Only women and girls are allowed in the Red Abbey, a haven from abuse and oppression. Maresi, a thirteen-year-old novice there, arrived in the hunger winter and now lives a happy life in the Abbey, protected by the Mother and reveling in the vast library in the House of Knowledge, her favorite place. Into this idyllic existence comes Jai, a girl with a dark past. She has escaped her home after witnessing the killing of her beloved sister. Soon the dangers of the outside world follow Jai into the sacred space of the Abbey, and Maresi can no longer hide in books and words but must become one who acts. Bound for international success, Maresi will be published in 15 territories around the world!
Praise
“The novel is at once contemporary and timeless. Its unwavering feminism is resolutely modern, resonating with a range of texts from Ursula Le Guin’s 2001 Tales from Earthsea to Disney’s Frozen. At the same time, it feels authentically ancient and mythic."The Guardian (UK)
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"It's hard not to be impressed with Turtschaninoff's magical world."The Times (UK)
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"'Where YA fantasy can start to feel a little same-y, Maresi stands out for its startling originality, and for the frightening plausibility of the dangerous world it creates."Telegraph (UK)
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**STARRED REVIEW**Booklist
"Utterly satisfying and completely different from standard YA fantasy, this Finnish import seems primed to win over American readers."
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"Turtschaninoff puts traditional elements of female magic to effective dramatic use, especially in the climactic (and climatic) conflict between Jai’sThe Horn Book
father and the Sisters. But what’s more impressive about this fantasy is the subtlety with which the serenity of the island and its way of life is established—through the calls of birds, the sounds of the lapping sea, the smoothness of driftwood."
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"Readers seeking a fresh, unusual fantasy setting and voice will likely appreciate this haunting literary detour."Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
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