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

by Elizabeth Knox

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'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
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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.
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'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

Goldsboro Books PREM1ER pick for March 2021. The exclusive edition is signed and numbered with leaf stenciled edges. Limited to 1500 copies.

  • ISBN10 0241473926
  • ISBN13 9780241473924
  • Publish Date 18 March 2021 (first published 12 September 2019)
  • Publish Status Out of Print
  • Out of Print 17 March 2022
  • Publish Country GB
  • Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
  • Imprint Michael Joseph Ltd