A wintry epic of secret doors, magic keys and frozen souls, best enjoyed by a roaring fire with a large plate of waffles. The kind of book every child wants to get at Christmas. * Piers Torday, Author of The Last Wild *
This book is pure magic. I want to live in it. * Laini Taylor, author of The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy *
a brilliant mix of legend, childhood games... conspiracy, emotion and dangerous adventure, with wonderful illustrations throughout * Juno *
The Twistrose Key is a charming adventure story in the tradition of C S Lewis and Brian Jacques. This is a good, old-fashioned quest of a story and would make a lovely winter read to snuggle up with on a cold, dark night. * We Love This Book *
. . . beautifully written. The dialogue sparkles. The descriptive passages are wonderful. The prose sparkles and dances off the page, creating a truly vivid world. And there's a Scandinavian flavour to it that feels really fresh . . . The Twistrose Key comes highly recommended to all fans of magic aged from 10 and up - and by up, we mean the grown ups too. * The Bookbag *
Skillfully blending facets of classic high fantasy, this debut novel will captivate readers with its rich plot and detailed worldbuilding . . . Fantasy that evokes the classics of yore and stands proudly among them * Kirkus, starred review *
Featured in the Gransnet list of best children's books of 2013 * www.gransnet.com *
. . . my children's book of the year is The Twistrose Key, a dazzling debut by Norwegian writer, Tone Almhjell. She has created the stunning wintery world of Sylver, peopled by human-sized creatures who were all formerly pets. Our heroine, Lin, manages to get into the world using a key marked 'Twistrose', and is reunited with her much missed pet vole, Rufus. The book has a Narnia-esque feel and possesses the plot, pace and dash of a classic. -- Lorraine Courtney * The Irish Independent *
This exhilarating tale is set in the timeless world of snowy Sylver - a home to every dead animal that ever loved a child. Packed with adventure, there is a surprise on nearly every page. Original and captivating, this story is suitable for both boys and girls who are 11+ and good experienced readers. Adults would enjoy it too I'm sure. This is such a good book that I could not put it down. -- Izzy, aged 10 * The Sun *
In Tone Almhjell's evocative wintry fantasy The Twistrose Key, Lin grieves for a pet vole who lived in her pocket. One day she enters a snowy world where beloved pets have become human, and sets out to find a lost boy. The plot is complicated but the relationships are touching, with settings of poetic splendour - frozen landscapes, cosy rooms, bustling inns. * The Sunday Times *
. . . charm and storytelling verve carry it through to its bittersweet ending * Financial Times *