This dark fairy-story from critically acclaimed author Frances Hardinge puts a richly imaginative spin on the old tales of changelings.

Her quest for the truth takes her and her sister on a frightening adventure into the sinister hidden underworld of the city. Soon, Triss realises that what has happened to her is stranger than anything she could ever have imagined. Even her diary is no help: when she opens it to try and remember, she finds that all the pages have been ripped out. Her parents are whispering behind closed doors, and she still can't remember what actually happened to her when she fell into the Grimmer. She is strangely, insatiably hungry her hair is always full of leaves her tears turn to cobwebs and her younger sister Pen seems to hate her. The below list were my favorites to write.When Triss wakes up after her accident, she knows that something is wrong. I have reviewed many books over the years, and some reviews have been more interesting or fun to write than others. This one is definitely in the “love” category, and is by far my favorite book of 2021 so far. Now, I believes she writes in many different atmospheric tones, and so some appeal to me while others don’t. I thought maybe Hardinge was just a one-hit author for me. But since then, I read The Lie Tree (just okay) and abandoned two others, A Skinful of Shadows and Deeplight. It remains one of my favorite books of the last decade. I’m so incredibly grateful to have seen my book-friend April post about this one on Instagram, because honestly, I’d kinda given up on Hardinge. Amidst all the dreamlike imagery and unexpected turns in this story, Hardinge also works in themes of family, grief, and post-WWI culture shock across Britain, as well as what it means to be “real.” Hardinge has the most incredible imagination, and she takes fantasy and horror to new and interesting places. This book was delightful, all atmospheric and creepy and dark. Something is wrong, deep secrets, and Triss’s curiosity leads her down paths she’d rather have left alone. Her parents speak in whispers about a mysterious man, a bargain, and letters that come from nowhere. Her sister seems to hate and fear her, Triss’s stomach is screaming for food no matter how much she eats, her hair is rustling like dead leaves in her ears, and she’s suddenly terrified of scissors.

She only remembers waking up, soaking wet, and being cared for by her overly-concerned parents. She doesn’t remember falling into the river.

Cuckoo song book