Set in the seedy underworld of Coney Island, Brooklyn, and Manhattan in 1877, this prequel to The Boneshaker centers around the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and the drifter Jack's attempt to claim the city of New York as his own personal hell. Teenagers Sam and Jin, orphans whose special skills include hustling cards and detonating fireworks, are the only ones who can stop Jack's evil minions from performing a ritual (at the center of the great crossroads formed by the bridge and the East River) that will allow them to take over the city. The Broken Lands is a rich, vivid, extensively researched historical fantasy that explores themes of friendship, courage, and standing up to evil in a fast-paced and highly original way.
Industry Reviews
"This seamless blend of fantasy and historical fiction is ripe with rich, gritty detail . . . Readers will be captivated."
--Kirkus
* "A true delight to fans of history, fantasy, and the triumph of good."
--Bulletin, starred review
"This spine-tingling, action-packed, and emotionally powerful prequel to The Boneshaker (Clarion, 2010) can stand on its own and has much to offer discerning readers."
--School Library Journal
"Thrilling, gothic, gorgeous. Milford can conjure spirits as well as any of the mysterious wanderers who travel through her world."
--Adam Gidwitz, author of A Tale Dark and Grimm
"A glimpse into a past that feels frighteningly real, The Broken Lands explodes off the page with unforgettable moments of skin-crawling terror and heart-stopping bravery. It thrilled me, enchanted me, terrified me, and by the end, made me fall in love."
--Robin Wasserman, author of The Book of Blood and Shadow
"The Broken Lands weaves hobo and drifter legends, post-Civil War Americana, and Coney Island's tawdry history into a desperately romantic, can't-put-it-down scary tale of young love and ancient magic. A superb second novel, rich, complex, and beautifully written."
--Chris Moriarty, author of The Inquisitor's Apprentice
"If Milford's The Boneshaker was a combination of Ray Bradbury and American folk legends, its prequel must be what you get when fairy tales meet E.L. Doctorow."
--Elizabeth Bird, Youth Materials Collections Specialist, The New York Public Library
"This book held me hostage for the majority of time I was reading it; it was impossible to put it down. The Broken Lands was one of the best books I have ever read."
--Kyle, grade 6 "This seamless blend of fantasy and historical fiction is ripe with rich, gritty detail . . . Readers will be captivated." "Kirkus" * "A true delight to fans of history, fantasy, and the triumph of good." "Bulletin, " starred review "This spine-tingling, action-packed, and emotionally powerful prequel to "The Boneshaker" (Clarion, 2010) can stand on its own and has much to offer discerning readers." "School Library Journal" "Thrilling, gothic, gorgeous. Milford can conjure spirits as well as any of the mysterious wanderers who travel through her world." Adam Gidwitz, author of "A Tale Dark and Grimm" A glimpse into a past that feels frighteningly real, "The Broken Lands" explodes off the page with unforgettable moments of skin-crawling terror and heart-stopping bravery. It thrilled me, enchanted me, terrified me, and by the end, made me fall in love. Robin Wasserman, author of "The Book of Blood and Shadow" ""The Broken Lands" weaves hobo and drifter legends, post-Civil War Americana, and Coney Island's tawdry history into a desperately romantic, can't-put-it-down scary tale of young love and ancient magic. A superb second novel, rich, complex, and beautifully written." Chris Moriarty, author of "The Inquisitor's Apprentice" "If Milford's "The Boneshaker" was a combination of Ray Bradbury and American folk legends, its prequel must be what you get when fairy tales meet E.L. Doctorow." Elizabeth Bird, Youth Materials Collections Specialist, The New York Public Library "This book held me hostage for the majority of time I was reading it; it was impossible to put it down. "The Broken Lands" was one of the best books I have ever read." Kyle, grade 6" "This seamless blend of fantasy and historical fiction is ripe with rich, gritty detail . . . Readers will be captivated."
--"Kirkus" * "A true delight to fans of history, fantasy, and the triumph of good."
--"Bulletin, " starred review "This spine-tingling, action-packed, and emotionally powerful prequel to "The Boneshaker" (Clarion, 2010) can stand on its own and has much to offer discerning readers."
--"School Library Journal" "Thrilling, gothic, gorgeous. Milford can conjure spirits as well as any of the mysterious wanderers who travel through her world."
--Adam Gidwitz, author of "A Tale Dark and Grimm" "A glimpse into a past that feels frighteningly real, "The Broken Lands" explodes off the page with unforgettable moments of skin-crawling terror and heart-stopping bravery. It thrilled me, enchanted me, terrified me, and by the end, made me fall in love."
--Robin Wasserman, author of "The Book of Blood and Shadow"" """The Broken Lands" weaves hobo and drifter legends, post-Civil War Americana, and Coney Island's tawdry history into a desperately romantic, can't-put-it-down scary tale of young love and ancient magic. A superb second novel, rich, complex, and beautifully written."
--Chris Moriarty, author of "The Inquisitor's Apprentice
""If Milford's "The Boneshaker" was a combination of Ray Bradbury and American folk legends, its prequel must be what you get when fairy tales meet E.L. Doctorow."
--Elizabeth Bird, Youth Materials Collections Specialist, The New York Public Library "This book held me hostage for the majority of time I was reading it; it was impossible to put it down. "The Broken Lands" was one of the best books I have ever read."
--Kyle, grade 6 "Thrilling, gothic, gorgeous. Milford can conjure spirits as well as any of the mysterious wanderers who travel through her world." --Adam Gidwitz, author of "A Tale Dark and Grimm" "A glimpse into a past that feels frighteningly real, "The Broken Lands" explodes off the page with unforgettable moments of skin-crawling terror and heart-stopping bravery. It thrilled me, enchanted me, terrified me, and by the end, made me fall in love." --Robin Wasserman, author of "The Book of Blood and Shadow" ""The Broken Lands" weaves hobo and drifter legends, post-Civil War Americana, and Coney Island's tawdry history into a desperately romantic, can't-put-it-down scary tale of young love and ancient magic. A superb second novel, rich, complex, and beautifully written." --Chris Moriarty, author of "The Inquisitor's Apprentice"
"If Milford's "The Boneshaker" was a combination of Ray Bradbury and American folk legends, its prequel must be what you get when fairy tales meet E.L. Doctorow." --Elizabeth Bird, Youth Materials Collections Specialist, The New York Public Library
