I really wanted to love this one, and probably would have, were it not making a mockery of Christians. I"m fine with authors who aren't Christian, but to deliberately miss quote the Bible, adding stories, and stereotyping Christians in a negative light, I can't just look away.

That said, the story, and especially the spooky tone made for an interesting read, I just wish I could have loved it more, but I didn't.

This book was beautiful, stunning, magical, and shocking all at the same time. What I expected from reading the synopsis and what I read in the actual book were two very different things, but not in a bad way--I was not disappointed! Makepeace was a very realistic character. A girl growing up in the mid-17th century, Makepeace suffers from nightmares of tortured spirits and no one will talk to her about it. Until her mother, Margaret, lets slip that this runs in the family and in a moment of weakness, Makepeace lets her guard down and a ghost invades her mind. This is no ghost like she has encountered before. This one is a bear--frightened and angry and a character all its own.

Throughout this entire book, I never had any idea what would be happening next. I love scary or creepy books and this one was just haunting. I enjoyed it in a way that I haven't enjoyed anything else before.

Not what I expected, but fans of Hardinge will enjoy - will recommend.

Set at the beginning of the English Civil War, the main character, Makepeace, is sent to live with her father’s family after her mother accidentally killed during a riot. But that family isn’t what they seem and that is why her mother had kept her away. Because Makepeace can hold ghosts insider her, and so can the rest of her father’s family. The rest of the book focuses more on the war and how the Fellmottes (the family) are right in the middle of it. Makepeace knows she needs to get away from the Fellmottes, otherwise she will be used and spit out by the Fellmottes. While this was a good book, it wasn’t great. I’m not really sure what was missing for me, but something was. Or maybe everything didn’t tie together quite right. It is still an interesting story and if you enjoy historical fiction, this book would be right up your alley.

This was super promising but I could not for the life of me, cannot seem to connect with the characters or the writing. I am not interested in writing a review.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars
While interesting and original this young adult horror story had a bit of an identity crisis as it tried to marry its horror story with historical war.
A Skinful of Shadows starts out very solid as we learn about our lead gals odd ghost 'issues'. Her Mother that appears cruel and the Aunt and Uncle who have no interest in her sets our lead gal up as a neglected, alone and forgotten soul. Not unlike some ghost/spirits might be.
And without a doubt Frances Hardinge is a superb writer. She sets excellent scenes and can create a creep factor without being gory or over the top. But...

Historical + Horror
There's no real reason A Skinful of Shadows needed to have an identity crisis. Set during the English civil war, our horror story is the focus, but certainly our characters are affected by the battle events around them. Which was all well and good until our lead gal ends up caught up in a scheme that will benefit one side of the war. While it gets our characters away from certain situations this interlude of smuggling, spies, infantry movements and battlement sieges is just dull. Instead of having an engaging reason to care, and partially because our lead gal doesn't care who wins, I just couldn't bring myself to feel any passion about the war or whose side wins or losses.
If you're hoping for information about the civil war setting this is the absolute wrong book as the majority of the information is fictional.

Uniqueness
While there are many ghost/spirit haunting stories, and there may even be some in which the spirits haunt live bodies, A Skinful of Shadows still stood out for me as an unique and compelling story. The added touch of a dynasty family with great political and financial power helped put our characters front and centre to many situations we may not have encountered otherwise. This use of a non-noble but high ranking household is brilliant by Hardinge. And while servants, like our main gal, embroiled in high family affairs is not a new setting, Hardinge takes it to a whole new level by defining a servant as something more than a pushy kitchen girl and instead she is a rare commodity that the main family cannot afford to lose.

Disney's Brave
Perhaps it's very sad and pathetic of me but the use of a bear spirit in this kept reminding me of Disney's Brave. Don't get me wrong I adored our bear and his ferocious, often confused and yet protective role in our story. But each time a bear spirit was referenced all I saw was our lead girl dressed up as Meredith. This was distracting for me. And so I think a different animal might have been a better choice. A cougar could easily have played the same role and maybe helped distance the small similarities to Brave bear spirit.

Overall
This was my first Hardinge book. I have more a couple more of hers on my shelf for the future and I'm definitely excited to read them. While I give this a 3.5 stars it's a solid 3.5. Assuming you can push through the dragging war bound middle of the novel then I believe most will enjoy Hardinge's creepy and (mostly) compelling ghost story.

This book was just not my cup of tea and I was not able to finish it. Thank you for this opportunity, though!

When I heard about the publication of A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS by Frances Hardinge I was quite excited because I really enjoyed - and have avidly recommended - her novel titled The Lie Tree. Alas, I started this second novel, but was not entranced by Makepeace, the fourteen year-old protagonist who suffers from nightmares and is sometimes made to sleep alone in the dark church by her mother. I thought the story started too slowly and could not relate to the characters or the time period/setting (English Civil War). A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS certainly appealed to professional reviewers, however, receiving starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.

Link to earlier post on THE LIE TREE: http://treviansbookit.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-lie-tree-by-frances-hardinge.html

This is an interesting and rather unique book. Twelve year old Makepeace has always known she was different and has never understood why her mother would lock her up in the graveyard with the ghosts in order to learn how to fight them off. After her mother's death, and when a ghost inhabits her and she is sent to live with her father's relatives, she learns the secret that the family desperately tries to hide. This book is intriguing and hard to put down!

A Skinful of Shadows was another smart, dark-edged fantasy from Frances Hardinge. Against the backdrop of the English Civil War she spins a compelling tale of ghosts, possession, a power-hungry family and the one girl who might be able to stop them. I appreciate how Hardinge doesn't use her horror-tinged elements for gratuitous thrills, but gives them psychological resonance - and how she's always trying something different. New and old fans should lap this one up.

Francis Hardinge's books are always dark, haunting, disturbing, and beautiful. You can't look away, and you don't want to. A SKINFUL OF SHADOWS is no exception. Set during the English Civil War, this is a story of corruption, friendship, trust, family, and absolutely heaps of double-crossing. I love double-crosses! I'm still rather stunned from the brilliance of this, and so cannot fully express myself, but this is something every library should have, and everyone should read.

Heartbreaking, but so beautiful. Makepeace may be my new favorite heroine!

I thought this was a full book but it’s a sample! But I really enjoyed it so I bought the hardcover and plan on continuing!! Hopefully it stays as amazing as it is so far!

This was only a 5 chapters sampler of A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge I got from NetGalley but it was good! It was unlike anything I have ever read. Very creepy. I might give the full book a try (the only reason I say might is because my TBR is out of control and I’m on a book buying ban). But if you’re not, definitely check it out!

I am unable to offer a review as I lost this title when I updated my kindle.

Such an interesting concept. Totally something I'd recommend to my students.

A Skinful of Shadows was, in short, magical and mesmerizing. This was my first Frances Hardinge book and it absolutely will not be my last. I have been completely taken by her imagination and vivid characters. This is the sort of book that is just as beautiful, if not more so, on the inside as the cover (and just LOOK at that cover!).

We are given an intriguing balancing act of well-researched historical detail surrounding the English civil war and a whimsical, sometimes dark, ghost story. It was such an earthy, autumnal read and getting to experience this book while the leaves were falling outside my window was so incredibly cozy and nostalgic.

The writing is minimalistic enough that it can be easily digested by any level of reader from middle grade and up - and yet it is masterfully crafted and full of beauty that will also appeal to adults who have an appreciation for imaginative stories.

The story is driven by lively characters who will draw you right in with promises of friendship, precarious loyalty, and plenty of secrets and intrigue. Makepeace (which isn't really her name, though we never get to learn what her true name is) displays a surprising strength and resourcefulness. She may be a small girl with little worldly influence but her wit and patience enable her to accomplish incredible things in an age where girls are considered mostly worthless. The quirky cast of side characters are humorous, not always reliable, and are introduced in such a unique way that I can't say too much about. 

I'm not going to give too much more away because much of my enjoyment was in discovering it for myself and getting carried away by the whimsical details. If you like ghost stories, plucky female protagonists, and an atmospheric historical setting, pick this book up.

Like a call to wild and beautiful adventure, this book spoke to some deep part of me that dreams of experiencing life with limitless freedom and earthly boundaries. I resonated so strongly with Makepeace every step of the way and she won't be a character I quickly forget.

I received a 5 chapter sample through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Had I known it was just a sample I probably wouldn't have requested it. I find it difficult to rate and review a book from a sample.

This started out rough for me, I didn't like the style or the setting description, I felt like I wanted more information on the surroundings. The blurb made a point of it being during the English Civil War, but I don't recall much historical information being provided on it.

Of everything in the sample, I did like the possession by the bear and how it seemed to be a separate entity that she could communicate with. I felt like the story was just starting to get to a place I wanted to keep going and then the sample ended.

While I became more interested towards the end of the sample, I probably won't seek it out to finish it at this time.

I want to thank NetGalley for this ARC five chapter sneak peak of this intriguing novel!

It follows the story of Makepeace who grew up with fearing the shadows and the ghosts who inhabit them. In her mother's attempts to lessen the fear, she would leave this child in graveyards to fend for her mental, spiritual, and emotional pieces of her life. It's disheartening to say the least, but it sets the groundwork for how Makepeace reacts to the things that normal individuals cannot see.

The five chapters were enough to hook me and I cannot wait to see how the rest of the story plays out once it's officially released!