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Peak characters are those who don’t look it, but are furious with the world. They smile and they rage.
Frances Hardinge is a criminally underrated author. If you've never heard of her, I'm not surprised. Even though I'm in several fantasy book groups on Facebook with thousands of members, I've only ever seen one or two other members post about her. And yet, since I first read one of her books in 2020, I've bought every book she's published and read most of them.
Frances Hardinge, for those who've missed out, writes fantasy young adult books. Her books are extremely well written, romance free, unfailingly unique, and somewhat dark, all of which are qualities I find to be more and more rare in today's YA fantasy market (not to hate on YA, I've read tons of it). If you need a comparison, I would say aspects of her books remind me of YA/middle grade books by T. Kingfisher.
If I haven't convinced you yet, here's a little preview of some of her books that I've read:
A Face Like Glass (my personal favorite): A girl named Neverfell lives in a world where people have to be taught how to show emotion in their facial expressions. She has to wear a mask at all times because, mysteriously, she naturally shows facial expressions and if people found out they would freak. If that's not unique enough, this society is underground and produces magical artisinal goods, such as cheeses, wines, and perfumes that can do some wild things. If that still hasn't convinced you, the book critiques the privelege of the wealthy, as in this world only the rich can afford to hire Facesmiths to teach them expression, while the poor languish along with one or two facial expressions for their entire lives.
Fly by Night and Fly Trap (these might have different titles depending on where you are in the world): In a world where reading is illegal and seen as revolutionary activity, Mosca Mye escapes her awful life with her aunt and uncle by forcing an infamous conman (Eponymous Clent, this world has cool naming conventions) to take her under his wing. Joining them is Mosca's only friend, Saracen, the murderous goose. Yeah, you read that right. Highlights of the series include a heartwarming found family tale, an accidental revolution, a city that literally changes its population, personality, and shape when day changes to night, and, of course, an extremely violent goose. I mean, if you've read Pratchett, Saracen the goose is basically the Luggage. There's more than one scene in these books where all hope seems lost, and Mosca is like, "I guess it's up to you now Saracen," and she just straight up lobs her goose at the enemy and he utterly wrecks their shit. If I recall correctly, this happens once during a pitched river boat battle over an illegal printing press.
The Lie Tree: Faith's father, who refused to recognize her potential as a scientist, mysteriously dies. Faith discovers a tree he kept hidden that grows when you tell lies and reveals secrets in its fruit. The bigger the lie you tell the world, the bigger the secret that will be revealed. You can imagine the chaos that eventually ensues. This book critiques gender roles and discrimination, and tackles both the dangers and the necessity of telling lies.
Cuckoo Song: When Triss wakes up after apparently falling in a lake, everything seems wrong. She's missing memories, she has an insatiable hunger, dead leaves are mysteriously appearing in her room, and her sister claims she's a monster. Triss must piece together what's happening to her before it's too late. This book deals with the complexities of life with overbearing parents, siblings who've been pitted against one another, and families that have been torn apart by tragedy.
Verdigris Deep (another one that goes by different titles): A group of friends are cursed by a well witch after they take some coins from her well. She forces them to work for her by granting her wishes. Working with the witch gives them powers, but the wishes are getting increasingly complex. Does that guy really want a motorcycle or does he want to be someone else? And if he wants to be someone else, does that mean what he really wants is not to exist at all? This book deals with issues of self worth, power and control, and toxic friendships.
She has a bunch of other great books as well. So if you're looking for a unique fantasy story with adventure and no romance, definitely check some of Frances Hardinge's books out!
10 Characters, 10 Fandoms, 10 Tags
Thanks @hannahhook7744 for tagging me!
Violetshine from Warrior Cats
Anthony Tremaine from Descendants
Socorro Rivera (Miguel's sister) from Coco
Antonio Madrigal from Encanto
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
Mosca Mye from Fly By Night
Teddy Lupin from Harry Potter
Cerise Hood from Ever After High
Beatrice Snicket/Baudelaire II from A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lizzie Haines from All The Wrong Questions
Tagging @eahravinqueen @leseigneurdufeu @sagekjs21 @library-child @cleverqueencommander @unramitodevioletas @kanzakurawrites @panthera-tigris-venenata @toaverse @gaia-aviva
⚠️Vote for whomever YOU DO NOT KNOW⚠️‼️
Round 1
Mosasaurus (Ace Angler: Fishing Spirits)
Mosca Mye (Fly By Night)
I know both/neither
mosca mye and eponymous clent btw. if you even care. (nykiya adams in bird 2024 and harvey guillén of what we do in the shadows fame)
Fourth round, Fourth fight
Quote number 51 :
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want."
-Calvin, Calvin and Hobbes
VS
Quote number 66 :
I don't want a happy ending, I want more story.
-Mosca Mye, Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge
Which quote do you choose?
Quote number 51
Quote number 66
Mosca: Am I a boy? Am I a girl? It doesn't matter. I'm going to burn your house down.
A moment of appreciation for this fragment from “Fly by night”:
And then one day, to their surprise, the leaders of the Parliament found themselves drinking tea with a group of quietly insistent men in very clean but well-used overalls who explained to them that they were not going to do anything of the sort. The Parliament were surprised, for these men were the heads of the guilds, the leaders of the watchmakers and locksmiths and stationers, and other skilled working men. Mentioning the Stationers, Mye felt a tiny sting of bitterness, but he continued, "If you go to war," said the guild heads, "you will suddenly find that there are no boots or coats for your troops. You will find that there are no flints for your pistols and no shot for your muskets."
"No matter," said the leaders of the Parliament. "Our troops will be so inspired by their cause that they will fight in their shirts and their socks, and will use swords and stones if they cannot have guns." "Perhaps," said the guild heads, "But in the meantime even vou will have no tea or marmalade for your breakfast tables, and no tailors to darn your robes of office when they tear." And so the leaders of the Parliament went pale and asked for time to think about it.
Meanwhile, on their own lands, the Royalist sup porters prepared to march on the Capital. But each and every one found themselves, one day, talking to a group of quietly insistent men in very clean but well-used overalls who explained to them that they would do nothing of the sort. "You will promise loyalty to the Parliament," said the guild heads, "or your cityfolk will have no flour for their bread or slate for their roofs."
“Our cause is so just," said the Royalist leaders, "that our people will hold out against a siege even if they are hungry and the snow piles up in their beds."
"Perhaps," said the guild heads. "But in the meantime no one will set your wives' hair into ringlets, and your horses will be ungroomed." And so the Royalist leaders trembled, and said they would give an answer next day.
