On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train north, she meets Jimson Quiggley, a young librarian who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is soon boarded by a handsome young marshal, Thomas Saltre, who learns who Lena’s father is and convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, called Zephyr House. Eventually, though, Lena must venture into the wilds of Scree and confront her deepest fears.
Paperback, 384 pages
Published March 18th 2014 by Amulet Paperbacks (first published May 1st 2012)
My Review
The Peculiars is actually a really peculiar sort of book! It's dark, inviting, strange and a little odd - in a good way!
The writing is really gorgeous and I loved nothing more than loosing myself in this exciting world. There were lots of interesting little backdrops to this story and they very easily had me hooked and wanting more.
What a delightful mix of colourful characters are nestled within these pages. I enjoyed quite a few, but my favourite was Lena, a strong heroine that went on quite the journey. Her subtle romance was charming and didn't overpower the story in any way.
Lena, is a tad different than everyone else. She sticks out from the crowd with her abnormally large hands and feet. She wonders if she could of gotten her features her father, who people seem to have a lot to say about. Lena's father has been missing from her life for a long time, rumoured to have headed to the wilds of Scree. People also whisper that her could be a....peculiar!
Armed with her little worldly possessions, Lena steps out into the world to search for her father. She craves the truth and is determined to get it. She stumbles into danger, peril and even some fascinating characters along the way - really there is never a dull moment.
The Peculiars is a stand out read that is all sorts of unusual. It lures the reader in and pulls them along for a fantastic adventure with a wonderful cast of characters. I would love to have more adventures with Lena - Keeping my fingers crossed for a book 2!
4 / 5 Stars
*Special thanks to Amulet for the review copy*
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