Read by Joshua Akehurst

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea meets Frankenstein in Frances Hardinge's latest fantasy adventure. The gods are dead. Decades ago, they turned on one another and tore each other apart. Nobody knows why. But are they really gone forever? When fifteen-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of a terrifying deity, he risks everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, military scientists, and a secret fanatical cult so that he can use it to save the life of his best friend, Jelt. But with the heart, Jelt gradually and eerily transforms. How long should Hark stay loyal to a friend who's becoming a monster-and what is Hark willing to sacrifice to save him? "Hardinge is assured and sophisticated in her exploration of the dark temptations of power." "Equal parts dazzling fantasy, swashbuckling adventure, and tender coming-of-age tale." "Monsters and mortals collide in this fantasy adventure that explores the hypnotic allure of fear, the adamant grip of the past, and the redeeming power of stories…Thrilling." "Dazzling fantasy, swashbuckling adventure, and tender coming-of-age tale, this ambitious stand-alone from Hardinge cautions against xenophobia, zealotry, and greed while using boldly draw characters." "Glorious thematic complexity inhabits a wildly inventive world, with the menacing roils of a dangerous sea threatening the archipelago and touches of steampunk rounding out the fantastical elements….Readers will be thrilled to be pulled into the alluring expanse of her work." "Chilling and provocative, this dark fantasy will appeal to thrill seekers and cerebral tweens." "Provides a great many features of interest: the Undersea's breathable water; sign language as a common parlance."

Mode of access: World Wide Web