As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally gained the power to stretch like rubber...at the cost of never being able to swim again! Years later, Luffy sets off in search of the One Piece, said to be the greatest treasure in the world...When a demented king shows up to reclaim his island kingdom, Luffy and his crew are there to stop him! As the Straw Hats battle the royal interlopers, they get to know all about eccentric Dr. Hiriluk and his reindeer assistant, Tony Tony Chopper. But can they possibly overcome King Wapol - whose body changes depending on what he eats - and survive the scheming of the Baroque Works crew on the island of Alabasta?
Nothing can surpass the terror of the human psyche.Mine has been a life of much shame.I can’t even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being.Plagued by a maddening anxiety, the terrible disconnect between his own concept of happiness and the joy of the rest of the world, Yozo Oba plays the clown in his dissolute life, holding up a mask for those around him as he spirals ever downward, locked arm-in-arm with death.Osamu Dazai’s immortal—and supposedly autobiographical—work of Japanese literature, is perfectly adapted here into a manga by Junji Ito. The imagery wrenches open the text of the novel one line at a time to sublimate Yozo’s mental landscape into something even more delicate and grotesque. This is the ultimate in art by Ito, proof that nothing can surpass the terror of the human psyche.
Pride is all we haveThe attack Shin foresaw has finally come to pass. Wielding a weapon with destructive force hitherto unseen, the Long-Range Artillery-type Legion unit rains unmitigated chaos over the battlefield. Both the Federacy's western front an
Last season's breakout new hit airing on Crunchyroll! A battle-heavy action series powered by the works of literary giants unfolds on the stage of Yokohama's backstreets!
The legendary Shonen Jump series, now available in English for the first time, in a deluxe edition featuring color pages and newly drawn cover art! JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles. A multigenerational tale of the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil!
Language: English, Binding: Paperback, Number of pages: 224, Publishers: Little, Brown Book Group, Author: KAFKA ASAGIRI, ISBN-13: 9781975316594, Date of issue: 2021
Naoki Urasawa’s unforgettable thriller follows a brilliant doctor’s journey into the darkest depths of the human soul.Johan is a cold and calculating killer with a mysterious past, and brilliant Dr. Kenzo Tenma is the only one who can stop him! Conspiracy and serial murder open the door to a compelling, intricately woven plot in this masterwork of suspense."Once upon a time, there lived a monster without a name. He wanted a name very badly. So one day he made up his mind to set out on a journey to find a name.”How could this strange Czech children’s story have upset Johan so much? Does the book hold any clues to the mystery of Johan’s birth? One mystery leads to another as events unfold.The border police spot Tenma when he tries to smuggle himself into the Czech Republic to look for Johan’s mother. With the help of Grimmer, a freelance journalist, Tenma manages a narrow escape. Though the two men part without discussing what brought them together, Grimmer is also deeply interested in the same thing Tenma is looking for—511 Kinderheim, which once existed in East Germany. The story moves to the streets of Prague…
Miyano spends his days peacefully reading Boys' Love comics and worrying about how girly his face is-until a chance encounter leads to a scuffle with his senior Sasaki. Intrigued by his feisty junior Miyano, delinquent Sasaki uses every opportunity he can to get closer...
Out of sight, out of mind!Bunny girls do not live in libraries. This is simply common sense. And yet, that's exactly where Sakuta finds one in the wild. More bewildering is who the bunny girl is: Mai Sakurajima, a girl one year older than Sakuta, famous at their school for her acting career even though she's currently on break. To top it all off, it seems like no one else in the library can see Mai at all, no matter what she does or...wears. Wanting to find out more about this mystery and maybe get a little closer to this beautiful upperclassman in the process, Sakuta launches an investigation to discover why an unforgettable bunny girl keeps becoming totally invisible.
NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES ON PRIME VIDEOThe Wheel of Time Box Set 2 includes volumes four, five and six of Robert Jordan's internationally bestselling Wheel of Time series, one of the most influential and popular fantasy epics ever published - now a major TV series on Prime video. In this Age of myth and legend, the Wheel of Time turns. What was, what may be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.'EPIC IN EVERY SENSE' Sunday TimesThis box set contains:Book 4: The Shadow RisingBook 5: Fires of HeavenBook 6: Lord of ChaosCollect all the Wheel of Time box sets in this series:The Wheel of Time Box Set 1: Books 1-3 (The Eye of the World, The Great Hunt, The Dragon Reborn)The Wheel of Time Box Set 2: Books 4-6 (The Shadow Rising, Fires of Heaven and Lord of Chaos)The Wheel of Time Box Set 3: Books 7-9 (A Crown of Swords, The Path of Daggers, Winter's Heart)The Wheel of Time Box Set 4: Books 10-12 (Crossroads of Twilight, Knife of Dreams, The Gathering Storm)The Wheel of Time Box Set 5: Books 13, 14 & prequel (Towers of Midnight, A Memory of Light, New Spring)Also look out for The Complete Wheel of Time Box Set, a box set containing all fifteen novels in this monumental series, presented in a sturdy box with a wood-finish effect. 'WITH THE WHEEL OF TIME, JORDAN HAS COME TO DOMINATE THE WORLD THAT TOLKIEN BEGAN TO REVEAL' New York Times'[THE] AMBITIOUS WHEEL OF TIME SERIES HELPED REDEFINE THE GENRE' George R. R.Martin'A FANTASY PHENOMENON' SFXThe Wheel of Time series:Book 1: The Eye of the WorldBook 2: The Great HuntBook 3: The Dragon RebornBook 4: The Shadow RisingBook 5: The Fires of HeavenBook 6: Lord of ChaosBook 7: A Crown of SwordsBook 8: The Path of DaggersBook 9: Winter's HeartBook 10: Crossroads of TwilightBook 11: Knife of DreamsBook 12: The Gathering StormBook 13: Towers of MidnightBook 14: A Memory of LightPrequel: New SpringLook out for the companion book: The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time
Prepare to turn the Wheel of Time - discover the first novel in one of the most influential and popular fantasy epics ever published. When their village is attacked by terrifying creatures, Rand al'Thor and his friends are forced to flee for their lives. An ancient evil is stirring, and its servants are scouring the land for the Dragon Reborn - the prophesised hero who can deliver the world from darkness. In this Age of myth and legend, the Wheel of Time turns. What was, what may be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.
Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He's got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world's greatest ninja! Orochimaru's nefarious plans for Sasuke are revealed, and Naruto vows to save his friend. But first he and the others must battle the mysterious Kimimaro, who has deadly past ties to the Sound Ninja Four! Kankuro, Temari and Gaara unexpectedly aid Konohagakure against the Sound Ninja. But what is behind this rekindling of the Leaf and Sand alliance?
'Exciting, deeply wise, sad, brutal and compassionate all at once. And beautifully written, with a plot as cunning as fine embroidery' Catriona WardFrom two-time Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes a darkly cosy queer fantasy romance with a thrilling murder mystery, set in the same world as Paladin's Grace and Swordheart.Piper is a lich-doctor, a physician who works among the dead, determining causes of death for the city guard's investigations. It's a peaceful, if solitary profession...until the day when he's called to the river to examine the latest in a series of mysterious bodies, mangled by some unknown force. Galen is a paladin of a dead god, lost to holiness and no longer entirely sane. He has long since given up on any hope of love. But when the two men and a brave gnole constable are drawn into the maze of the mysterious killer, it's Galen's job to protect Piper from the traps that await them. He's just not sure if he can protect Piper from the most dangerous threat of all...Praise for T. Kingfisher:'T. Kingfisher solidifies her place as natural and inevitable heir to the greats of her genre, while remaining clearly and unquestionably a unique voice in fantasy' Seanan McGuire'Creepy, funny, heartfelt, and full of fantastic characters I absolutely loved' Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage"Nettle & Bone brings Kingfisher's signature honesty and authenticity to a fairy tale setting: the result is refreshing, earnest but not naive, and deeply satisfying. I devoured it. This is one that's going to stay with me for a long time' Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars'A delight throughout' Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches'T. Kingfisher uses the bones of fairy tale to create something entirely her own, written in gloriously clear and transparent prose' Emily Tesh, author of Some Desperate Glory'Funny, frightening, and full of heart; I loved it' Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January'Charming and macabre, often both at the same time' A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name'Absolutely delightful and full of charm and truth' Naomi Novik, on Thornhedge
The American group of ability users known as the "Guild" appears, led by the wealthy Francis Scott Fitzgerald, who has his sights set on the Armed Detective Agency! Can Agency president Fukuzawa stop him...!? Not if Guild member Lucy Montgomery and can help it!
Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called "Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?The final stages of the U.A. High sports festival promise to be explosive, as Uraraka takes on Bakugo in a head-to-head match! Bakugo never gives anyone a break, and the crowd holds its breath as the battle begins. The finals will push the students of Class 1-A to their limits and beyond!
A sweet "aww"-inspiring tale of school life begins!!At school, Kyouko Hori is known for being smart, attractive, and popular. On the other hand, her classmate, the boring, gloomy Izumi Miyamura tends to get painted as a "loser fanboy." But when a liberally pierced and tattooed (not to mention downright gorgeous) Miyamura appears unexpectedly on the doorstep of secretly plain-Jane homebody Hori, these two similarly dissimilar teenagers discover that there are multiple sides to every story...and person!
A multigenerational tale of the heroic Joestar family and their never-ending battle against evil!The legendary Shonen Jump series is now available in deluxe hardcover editions featuring color pages! JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a groundbreaking manga famous for its outlandish characters, wild humor and frenetic battles.There’s no rest for the wicked! The crew’s next stop is scenic Venice, but they’re going to have to fight for every inch of progress. Standing in their way is an enemy who seems to have no weaknesses whatsoever. They’ve gotten lucky so far, but will they overcome this new obstacle and get out with their lives intact?
Language: English, Binding: Paperback, Number of pages: 216, Publishers: Viz Media, Author: Keiji Ando,Kentaro Hidano, ISBN-13: 9781974752850, Date of issue: 2025
Language: English, Binding: Paperback, Number of pages: 240, Publishers: Little, Brown Book Group, Author: Tappei Nagatsuki, ISBN-13: 9781975335359, Date of issue: 2023
A chance meeting on a train to Tokyo sends two girls named Nana on a collision course with destiny!Nana "Hachi" Komatsu hopes that moving to Tokyo will help her make a clean start and leave her capricious love life behind her. Nana Osaki, who arrives in the city at the same time, has plans to score big in the world of rock'n'roll. Although these two young women come from different backgrounds, they quickly become best friends in a whirlwind world of sex, music, fashion, gossip and all-night parties!Nana K.'s perfect Tokyo life is crumbling around her. She can't keep a job, she can't keep any money, and now it looks like she can't even keep her boyfriend! But luckily, a tasty nugget of gossip about Nana O.'s past love life helps Nana K. keep her mind off her own troubles. If she can play the role of cupid for her best friend, can Nana K. get closer to her own happy ending?
Antisocial, dorky boy seeks fun-loving, sexy vampire for blood-sucking and transforming into her minion.One sleepless night, Ko slips out to walk the streets. Life after dark is a revelation! Especially when he meets flirtatious Nazuna. Except that she’s a vampire. That’s okay. He wants to become a creature of the night too. But transformation doesn’t come that easily...Nazuna can’t let her guard down for a second now that a flock of hot vampire women is interested in Ko’s hot blood! Then, when she takes a shift at a Maid Café where the customer is always right, the vampire is always wrong! Akira meets the girl Ko rejected before he met Nazuna, and Ko meets a private detective searching for someone he knows. Plus, a late-night visit to Ko’s school to ghost bust spooky legends leads to a thought-provoking lesson about the drawbacks of giving up your humanity...
At this high school, instead of jocks and nerds, the students are divided into predators and prey.At a high school where the students are literally divided into predators and prey, friendships maintain the fragile peace. Who among them will become a Beastar—a hero destined to lead in a society naturally rife with mistrust?Gray wolf Legoshi confirms the identity of alpaca Tem’s murderer after a Drama Club member is maimed during rehearsal. In the wake of the incident, the Cherryton Academy administration resolves to segregate classrooms and disband interspecies clubs. The edict causes an uproar, and the absence of red deer Louis’s leadership is keenly felt. However, Bengal tiger Bill and Angora goat Els, as well as gray wolf Juno, gain insight into themselves and their relationships. Plus, a flashback to Legoshi’s tragic childhood and family.
When your kink involves eating a demon's guts, what else is there to do but summon a bewitching demon to feast on?Makoto summons a demon to grant his every twisted desire, and in exchange for getting to eat the demon's guts, Makoto will give him his life!Makoto has long been ostracized because of his odd hobbies and a sexual kink others see as disgusting. One day he summons Archduke J-a trickster demon from hell-and sells his soul to him, only to unknowingly end up reborn in hell...as J's demon underling! As he learns and grows in his new role, his infatuation with J turns into an obsession-an obsession to surpass the very demon who birthed him.
THE MOMENT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!Just when you think things can’t get any more complicated…Our army is in position to kick off the final battle with the elves, whoop-de-do. But there’s still the problem of Yamada and the rest of D’s former classmates’ inevitable clash with Vampy, Mr. Oni, and in the worst-case-scenario, the Demon Lord herself. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but can’t we all just get along? At least long enough for me to wipe that stupid smirk off Potimas’s face and put him in the ground once and for all?! Assuming the Demon Lord doesn’t steal the kill, that is. I swear, if there’s one person who hates him more than I do, it’s her. What’s their history anyway…?
Welcome back to Briar U!Discover the next generation in this icy-hot spin-off series from The Queen of Hockey Romance, Elle Kennedy!College senior Charlotte Kingston is living two lives - and she's nailing both of them. By day, she's the perfect sorority girl, a STEM student in biomedical engineering, and the adopted daughter of an overachiever family. At night, she's Charlie: a risk-taking daredevil looking for fun who finds herself chatting on a dating app with two anonymous hotties.Will Larsen may seem like the breezy boy next door, but his congressman father is a constant thorn in his side. After a scandal hits another Division 1 hockey program, Will's dad is determined to distance his son from it, hiring a journalist to prove how squeaky-clean Will and his team are. Which means the last thing Will wants is for anyone to find out he and his best friend Beckett Dunne - a laidback Aussie shielding secret heartache - sometimes share girls in the bedroom.When Charlie finally meets them in person and realizes she's been chatting with two gorgeous Briar U hockey players, things get steamy - fast. But all their messy secrets are piling up, and real life soon threatens to shatter the fantasy. With Charlie, Will, and Beckett all coming to terms with what they want and what others want for them, difficult decisions will need to be made.Especially when lust starts to look a lot like love.Why fans love Elle Kennedy . . .'Delicious, complicated and drama-filled . . . I read it in one sitting, and you will, too' L. J. Shen'A deliciously sexy story with a wallop of emotions that sneaks up on you' Vi Keeland'The best college romance I've read. It had epic banter, sexy romance, and fantastic writing!! I laughed, I swooned, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!!' Goodreads Review'Elle Kennedy proves, once again, that she is the Queen of College Hockey Romance!!' Goodreads Review
Broke young man + chainsaw dog demon = Chainsaw Man!Denji was a small-time devil hunter just trying to survive in a harsh world. After being killed on a job, he is revived by his pet devil Pochita and becomes something new and dangerous—Chainsaw Man!It’s Chainsaw vs. Sword as the bloody battle for Denji’s heart heats up. Denji is going to have to pull out all the stops against this crafty opponent. And when the dust settles, how will Special Division 4 move on from their losses?
Hachi's happiness with Nobu is slipping through her fingers as an unexpected complication with Takumi threatens to upend her entire life. And unlike her past romantic woes, the choice she makes now will change the lives of everyone around her.
Yotsuba is a strange little girl with a big personality! Even in the most trivial, unremarkable encounters, Yotsuba's curiosity and enthusiasm quickly turn the everyday into the extraordinary!
Is Kira's story truly over, or does his influence linger? Death Note's story continues in this collection of short stories penned by the series' creators.In this complete collection of Death Note short stories penned by the series’ creators, discover tales of lives irrevocably changed by the sinister influence of the Death Note, with surprising and thrilling answers to the question of what it truly takes to use the Death Note…or fight it.Contains stories "C-Kira,” "a-Kira,” the Death Note pilot chapter, vignettes of L’s life, and more.
Deification is one hell of a nerf...So I'm a god, so what? I'm weaker than ever I have no stats, no skills, and no physical stamina In fact, the only thing I got out of this upgrade was...legs. But since I never have the energy to walk, the others ha
In the spring of 1998, Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to Yomiyama North Middle School. In class, he develops a sense of unease as he notices that the people around him act like they're walking on eggshells, and students and teachers alike seem frightened. As a chain of horrific deaths begin to unfold around him, he comes to discover that he has been placed in the cursed Class 3 in which the student body head count is always one more than expected. Class 3 is haunted by a vengeful spirit responsible for gruesome deaths in an effort to satisfy its spite.To stop the vicious cycle gripping his new school, Kouichi decides to get to the bottom of the curse, but is he prepared for the horror that lies ahead...?
Containing volumes 7, 8 and 9 of Naruto! Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura passed the written portion of the Chunin Exam, but that was only the beginning! Now in the thick of the exam's second phase, held in the aptly named Forest of Death, instructor Mitarashi Anko has promised to cut the number of advancing teams by half. And a mysterious predator in their midst is after Sasuke!
Lonely thirty-seven-year-old Satoru Mikami is stuck in a dead-end job, unhappy with his mundane life, but after dying at the hands of a robber, he awakens to a fresh start in a fantasy realm...as a slime monster As he acclimates to his goopy new existence
The Beast of Gévaudan is put to rest once and for all as Chloé makes peace with her truest desire—but Vanitas’s troubles continue as both he and Jeanne are struck with certain... ailments of the heart!There’s no time for him to dwell on this rather unwelcome development, though, as Domi is swept away in the machinations of a phantom from his past...
After one final battle against the elves, the Demon Army emerges victorious! With Potimas defeated, the next task is to save goddess Sariel from the System, but administrator D keeps getting in the way!!! For her own amusement, she activates World Quest and pulls absolutely everyone into the game.Now what are we gonna do?!
Incredible. Sakuta actually managed to convince Mai to officially date him. Nothing could possibly ruin this-unless time goes backwards and Sakuta wakes up to yesterday morning?
The next escapist romance from Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of TikTok favourite, The Unhoneymooners!'My favourite kind of book to devour: something that manages to be hot and intense, yet still the very best comfort food' JODI PICOULT...............Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and 'reigning romance queens' (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam 'West' Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she'd signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There's just one catch.Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather's will, Liam won't see a penny until he's been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he's in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he's afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents - his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.But in the presence of his family, Liam's fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie................'Sexy, swoony, heartfelt' Library Journal (starred review)'Funny, angst-y, and extremely sexy' Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Find out why readers LOVE Christina Lauren . . .'Pure, irresistible magic from start to finish' EMILY HENRY'Witty and downright hilarious . . . a perfect feel-good romantic comedy' HELEN HOANG'Pure joy' SALLY THORNE'Writing duo Christina Lauren are my go-to when I'm feeling sad' BETH O'LEARY'What a joyful, warm, touching book! This is the book to read if you want to smile so hard your face hurts' JASMINE GUILLORY
From two-time Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes Paladin's Strength, the perfect blend of cosy fantasy romance and classic fantasy adventure featuring an order of secretive nuns, a swashbuckling paladin and a strange hive of rabbits.He's a paladin of a dead god, tracking a supernatural killer across a continent. She's a nun from a secretive order, on the trail of the raiders who burned her convent and kidnapped her sisters. When their paths cross at the point of a sword, Istvhan and Clara will be pitched headlong into each other's quests, facing off against enemies both living and dead. But Clara has a secret that could jeopardize the growing trust between them, a secret that will lead them to the gladiatorial pits of a corrupt city, and beyond...Praise for T. Kingfisher:'T. Kingfisher solidifies her place as natural and inevitable heir to the greats of her genre, while remaining clearly and unquestionably a unique voice in fantasy' Seanan McGuire'Exciting, deeply wise, sad, brutal and compassionate all at once. And beautifully written, with a plot as cunning as fine embroidery' Catriona Ward'Creepy, funny, heartfelt, and full of fantastic characters I absolutely loved' Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage"Nettle & Bone brings Kingfisher's signature honesty and authenticity to a fairy tale setting: the result is refreshing, earnest but not naive, and deeply satisfying. I devoured it. This is one that's going to stay with me for a long time' Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars'A delight throughout' Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches'T. Kingfisher uses the bones of fairy tale to create something entirely her own, written in gloriously clear and transparent prose' Emily Tesh, author of Some Desperate Glory'Funny, frightening, and full of heart; I loved it' Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January'Charming and macabre, often both at the same time' A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name'Absolutely delightful and full of charm and truth' Naomi Novik, on Thornhedge
'Creepy, funny, heartfelt, and full of fantastic characters I absolutely loved' Melissa Caruso on Nettle & BoneMarguerite Florian is a spy with two problems. A former employer wants her dead, and one of her new bodyguards is a far too good-looking paladin with a martyr complex. Shane is a paladin with three problems. His god is dead, his client is much too attractive for his peace of mind, and a powerful organization is trying to have them both killed. Add in a brilliant artificer with a device that may change the world, a glittering and dangerous court, and a demon-led cult, and Shane and Marguerite will be lucky to escape with their souls intact, never mind their hearts. . . Praise for T. Kingfisher:'T. Kingfisher solidifies her place as natural and inevitable heir to the greats of her genre, while remaining clearly and unquestionably a unique voice in fantasy' Seanan McGuire"Nettle & Bone brings Kingfisher's signature honesty and authenticity to a fairy tale setting: the result is refreshing, earnest but not naive, and deeply satisfying. I devoured it. This is one that's going to stay with me for a long time' Sarah Gailey, author of Magic for Liars'A delight throughout' Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches'T. Kingfisher uses the bones of fairy tale to create something entirely her own, written in gloriously clear and transparent prose' Emily Tesh, author of Some Desperate Glory'Funny, frightening, and full of heart; I loved it' Alix E. Harrow, author of The Ten Thousand Doors of January'Charming and macabre, often both at the same time' A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name'Absolutely delightful and full of charm and truth' Naomi Novik, on Thornhedge