Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Taryn Cornick believes that the past – her sister's violent death, and her own ill-conceived revenge – is behind her, and she can get on with her life. She has written a successful book about the things that threaten libraries: insects, damp, light, fire, carelessness and uncaring… but not all of the attention it brings her is good. A policeman, Jacob Berger, questions her about a cold case. Then there are questions about a fire in the library at her grandparents' house and an ancient scroll box known as the Firestarter, as well as threatening phone calls and a mysterious illness. Finally a shadowy young man named Shift appears, forcing Taryn and Jacob toward a reckoning felt in more than one world. *The Absolute Book* is epic, action-packed fantasy in which hidden treasures are recovered, wicked things resurface, birds can talk, and dead sisters are a living force. It is a book of journeys and returns, from contemporary England to Auckland, New Zealand; from a magical fairyland to Purgatory. Above all, it is a declaration of love for stories and the ways in which they shape our worlds and create gods out of morals.
Is The Absolute Book appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Contains themes of violent death (sister's murder), revenge, cold case investigation, fire, and mysterious illness. Features complex multi-world fantasy with mature themes about guilt and consequence.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, mild sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death of a loved one, grief, and revenge (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Readers who love intricate fantasy with real-world connections will be drawn into this mystery spanning fairyland, Purgatory, and modern England.