The Kingdom of Little Wounds
A young seamstress and a royal nursemaid find themselves at the centre of an epic power struggle in this stunning young adult debut.
Game of Thrones meets Grimm's Fairy Tales in this astounding novel, where women become pawns in the struggle for power. On the eve of Princess Sophia’s wedding, the Scandinavian kingdom of Skyggehavn prepares to fete the occasion with a sumptuous display of riches. Yet beneath the veneer of celebration, a shiver of darkness creeps through the palace halls. A mysterious illness plagues the royal family, threatening the lives of the throne’s heirs, and a courtier’s wolfish hunger for the king’s favours sets a devious plot in motion. Here in the palace of Skyggehavn, things are seldom as they seem – and when a single errant prick of a needle sets off a series of events that will alter the course of history, the fates of budding young seamstress Ava Bingen and crafty servant Midi Sorte become irrevocably intertwined. As they navigate a tangled web of palace intrigue, power-lust and deception, Ava and Midi must carve out their own survival any way they can, weathering desperate desires and crushing consequences on a journey to ultimate redemption.
Categories: Fiction
For readers aged: 16+
- Publication details:
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Format: Paperback
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ISBN: 9781406360967
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Published: 03 Sep 2015
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Price: £8.99
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- Size: 198 x 129 mm
- Pages: 576
Reviews
'Brazen, baroque, The Kingdom of Little Wounds plots coordinates of history, fever, and magic in such a way that each is occasionally disguised as the other. However, there's no disguising Susann Cokal's immediate rise to eminence as a pantocrator of new realms. I lived in her controversial kingdom for only a week, but I suspect and hope I shall never recover.' Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and What-the-Dickens
'There are deep and shallow reading experiences; this is a deep reading experience. There is nothing like it, though the fossil record flashes all kinds of petticoat. (Sigrid Undset. Margaret Atwood.) Elegant, complex, and sharp as a needle.' Blythe Woolston, winner of the William Morris Prize and author of Black Helicopters
'An epic, mercurial tale of astounding beauty, power, and madness.' Gigi Amateau, author of Claiming Georgia Tate
'Complex and carefully crafted -- mesmerizing.' Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
'[T]he novel's ... brutality, eloquence, and scope are a breathtaking combination.' Publishers Weekly (starred review)
'The author seamlessly interweaves crooked fairy tales throughout her dark story... [T]he book’s lyrical writing, enthralling characters, and compelling plot will give older readers lots to ponder' Booklist
'Acquisition noted' Publisher's Lunch
'Featured in "Galleys to Grab" roundup' Publishers Weekly
'Acquisition noted' PW Children's Bookshelf
'Included in Candlewick fall 2013 preview' School Library Journal
'Included in BEA 2013 roundup' Publishers Weekly Children's Bookshelf
'Starred review featured' PW Children's Bookshelf
'Featured as one of the best books of the week' LA Magazine Online
'Featured/recommended' Richmond.com
'Included in PW Picks: The Best New Books for the Week of October 7, 2013' Publishers Weekly Online
'Featured/recommended' Richmond Magazine
'Featured/recommended' The Mom Buzz (blog)
'Featured/recommended' Richmond Times-Dispatch
'Featured/recommended' Midwest Book Review
'Cokal creates a mystical, shadowy setting full of intrigue and hidden passions.' VOYA
'This novel is distinctive in thought and elocution, but it is also dense and full of adult content.' School Library Journal (starred review)