The Warm Hands of Ghosts
the sweeping new novel from the international bestselling author
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
The sweeping new novel from New York Times bestselling author Katherine Arden.
'A book you won't want to let go of.' Diana Gabaldon
'A spectacular tour de force ... I love this book so much and want everyone to read it!' Naomi Novik
'Well-researched and beautifully written, this is a compelling, memorable novel.’ The Guardian
'Darkly beautiful and deeply humane ... The Warm Hands of Ghosts will stir your heart, and settle into your bones.' Ava Reid
'Visionary, imaginative and brilliantly written.' Anthony Horowitz
‘This exquisite novel took me over like a haunting ... One of the best historical fantasies I've ever read’ Emma Törzs
‘A historical fantasy that will touch the hearts of many readers’ Fantasy Hive
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World War One, and as shells fall in Flanders, a Canadian nurse searches for her brother believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise in this gripping and powerful historical novel from the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
January 1918. Laura Iven has been discharged from her duties as a nurse and sent back to Halifax, Canada, leaving behind a brother still fighting in the trenches of the First World War. Now home, she receives word of Freddie's death in action along with his uniform -but something doesn't quite make sense. Determined to find out more, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about ghosts moving among those still living and a strange inn-keeper whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could this have happened to Freddie - but if so, where is he?
November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped under an overturned pillbox with an enemy soldier, a German, each of them badly wounded. Against all odds, the two men form a bond and succeed in clawing their way out. But once in No Man's Land, where can either of them turn where they won't be shot as enemy soldiers or deserters? As the killing continues, they meet a man - a fiddler - who seems to have the power to make the hellscape that surrounds them disappear. But at what price?
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More love for The Warm Hands of Ghosts . . .
'Immersive and timeless, and an ode to the enduring power of memory.’ Vaishnavi Patel
'A page-turner of the highest order ... A haunting, fantastic read!’ Helene Wecker
'I absolutely devoured it!' Santa Montefiore
'Inventive, haunting and deeply moving.' Sarah Winman
'An exquisite, brilliant gem of a story.’ Conn Iggulden
'Simply stunning.' Kate Quinn
‘Absolutely incredible; I had chills all through reading it.' Shannon Chakraborty
‘A sweeping, fantastical tour-de-force of a novel.’ I Newspaper
‘Full of emotion… an unforgettable, inspiring read.’ Historical Novel Society
'Arden’s gripping historical fantasy will draw readers in and keep them engaged.' Library Journal, starred review
'Lyrically beautiful prose, a brave heroine and a story shot through with the darkness of war' Daily Mail
'Eerie and fanciful, yet gruesomely down-to-earth.' The Spectator
‘Mixing historical fiction with the paranormal, this haunting, atmospheric tale of separated siblings is a real gem of a book.’ Heat Magazine
‘A gripping tale of loss, mystery, ghosts and queer romance.’ BBC Culture Online
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Arden (The Bear and the Nightingale) blends a meticulously researched WWI epic, an eloquent family saga, and a touch of the supernatural in this breathtaking historical fantasy. Nurse Laura Iven returns home to Halifax, Nova Scotia, after being wounded on the Western Front and honorably discharged from the medical corps. When she learns in early 1918 that her soldier brother Freddie—her last living family member—is missing and presumed dead, she's overwhelmed with questions, so she volunteers to return to Belgium, where she'll work at a private hospital and seek answers in her limited spare time. The narrative shifts between Laura's perspective and Freddie's own, a year prior, as he falls in with a mysterious and potentially mystical new friend, adding captivating depth and tension to an already intriguing premise. Arden's carefully constructed plot makes each unexpected twist feel as inevitable as it is shocking. Through resonant prose, she literalizes the apocalyptic qualities of WWI while dwelling in moral complexity and delivering vibrant, fully fleshed-out characters. The interwoven supernatural elements lend the historical details greater weight. The result is a powerful page-turner.