“Child, thief, madman, spy – which speaks the truth and which one lies?

In the underground city of Caverna the world’s most skilled craftsmen toil in the darkness to create delicacies beyond compare – wines that can remove memories, cheeses that can make you hallucinate and perfumes that convince you to trust the wearer, even as they slit your throat.

The people of Caverna are more ordinary, but for one thing: their faces are as blank as untouched snow. Expressions must be learned, and only the famous Facesmiths can teach a person to show (or fake) emotion.

In this dark and distrustful world lives Neverfell, a little girl with no memory of her past and a face so terrifying to those around her that she must wear a mask at all times. But the secret behind Neverfell’s mask makes her more dangerous than even she knows, and it won’t stay hidden forever… ”

Frances Hardinge grew up in a huge old house that inspired her to write stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University before a persistent friend encouraged her to send a few chapters of her book, Fly By Night, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer and the book was published to huge critical acclaim, winning the Branford Boase First Novel award. A Face Like Glass is Frances’ fifth novel. Talking about where the idea for the book came from Frances had the following to say, “The core concept of A Face Like Glass has been nestling in my mind for a long time – a girl whose thoughts show in her face, and who thus becomes the ultimate luxury item in a decadent realm of perfect liars.”