The Wonderling

Full of hope and heart, The Wonderling is one of those stories that feels as familiar - yet unique - as a friend. A triumphant debut. * Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of Girl of Ink and Stars *
"[...] a richly imaging fantasy adventure." * The Bookseller *
The Dickensian atmosphere of the orphanage he eventually escapes from is cut with the magical whimsy of Bartok's strange universe: its fantastic creatures, secret hideaways and the characters' extraordinary gifts. Bartok relishes in descriptive minutiae, which she complements with delightful pencil sketches that give a tantalising glimpse of what the inevitable film adaptation will look like. s * The Irish Times *
There's a steampunk style to this quirky and remarkable novel [...] Bartok's world has the feel of Dickens, with added fur and feathers, but also wonderful and whimsical illustrations to bring it alive. * The Herald *
Sparkling with the wit and wonder of a children's classic, this exuberant quest-driven debut is a treat for readers of ten and over. [...] Special mention must be made of the book's physical gloriousness. It's a satisfyingly weighty tome, with evocatively intricate illustrations by the author. This is truly a book to treasure [...] * Joanne Owen, LoveReading Debut of the Month *
"Momentum builds toward a thrilling crescendo and, rarest of all, a wholly satisfying ending that still whets the appetite for a sequel." * NY Times *
"For slightly older readers, Mira Bartok's The Wonderling centres on Arthur, a foxlike foundling at The Home for Wayward and Misbegotten Creatures. Full of Dickensian villains and Gothic mystery, it's an ambitious and richly atmospheric fantasy debut." * The Daily Telegraph *
"The Wonderling is an extremely impressive debut novel. [...]many readers will become so immersed they won't want it to end. Mira Bartok has created a richly inventive fantasy world, with great characters and appealing steampunk elements. Her use of language is wonderful, her vocabulary particularly striking." * The School Librarian *
"a Dickensian dystopia" * The Observer *
"Richly detailed storytelling and a sense of enchantment echo through the story" * The Bookseller *