Kingdom of Little Wounds

A young seamstress and a royal nursemaid find themselves at the centre of an epic power struggle in this stunning young adult debut.

Game of Thrones meets Grimm's Fairy Tales in this astounding novel, where women become pawns in the struggle for power. On the eve of Princess Sophia’s wedding, the Scandinavian kingdom of Skyggehavn prepares to fete the occasion with a sumptuous display of riches. Yet beneath the veneer of celebration, a shiver of darkness creeps through the palace halls. A mysterious illness plagues the royal family, threatening the lives of the throne’s heirs, and a courtier’s wolfish hunger for the king’s favours sets a devious plot in motion. Here in the palace of Skyggehavn, things are seldom as they seem – and when a single errant prick of a needle sets off a series of events that will alter the course of history, the fates of budding young seamstress Ava Bingen and crafty servant Midi Sorte become irrevocably intertwined. As they navigate a tangled web of palace intrigue, power-lust and deception, Ava and Midi must carve out their own survival any way they can, weathering desperate desires and crushing consequences on a journey to ultimate redemption.

Brazen, baroque, The Kingdom of Little Wounds plots coordinates of history, fever, and magic in such a way that each is occasionally disguised as the other. However, there's no disguising Susann Cokal's immediate rise to eminence as a pantocrator of new realms. I lived in her controversial kingdom for only a week, but I suspect and hope I shall never recover. Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked and What-the-Dickens
There are deep and shallow reading experiences; this is a deep reading experience. There is nothing like it, though the fossil record flashes all kinds of petticoat. (Sigrid Undset. Margaret Atwood.) Elegant, complex, and sharp as a needle. Blythe Woolston, winner of the William Morris Prize and author of Black Helicopters
An epic, mercurial tale of astounding beauty, power, and madness. Gigi Amateau, author of Claiming Georgia Tate
Complex and carefully crafted -- mesmerizing. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
[T]he novel's ... brutality, eloquence, and scope are a breathtaking combination. Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The author seamlessly interweaves crooked fairy tales throughout her dark story... [T]he book’s lyrical writing, enthralling characters, and compelling plot will give older readers lots to ponder Booklist
Acquisition noted Publisher's Lunch
Featured in "Galleys to Grab" roundup Publishers Weekly
Acquisition noted PW Children's Bookshelf
Included in Candlewick fall 2013 preview School Library Journal
Included in BEA 2013 roundup Publishers Weekly Children's Bookshelf
Starred review featured PW Children's Bookshelf
Featured as one of the best books of the week LA Magazine Online
Featured/recommended Richmond.com
Included in PW Picks: The Best New Books for the Week of October 7, 2013 Publishers Weekly Online
Featured/recommended Richmond Magazine
Featured/recommended The Mom Buzz (blog)
Featured/recommended Richmond Times-Dispatch
Featured/recommended Midwest Book Review
Cokal creates a mystical, shadowy setting full of intrigue and hidden passions. VOYA
This novel is distinctive in thought and elocution, but it is also dense and full of adult content. School Library Journal (starred review)

Susann Cokal is the author of two adult novels, Mirabilis and Breath and Bones, and her short stories and literary criticisms have been widely published in literary journals and The New York Times Book Review. The Kingdom of Little Wounds is her first novel for young adults and won a 2014 Printz Honor. Currently an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, she lives in Richmond, Virginia, USA.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.