Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111771 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-05
• Released on: 2006-06-14
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Muriel Barking, NEW BOOKS
'a beautifully written story. Sally Gardner has clearly researched the times and customs very well indeed for she had me transported back to that far off time. I would definitely recommend this book, told with such care and feeling.'

Review
'completely engaging' (Jennifer Taylor THE BOOKSELLER )

'a beautifully written story. Sally Gardner has clearly researched the times and customs very well indeed for she had me transported back to that far off time. I would definitely recommend this book, told with such care and feeling.' (Muriel Barking NEW BOOKS )

'Beautifullly written, completely absorbing story... the author evokes the streets of London and the political upheavals of the day with compelling ease. (Christine Kidney THE BOOK MAGAZINE )

'will captivate readers with its riveting and detailed parallel storylines, its intriguingly drawn characters, and, above all, its engrossing first person narration' (Marla Arback YABOOKSCENTRAL.COM )

'the skillful writing sweeps through mid-seventeenth century London.' (SCHOOL LIBRARIAN )

'a thrilling story that mixes historic realism, credible characters and the dreamy, sometimes violent, dimension of a netherworld. The two blend seamlessly in this gripping and orginal story that abounds with gritty suspense. An excellent read.' (Mary Arrigan SUNDAY TRIBUNE )

'a book filled with enchantment and difference. You won't read many novels as beautifully written and as enthralling as this rich, spellibinding, new-off-the-black fairy tale.' (John Millen SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST )

Jennifer Taylor, THE BOOKSELLER
'completely engaging'

Customer Reviews

Amazing
I brought this book before it gained all the awards, and i was surprised that it allready hadent got any. It is a spell binfind magical adventure, that is acturlly beliveable. Even thoguh it inculdes fairies, evil whichs and handsome princes, it is one of the greatest books I have ever read. It is so beautifully written, Sally GArdener is an inspirational writer, afte r overcoming her dsylexia.

Best book ever!!!
This magical Classic had me hooked from the first word up until the last sentence, i just could not put it down. Parts of it were tricky to follow but i highly recommend it to anyone who likes magical,murderous spell binding tales. This well written book has to be my favourte book of all times. Coriander is a normal girl with loving parents and a wonderful life. But she tries on some beautiful shoes and from that day on she learns how evil this world is. Her mother murdered by evil Rosemore, her father arrested and if that is not enough she lives with the 'devil' himself, who goes by the name of Arise Fall. He locks Coriander up in a chest and leaves her to die. But what happens when she discovers her dead mothers secret? Will it be enough to save her!!!

A page turner!
I was recommended this book by a friend who said it was a historical fantasy type novel. Fantasy genre is not really for me but this book totally suprised. After about the third or so chapter I just had to read on and finished it really quickly as it was so gripping...

The book is about a girl who lives in the time of the english civil war when her mother dies and her father a royalist gets sent away and Corriander is left with her father's second marrige to a horrible lady called Maud. She treats Corriander terribly and Corriander sees nothing doom. But her mother before she died had lived in a different world and when Corriander locked up in a chest travels there she realises her life has only just begun....

Please do not think that this book is a soppy fairy story because it really is not it is a fantastic serious novel with a really good plot and much deeper than a fairy story. The novel is a really great read and kept me captured in it till the very last page.

The book would best suit aged 10+ and if you like anything historical, fantasy or a really gripping you HAVE to read this. But really anybody would enjoy it as it has something for everyone.