“This is an astonishing book: an evocative re-imagination of Jane Eyre that concerns itself with beauty, love, and social upheaval. This lyrical and utterly marvelous debut is one of the standout books of the year.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ Stars, Top Pick! on Ironskin
“Connolly has created a complex and well-drawn world here, and the story is indeed an original and imaginative take on the gothic-fiction tradition. An intriguing and ambitious fantasy tale.” —Kirkus Reviews on Ironskin
“All the romance, mystery, and horror that a good gothic story needs.” —Portland Monthly on Ironskin
“Jane is ferocious and splendid; the hero is tormented and tragic. Tina Connolly has crafted a steampunk Beauty and the Beast tale, beautifully and cleverly reversed. Don't miss this debut.” —Ann Aguirre, national bestselling author of Enclave, on Ironskin
“A lyrical, beautifully crafted debut. A haunting exploration of the true price one must pay for magic, beauty, and love, Ironskin will stay with me for a long time to come.” —M.K. Hobson, author of The Native Star, on Ironskin
“Clever and romantic at the same time--no mean feat. A magical and entertaining waltz across the fairy forests and dark moors just a sideways step or two from Haworth Parsonage.” —Ian R. MacLeod, author of Wake Up and Dream, on Ironskin
05/01/2015
Gr 6 Up—Camellia just received a 61 percent on her algebra test and her teacher wants to have a parent-teacher conference—which is a problem because her mother is a witch bent on world domination. When Camellia's mother summons a demon, who accidentallys gets sucked into the cute new boy at school, the teen races to find a spell that will save him, finally admitting to herself that she might be a witch too. In Connolly's witty, effervescent novel, mother-daughter angst and high school drama is spiced with a 21st-century flavor. The author constructs a magical and whimsical world, where ancient spells echo math word problems and Witchipedia is just a cell phone click away. Readers, especially those who are fans of fantasy and YA romance will adore this clever genre mash-up. Connolly has a gift for creating characters that are familiar teen archetypes yet written with engaging depth: from quirky Jenah who wears fishnet tights and claims to read auras to former-best-friend-turned-enemy Sparkle, whose mean-girl tendencies hide a deeper secret. In a refreshing turn from the tokenism prevalent in some teen fiction, several of the major characters are people of color and play pivotal roles in the protagonist's life. Camellia herself is a heroine who grows in confidence as the pressure (and the plot) mounts and whose resourceful ingenuity (and knowledge of algebra and chemistry) will have female readers cheering. VERDICT This is the beginning of a fun yet sophisticated series that should win the author new fans.—Evelyn Khoo Schwartz, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC
