December 2016 NewGen Book of the Month.
In a nutshell: mesmerising tale of love and adventure set in a dark fairy tale world | Cornelia Funke has an extraordinarily fertile imagination, which is fed and inspired by the old fairy tales and in this the third episode of the Reckless series, she draws on stories from Eastern Europe in another distinctive, thrilling and complex novel. Once again, she sends her hero Jacob Reckless and his brother through the magical mirror into another world. The book opens with a bloody labour and the birth of a baby, a scene her original editors felt would upset readers, causing Funke to find a new way to publish. The scene however sets the tone for the book, which examines love, its power as much a threat to protagonists as a strength. As ever, she weaves together the different plotlines brilliantly, maintaining character development and sustaining the excitement to keep readers breathlessly turning the pages.
It’s recommended that readers start with books one and two, The Petrified Flesh and Living Shadows. They will also enjoy Francesca Simon’s The Monstrous Child or Margo Lanagan’s The Brides of Rollrock Island. ~ Andrea Reece
THE WORLDS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR ARE ABOUT TO COLLIDE. AND THERE'S NOTHING JACOB CAN DO TO STOP THEM. After a perilous encounter with an Alder Elf - an immortal, trickturning creature to whom he owes a great debt - Jacob must journey back into the enchanted Mirrorworld once again. Together with Fox, his beautiful shapeshifting friend, Jacob has no choice but to follow his brother on the trail of the Dark Fairy, who has fled deep into the East: to a land of folklore, Cossacks, spies, time-eating witches and flying carpets. But what exactly is the Dark One running from? Could it be the same danger that threatens Jacob and Fox? The third book in the series, The Golden Yarn is a thrilling tale of courage and fear, jealousy and forbidden desire; in which love has the power both to save a life - and to destroy it.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to read and review the first title in the series The Petrified Flesh. Click here to read the full reviews.
A wonderful storyteller Sunday Times
Germany's answer to JK Rowling Telegraph
A master Independent A highly distinctive imagination Daily Mail
A born storyteller Guardian
ISBN: 9781782691266
Publication date: 03/11/2016
Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books
Format: Hardback
| ISBN: | 9781782691266 |
| Publication date: | 3rd November 2016 |
| Author: | Cornelia Funke |
| Publisher: | Pushkin Children's Books |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 448 pages |
| Genres: | NewGen - YA Fiction, Books of the Month, eBook Favourites, Fantasy, |
| Categories: | General fiction (Children's / Teenage), |
The German author Cornelia Funke was born in 1958 in Dorsten, Westphalia. As a child she dreamed of becoming an astronaut – until she discovered the military training involved so she trained to be social worker. During her time as a social worker, Cornelia discovered the kinds of stories that grasped their imaginations. These were the stories she wanted to illustrate – and ultimately to write – the kind that would appeal to bookish children as well as inspiring those children who hadn’t yet had many positive reading experiences. At the age of 35 Cornelia realised her true love of ...
More About Cornelia Funke
