#BlogTour-‘The Deathless Girls’ by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

About the book..

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist, darkly provoking and deeply romantic – this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut.

They say the thirst of blood is like a madness – they must sate it. Even with their own kin.

On the eve of her divining, the day she’ll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community.

Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn’t understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts.

They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate…

HUGEST of thanks to edpr and Bellatrix Books courtesy of Orion for my gifted review copy of ‘The Deathless Girls’ by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

It’s out now in a spectacular hardback edition for RRP £12.99 !!

This is a book with a huge pedigree and expectations preceding it. Taking the three unknown wives of Dracula and weaving their backstory into a YA(Young Adult) narrative is always going to be a tricky proposition. Yes the three women who cause blood chilling moments in the gothic classic are legendary and well known but also they are complete blank pages.

Where did they come from and how did they end up brides of the undead ruler?

Here is the tale of Lillai, Kizzy and Mira, the first two are traveller twins whose lives are uprooted on their diving day by dark forces who kidnap Kiz.

On her way to rescue Kiz, Lil makes friends with Mira, a servant girl and who becomes her companion in her attempt to be the person she has to become,in order to save her sister.

Told from Lil’s perspective, we are introduced to the details and rituals of Romanian traveller culture from the very first page-it is beautifully evoked with a very firm sense of time and place.

I am not going to spoil any of the story because I honestly want as many people to read this as they can-the verdant and richly detailed prose beautifully reflects the gothic sensibility of the story whilst the centering of these three young women instead of making them bystanders in someone else’s tale is both bold and heartwarming.

You become invested in their journey, especially Lil’s because she , as Kiz’ twin sees Kiz as everything she wants to be. They are not identical and Lil is struggling to not only find her own identity, but who she is when she is not a twin. The divining day where Old Charani will tell them their future is set aflame, quite literally, and without anyone telling their futures, not only does it become theirs to own, it becomes a narrative they can rewrite by their own rules.

It also has a lot to say with regards to travellers who are seen as disposable and less worthy than other parts of society which neatly reflects the sense of ‘other’ and entitlement which exists in today’s patriarchal society.

This book had a difficult job to do, firstly it had to match the expectations given by the stunning cover design which is honstly breathtaking-the endpapers and gold foil detail has to be seen to be believed!-it also has to establish these women within their own rights in a tale that traditional, beloved,and is male centric.

I think Kiran Millwood Hargrave has delivered on both counts with a lusciously realised story that I genuinely hope continues.

Thoroughly recommended for lovers of Theodora Goss, Kiersten White and Vivian Shaw, I would say read this, then go back to the original, it will give you chills.

About the author…

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an award winning poet, playwright, and author.

Her books include the bestselling winner of the British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2017 ‘The Girl Of Ink And Stars’, and Costa Book Awards- and Blue Peter Awards-shortlisted ‘The Island At The End Of Everything’, and ‘The Way Past Winter’in October 2018. Her debut book for adults, ‘The Mercies’ , based on the Vardø witch trials, will be published by Picador in early 2020.

She is represented by Hellie Ogden (UK) and Kirby Kim (US) at Janklow & Nesbit. Kiran lives in Oxford with her husband, artist Tom de Freston, and their cat, Luna.

Links-http://www.kiranmh.co.uk/

Twitter @Kiran_MH

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