Title: The Lie Tree
Author: Frances Hardinge
Pages: 410
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mystery
Source: Free ARC from ABRAMS Kids via NetGalley
Rating: B+
Note: As stated under the Source (above), I received this book for free from ABRAMS Kids via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review (and trust me, honest is always what you’ll get).
Review: First, can I just say – that cover! It truly is a thing of beauty. I wholeheartedly admit to being a cover snob, and I wanted to devour this book whole the first time I laid eyes on it. Just sayin’…
In regards to the book itself…Frances Hardinge takes us on an intriguing and unusual journey in The Lie Tree. There is murder, intrigue, and a mysterious plant with surprising powers! There is also a lot of girl power and commentary on the state of women’s rights in that time (as in, there were virtually none).
In the beginning, I had a difficult time settling into the story, but later on I realized that it was a lot of necessary stage building for what was to come. Once I got into it though, I was sucked in. At no point did I have any guess who the killers were or what their motive might be. Very smartly written! All the while, I was growing so attached to Faith and her growing independence. I loved watching her come to terms with the limitations society placed not just on her, but on all women, and wrestling with how she would allow (or not) those limitations impact the dreams she had for herself. The story overall was unique and thought-provoking, but the author’s commentary on feminism, which I think was really her overarching theme, was thoughtful and compelling.
If you are after a story that is unlike anything else you have ever read (who knew such a thing existed!), if you like mystery and perhaps a little magic/unexplained phenomena, and if you like that heavily sprinkled with girl power, this book is exactly what you are looking for!