The Absolute Book: 'An INSTANT CLASSIC, to rank [with] masterpieces of fantasy such as HIS DARK MATERIALS or JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR NORRELL’ GUARDIAN - Hardcover

Knox, Elizabeth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0241473926 ISBN 13: 9780241473924

Publisher: Michael Joseph, 2021

Synopsis

'An instant classic, a work to rank alongside other modern masterpieces of fantasy such as Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series or Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Everything fantasy should be: original, magical, well read, compelling' Guardian

'MIND-BLOWING' LAINI TAYLOR
'ASTOUNDING' FRANCIS SPUFFORD
'GORGEOUSLY WRITTEN' DEBORAH HARKNESS
_______

Taryn Cornick barely remembers the family library. Since her sister was murdered, she's forgotten so much.

Now it's all coming back. The fire. The thief. The scroll box. People are asking questions about the library. Questions that might relate to her sister's murder.

And something called The Absolute Book.

A book in which secrets are written - and which everyone believes only she can find. They insist Taryn be the hunter. But she knows the truth.

She is the hunted . . .

The Absolute Book is a tale of sisters, ancient blood, a forgotten library, murder, revenge and a book that might just have the answer to everything.
_______

'Astonishing. Gripping. Hugely ambitious. An extraordinary conclusion. Admire the sheer scope and grandeur' DAILY MAIL

'A marvellous argument for stories. There are Norse gods, references to Merlin, a tour through purgatory and a strange parallel world where magic is real and humans are bit players in the clash of supernatural realms. Bewitching' THE TIMES

'Contains multitudes, spanning the geographies of Canada, Britain and New Zealand; the cosmologies of fairies, demons and angels; and the genres of thriller, domestic realism and epic fantasy . . . I'm in awe of it' NEW YORK TIMES Review of Books

'Intricately plotted and gorgeously written, THE ABSOLUTE BOOK has something for everyone . . . Here is a cinematic tale that is by turns dark and dreamlike, yet ultimately hopeful' DEBORAH HARKNESS, author of A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES

'Fantastical' THE TIMES

'Savour and absorb the world Knox conjures' SUNDAY TIMES

'Gorgeous. The payoffs and reveals are mind-blowing' LAINI TAYLOR, author of DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE

'An angelic book, an apocalyptic book, an astounding book' FRANCIS SPUFFORD

About this title

About the Author

Elizabeth Knox is the author of thirteen novels, three novellas, and a collection of essays. The Vintner's Luck won the Deutz Medal for Fiction and was longlisted for The Women's Prize. Elizabeth is an Arts Foundation Laureate, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 and was recently appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to literature in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours. She lives in Wellington with her husband and son. The Absolute Book is already a bestseller in her native New Zealand.

Edition details

• Publisher: Michael Joseph
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0241473926
• ISBN 13: 9780241473924
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 640