Unraveller

UNRAVELLER is another stunningly imaginative new world in which anyone can create a life-destroying curse – but only one person has the power to unravel them. World Rights were acquired by Macmillan Children’s in the UK, and in the US by Abrams – you can read the Bookseller announcement here.  Four of Frances’ novels are currently or have been in development for Film/TV – including DEEPLIGHT (Euston), A SKIN FULL OF SHADOWS (Calamity), THE LIE TREE, and CUCKOO SONG.

In a world where anyone can create a life-destroying curse, only one person has the power to unravel them. Kellen does not fully understand his talent, but helps those transformed maliciously—including Nettle. Recovered from entrapment in bird form, she is now his constant companion and closest ally.

But Kellen has also been cursed, and unless he and Nettle can remove his curse, Kellen is in danger of unravelling everything—and everyone—around him . . ..

Frances’ debut novel, FLY BY NIGHT, was published in 2005 to global critical acclaim. It won the Branford Boase Award in 2006 and was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Award in the same year. The sequel, TWILIGHT ROBBERY, was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Award in 2012. Frances’ next three novels, VERDIGRIS DEEP, GULLSTRUCK ISLAND and A FACE LIKE GLASS (shortlisted for the Kitschies in 2013) have all garnered stellar reviews. CUCKOO SONG, published in 2014, won the Robert Holdstock Award, was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Her seventh novel, THE LIE TREE, also optioned for film/TV, was short-listed for The Guardian Fiction Award and the Carnegie Medal and went on to win the 2015 Costa Book of the Year Award, only the second time in the Award’s history that a children’s author has scooped the prize. DEEPLIGHT, published in October 2019, showcases once again Frances’ extraordinary imagination, originality and talent for world building and storytelling.

Frances is represented by Nancy Miles at Miles Stott Agency, and UNRAVELLER will be published by Macmillan in the UK on 01/09/2022, and by Amulet in the US on 10/01/2023.