Unraveller cover art

Unraveller

The must-read fantasy from Costa-Award winning author Frances Hardinge

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Unraveller

By: Frances Hardinge
Narrated by: Eleanor Bennett
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About this listen

For fans of Leigh Bardugo and Neil Gaiman comes Frances Hardinge’s spectacular gothic novel Unraveller.

Welcome to your new fantasy obsession . . .

In a world where anyone can create life-destroying curses, only one person has the power to unravel them.

Kellen does not fully understand his talent, but uses it to help those who have been cursed, including his ally and closest friend, Nettle. But Kellen himself is cursed, and unless he and Nettle can release him, he is in danger of unravelling everything - and everyone - around him.

From Costa Award-winning author of The Lie Tree, Hardinge expertly weaves together mythology and mystery in a richly-detailed world besieged by curses.

‘Exquisite . . . sheer perfection’– Liz Hyder, author of The Gifts

‘Instantly engrossing, effortlessly clever, and completely magical’ – Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light

 Difficult Situations Family & Relationships Friendship Literature & Fiction Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Paranormal Science Fiction & Fantasy Fantasy Fiction

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Critic reviews

Extraordinary. Exquisite and compelling. Sheer perfection. (Liz Hyder, author of The Gifts)
It’s gothic and twisty and witty and gripping: dark and delicious and fresh and I loved it. (Katherine Rundell)
This multilayered, humane and brilliant YA fantasy is the Costa-winning Hardinge’s best yet. (Imogen Russell Williams)
A gloriously creepy, intricate masterpiece full of tangles and knots for the reader to get caught up in. (Adrian Tchaikovsky)
One of the most mesmerising journeys I’ve ever taken within the pages of a book. (Hilary McKay)
If you like your children’s books gothic, rich in language and occasionally baffling, you will already know Frances Hardinge. The author — who won the Costa prize in 2015 for The Lie Tree — is distinguished by a prose style that is often described as “beautiful” or “luminous” and her latest is no exception. (Alex O'Connell)
This detailed, thoughtful, original read is not one to rush, but to savour. (Nicolette Jones)
Hardinge is a worthy successor to Pullman, yes, but in fact, she is in a league that is entirely her own, a writer whose ideas are modern yet timeless, their execution compelling, eerie, sublime. (Marianne Levy)
Themes of humanity and redemption play out against this intricately woven backdrop, illuminated by characteristically sublime prose. - YA Book of the Month
I would trust Frances Hardinge to lead me blindfolded into the wildest of marshes, and this is my favourite tale of hers yet. Instantly engrossing, effortlessly clever, and completely magical, with a stubbornly compassionate heart. (Freya Marske)
Beguiling and uncanny. Hardinge masterfully crafts modern folklore with the wisdom and wit of the ancients. I fell in love with this strange and satisfying novel! (Tendai Huchu)
Curses grow like wildflowers in this beautifully written fantasy
Spellbinding storytelling — the inimitable Frances Hardinge has woven a wonderfully weird, richly imaginative and profoundly thought-provoking tale. (Katherine Woodfine)
Complex and clever . . . I was sucked into this magical epic.
Hardinge’s work is always exquisite; this latest volume is no exception.
Superior fantasy from a winner of the Costa Book of the Year prize. (Suzi Feay)
All stars
Most relevant
Really enjoyed the well written story. intriguing characters and satisfying ending. Recording also really good and made it a joy to listen to.

Excellent Recording of an interesting book.

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Frances Hardinge has quickly become one of my all-time favourite writers and I enthusiastically devour every book she releases, and Unraveller is another absolute spellbinder of a book.

The plot, world and characters were so immersive and well-constructed that I felt like I was living the story in among with them and was physically unable to stop reading until I turned the last page.

This is a world where magic spiders can ‘gift’ a curse egg to those who are angry which, when fed with their hatred and misery, grows until the curse flies free with some hauntingly horrifying consequences. Images of people cursed into boats, clouds, birds and monsters are going to stay with me for a looooong, long time, so don’t say I have warned you… this is a darkly mesmerising fairy tale!

Narrator Eleanor Bennett captures the voices well, particularly the undercurrents of bitterness, resentment, tolerant humour and so on, that the reader picks up between the lines of the text.

Part mystery, part horror, part fantasy, this author’s books are officially classed as Young Adult fiction but as an adult reader (fat TOO adult these days, in my opinion!) I utterly adore them. I love all of the characters – main and side; good, bad and grey – and simply didn’t want the book to ever end.

I’ve already bought this in hardback format for my ‘keep’ shelf, where it will sit proudly with Deeplight, displaying their beautiful covers, while their mesmerising contents will sit permanently in my imagination.

A darkly mesmerising fairytale

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I think this is my favourite novel of Frances Hardinge books to date. Really moreish and easy to read.

Really enjoyed this book

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I enjoy Hardinge as an adult. I think if I’d discovered her as a kid she would’ve utterly mesmerised me. Her style is a unique & stunning prose that is poetic & deeply imaginative. My favourite is Cuckoo Song and always will be, but this came pretty close!

Melodic prose and beautifully written

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Even though Frances Hardinge is classified as youth fiction, her books are well worth reading for adults too.
Great world building, well written characters and interesting story. Here the book really takes off in the second half as the world turns out to be much more complex and unpredictable at that point. The story is gripping and often evolves in surprising directions.


My favourite books of hers are still The lie tree and The face of glass, but I think any Hardinge's book is worth reading.

Hardinge is a master of writing complex and well rounded female characters, something many male writers of similar books can't do to save their lives.

not just for young people

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