, about the people caught in a game played by the gods where castles are moved around the world like chess pieces

★★★★★ 5 starred reviews! "Fast-paced and original fantasy . . . refreshing and entertaining." (School Library Journal starred review)

Far above the valleys and villages of the Kingdom of Thaletal, a Great Game is played. Players move castles around the realm like chess pieces--and the ordinary villagers are mere pawns at the whim of their tactics.

When fifteen-year-old Burr's peaceful village is disrupted by the arrival of an ominous new castle, he decides he's had enough. But what starts as a plucky coup soon escalates--and then the castle is wrenched away to a far-flung corner of the kingdom, where whispers mount of a mysterious ancient maiden whose magpies collect her debts at dangerous prices.

Here, the stakes are higher than the tallest turrets, and every move counts. Burr must work with his sisters and friends--and rely on the unexpected help of an intriguing heiress--to unravel the secrets of the Magpie Maiden and the origins of the Great Game before he becomes just another casualty of the Players' deadly contest.

Review Quotes

***STARRED REVIEW***

"Hardinge once again delivers an outstandingly creative and unusual fantasy novel populated with sympathetic characters and powers beyond understanding...This medieval fantasy is a fully realized, spirited adventure"

***STARRED REVIEW***

"Rich in worldbuilding, wordplay, and a deep sense of humanity, Hardinge's latest...explores complex themes, including the incredible fragility of trust, the weight of individual sacrifices for the greater good, and questions of who should be entrusted with power...Layered and lush; an expertly woven tapestry.

***STARRED REVIEW***

"The intricate worldbuilding is impeccable; Burr is a complex, deeply sympathetic protagonist; and the themes--right versus wrong, the fragility of life, the uses and abuses of power--are profound and organic. As ever, Hardinge's prose is memorably vivid"

***STARRED REVIEW***

"Wildly inventive worldbuilding, gentle humor, and indomitable, kindhearted characters, who read as white, distinguish this spirited tale of derring-do that's a triumph and a joy from start to finish."

***STARRED REVIEW***

"Written in third person from Burr's perspective, this fast-paced and original fantasy feels refreshing and entertaining. At times political in tone, the story highlights Burr's strong moral character and wisdom beyond his years."

About the Author

Frances Hardinge is the winner of the Costa Book of the Year for The Lie Tree, one of just two young adult novels to win the major UK literary prize. Known for her beautiful use of language, Hardinge has written many critically acclaimed novels, including The Forest of a Thousand Eyes, Island of Whispers, Unraveller, Deeplight, A Skinful of Shadows, A Face Like Glass, Cuckoo Song, Gullstruck Island, Fly by Night, Verdigris Deep, and Fly Trap.