Review: The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge

​About

Winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2015. 

The Lie Tree is a wonderfully evocative and atmospheric novel by Frances Hardinge, award-winning author of Cuckoo Song and Fly By Night.

Faith's father has been found dead under mysterious circumstances, and as she is searching through his belongings for clues she discovers a strange tree. The tree only grows healthy and bears fruit if you whisper a lie to it. The fruit of the tree, when eaten, will deliver a hidden truth to the person who consumes it. The bigger the lie, the more people who believe it, the bigger the truth that is uncovered. 
​
The girl realizes that she is good at lying and that the tree might hold the key to her father's murder, so she begins to spread untruths far and wide across her small island community. But as her tales spiral out of control, she discovers that where lies seduce, truths shatter . . .

My Thoughts

When I heard that The Lie Tree won the Costa Book of the Year, I had to get my hands on it that day! I love so much about this book. The writing is swoon worthy, and the premise is intriguing and unique. I've never read anything quite like it. 

It makes statements about faith, family, parental relationships, Victorian era rules and dilemmas, and feminism. I may not align with everything it subtly promotes, but the amazing writing makes me want to. 

I highly recommend it to people who love reading literary works, are interested in the Victorian era, and who enjoy reading dynamic young adult novels.