1883. Cairndale Institute lies in ruins the orsine finally destroyed. With Marlowe presumed
dead the Talents and their companions have found themselves separated - and struggling to
survive. Charlie believes Marlowe is alive in another world and is determined to find a way
to get him out. Together with Komako Oskar and Miss Davenshaw he seeks clues to the
whereabouts of another orsine - while Miss Davenshaw knows of an old Talent who might have some
answers and Alice and Ribs go in search of the children named in a strange burned journal. In
a journey that will take them from Valladolid to Paris to Alexandria Egypt the Talents soon
learn that they are not as alone as they might think meeting a shapeshifting boy whose skills
rely on the bodies of the dead and a young bone witch who can bring the dead back to life. As
the mystery of the second orsine deepens the gang assembles to find themselves hunted by a new
more powerful enemy - one who will not stop until every Talent in this world is destroyed. One
thing is clear: a war is coming. Praise for Ordinary Monsters (Book One of The Talents
Trilogy): 'Ordinary Monsters is a towering achievement: a dazzling mountain of wild invention
Dickensian eccentrics supernatural horrors and gripping suspense. Be warned... once you step
into this penny dreadful to end all penny dreadfuls you'll never want to leave' Joe Hill #1
New York Times bestselling author of HEART-SHAPED BOX 'Expansive in scope and storytelling
Ordinary Monsters builds an electrifying Victorian world: grimy but luminous magical but
deadly with a cast of diverse and gripping characters that feel entirely modern' Cari Thomas
bestselling author of THREADNEEDLE 'Haunting tense earth-shattering ... A riveting mix of
magic and terror' Tamora Pierce 'Murky as London smog dark as black pudding this is a gaslit
gothic tour de force . . . The fantasy is so rich and the atmosphere so immersive in this
stand-out debut that it's easy to overlook the crispiness of the writing and the brilliantly
propulsive plotting. And while drughrs litches keywrasses and orsines make for a wonderful
new language of dread it's the characters that carry the day' Daily Mail 'An engrossing piece
of Gothic Dickensian fantasy centred around children gifted with magical powers . . . Miro's
meaty detailed execution lends his story weight and depth and commands respect' Financial
Times 'A thrilling blend of fantasy and horror richly imagined and masterfully executed' SFX
'A fantasy series so ambitious that it makes The Lord of the Rings look like a stroll in the
Shire . . . Spanning the globe and crammed with good versus evil battles and hair's breadth
escapes this book is great fun despite frim subject matter thanks to J. M. Miro's darkly
witty style . . . Remarkably fresh' Daily Express
