Overview
A dark and captivating new take on the beloved Nutcracker story, Z. R. Ellor's YA fantasy debut, No Better Than Beasts, is a perfect standalone novel for fans of folklore, cursed kingdoms, fraught romance, and fairy tales with sharp teeth. Nabik, a soldier, owes his loyalty to his elder brother Fydir, who lifted him and their sister, Drakne, from poverty. But when Fydir orders him to quell unrest among the city's beastfolk, the magic Nabik had long buried begins to stir. A wintery voice urges Nabik to desert his post--and his brother's watchful eye --to journey north into Kolznechia, a frozen, enchanted kingdom ruled by the mercurial Rat King. His power may hold the key to breaking an ancient curse and ending the Rat King's terrible reign. Drakne will do whatever it takes to break free of Fydir. As Nabik follows all of their eldest brother's commands, her best hope of escaping is to seek the protection of the Rat King. And the tyrant king has been looking for Drakne too. She has a gift that can help him find and kill the missing nutcracker prince, rightful heir to his stolen throne. When the nutcracker prince emerges, Nabik and Drakne take opposite sides of a centuries-old conflict--him to save a kingdom, her to save herself. Then Fydir marches into the growing war, hungry to claim power of his own, and if Nabik and Drakne can't fix their broken bond, Kolznechia may be torn apart by tooth and claw...
Full Product Details
Author: Z R Ellor
Publisher: St Martin's Press
Imprint: St Martin's Press
Dimensions:
Width: 14.70cm
, Height: 2.90cm
, Length: 21.60cm
Weight: 0.413kg
ISBN: 9781250866998
ISBN 10: 1250866995
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 15 October 2024
Recommended Age: From 14 to 18 years
Audience:
Young adult
,
Teenage / Young adult
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Not yet available
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.
Reviews
"""Warm as spiced chocolate in the dark of winter, this retelling of The Nutcracker will charm you with magic and queer love. From soul machines to labor unions, Ellor crafts a world of myth and engaging conflict, where rat kings and pinewood princes are never quite what they seem."" --Jes Battis, author of The Winter Knight"
"""Warm as spiced chocolate in the dark of winter, this retelling of The Nutcracker will charm you with magic and queer love."" --Jes Battis, author of The Winter Knight"
Author Information
Z. R. Ellor wrote their first novel when they were twelve years old and never put down their pen. They are the author of young adult and adult novels including May the Best Man Win, Acting the Part, and Silk Fire. Their non-literary interests include running, travel, and global cuisine. No Better Than Beasts is their YA fantasy debut. Z. R. lives in Long Beach, CA. zrellorbooks.com
