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Traitors' Nest: A Novel
Lovely War
meets
Howl’s Moving Castle
in this new YA fantasy from acclaimed author Frances Hardinge, about the people caught in a game played by the gods where castles are moved around the world like chess pieces★★★★★ 5 starred reviews! “Fast-paced and original fantasy . . . refreshing and entertaining.” (
School Library Journal
starred review)Far above the valleys and villages of the Kingdom of Thaletal, a Great Game is played. Players move castles around the realm like chess pieces—and the ordinary villagers are mere pawns at the whim of their tactics.When fifteen-year-old Burr’s peaceful village is disrupted by the arrival of an ominous new castle, he decides he’s had enough. But what starts as a plucky coup soon escalates—and then the castle is wrenched away to a far-flung corner of the kingdom, where whispers mount of a mysterious ancient maiden whose magpies collect her debts at dangerous prices.Here, the stakes are higher than the tallest turrets, and every move counts. Burr must work with his sisters and friends—and rely on the unexpected help of an intriguing heiress—to unravel the secrets of the Magpie Maiden and the origins of the Great Game before he becomes just another casualty of the Players’ deadly contest.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2026
About the author
Frances Hardinge
35 books2,832 followersFrances Hardinge spent her childhood in a huge, isolated old house in a small, strange village, and the two things inspired her to write strange, magical stories from an early age. She studied English at Oxford University and now lives in Oxford, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 20, 2026
every new frances hardinge book adds a few years to my lifespan. it’s so reassuring that there are still authors out there putting out wildly original ideas and managing to execute them well. in a world of toxic booktok, ai slop, and publishing companies that buy up whatever trendy garbage that the mainstream will pay for these days - hardinge is one of those rare uncompromising authors that writes for those of us who craved adventure as children and never stopped dreaming of it
Review of advance copy
If you one-star a book before there are even arcs of it I WILL five-star it, sorry-not-sorry 🙃
Actual review after reading:
I read 40% of this, and have no urge to keep reading. It's well-written and clever and the characters are all wonderful...but man, it's just not as weird as I expect from Hardinge! Nobody's eating dolls or dead gods, there's no spider-fae or curses...it's just: very basic Medieval village. Very basic Medieval castle. Yes, the castles move, but that isn't all that interesting by itself. At least, not to me!
Loved the 'lion' hunt - I do wonder how many readers will recognise the beastie, versus how many will just go THAT'S NOT A LION.
I may be willing to come back to this if I hear the second half is delightfully weird, but otherwise, it's a DNF.
Actual review after reading:
I read 40% of this, and have no urge to keep reading. It's well-written and clever and the characters are all wonderful...but man, it's just not as weird as I expect from Hardinge! Nobody's eating dolls or dead gods, there's no spider-fae or curses...it's just: very basic Medieval village. Very basic Medieval castle. Yes, the castles move, but that isn't all that interesting by itself. At least, not to me!
Loved the 'lion' hunt - I do wonder how many readers will recognise the beastie, versus how many will just go THAT'S NOT A LION.
I may be willing to come back to this if I hear the second half is delightfully weird, but otherwise, it's a DNF.
September 6, 2026
This was incredible, a heartbreaking, yet beautiful story of rebellion that had me hooked from the start.
I picked this up because of how batshit crazy the premise sounded; set in a world where actual castles trade places in seconds, moved around a monumental gameboard like figurines by creatures that may have once worn human faces. So I kind of went into this thinking a premise that out-there couldn’t possibly work. But it absolutely did!
It is a story of loss, grief and the massive social injustice that comes from a feudal system where those at the top are indifferent to their people’s suffering. And though the concept of the moving castles may seem whimsical and perhaps a bit ridiculous, the story told around them is brutal - they are more likely to be harbingers of doom than beacons of hope. A bonkers premise, executed perfectly.
Tropes and such:
- medieval feudalism but in a fantasy world
- underdogs rebelling against an immovable force
- very little romance
- importance of family and community
- ‘political’/war intrigue
-----
Thank you to Macmillan UK Audio for the ALC
I picked this up because of how batshit crazy the premise sounded; set in a world where actual castles trade places in seconds, moved around a monumental gameboard like figurines by creatures that may have once worn human faces. So I kind of went into this thinking a premise that out-there couldn’t possibly work. But it absolutely did!
It is a story of loss, grief and the massive social injustice that comes from a feudal system where those at the top are indifferent to their people’s suffering. And though the concept of the moving castles may seem whimsical and perhaps a bit ridiculous, the story told around them is brutal - they are more likely to be harbingers of doom than beacons of hope. A bonkers premise, executed perfectly.
Tropes and such:
- medieval feudalism but in a fantasy world
- underdogs rebelling against an immovable force
- very little romance
- importance of family and community
- ‘political’/war intrigue
-----
Thank you to Macmillan UK Audio for the ALC
September 1, 2026
This book is what the result of literary gene-splicing of the works of Diana Wynne-Jones and Hilary Mantel would be. IE The perfect progeny.
Imagine a sprawling realm divided into counties, where castles sit. Imagine a realm beholden to a metaphysical strategy game played by shadowy figures with questionable motives. At a player’s whim, castles are uprooted and transplanted across the realm. The brazen lords of these moving castles are power hungry and have surrendered their humanity to become players. They pillage rampantly as they do not know what the game will throw up next. They swell their stores in case of seige. This means subjecting townsfolk to new, and ever-changing, punitive taxes and rules.
Sick of their lives being part of a game, Burr and his sisters follow in their father’s rebellious footsteps and attempt to subvert the rules. But, can a bunch of rag-tag farmers, many of whom are children, capture the castle? And if they get past the port cullis, how do they get into the wider game?
I loved this book. Frances Hardinge makes the unbelievable believable through pinpoint world building and through characterisation: she is masterful at drawing complex, intricate, flawed (often funny) characters. Burr and his band of underdogs pull you in and make you root for them. Expect to grieve with them; wince at their missteps; hatch plots for them; campaign for them; celebrate and commiserate with them; and …fight with them.
This story has so many compelling elements: class war, revolt, redemption, self-sacrifice, romance, betrayal, magic and mystery. Strong ideas come through about trusting your gut and holding to your principles, even when you’re in a tiny minority. It’s all underpinned by folklore and borrowed history, which (along with Burr’s fabulous middle sister, Pirin) is the book’s MVP. Burr is pretty special too, but his pivotal role means he lacks the mischief his sister brings.
Frances Hardinge’s writing is sublime. Her ability to weave stories, imbuing them with seemingly real histories, and populating them with brilliant characters, is second to none.
Imagine a sprawling realm divided into counties, where castles sit. Imagine a realm beholden to a metaphysical strategy game played by shadowy figures with questionable motives. At a player’s whim, castles are uprooted and transplanted across the realm. The brazen lords of these moving castles are power hungry and have surrendered their humanity to become players. They pillage rampantly as they do not know what the game will throw up next. They swell their stores in case of seige. This means subjecting townsfolk to new, and ever-changing, punitive taxes and rules.
Sick of their lives being part of a game, Burr and his sisters follow in their father’s rebellious footsteps and attempt to subvert the rules. But, can a bunch of rag-tag farmers, many of whom are children, capture the castle? And if they get past the port cullis, how do they get into the wider game?
I loved this book. Frances Hardinge makes the unbelievable believable through pinpoint world building and through characterisation: she is masterful at drawing complex, intricate, flawed (often funny) characters. Burr and his band of underdogs pull you in and make you root for them. Expect to grieve with them; wince at their missteps; hatch plots for them; campaign for them; celebrate and commiserate with them; and …fight with them.
This story has so many compelling elements: class war, revolt, redemption, self-sacrifice, romance, betrayal, magic and mystery. Strong ideas come through about trusting your gut and holding to your principles, even when you’re in a tiny minority. It’s all underpinned by folklore and borrowed history, which (along with Burr’s fabulous middle sister, Pirin) is the book’s MVP. Burr is pretty special too, but his pivotal role means he lacks the mischief his sister brings.
Frances Hardinge’s writing is sublime. Her ability to weave stories, imbuing them with seemingly real histories, and populating them with brilliant characters, is second to none.
September 21, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook.
I enjoyed listening to this very interesting story. It was unlike anything I have read before and I think that's what made it all more enjoying. I liked the progression of the characters relationship from beginning to end and how they develop to trust each other more. I also liked how the world was unique and I was constantly learning more and more how these moving castles worked. At times, it was hectic but in a good way. Overall, this is a solid read for anyone wanting to branch out and try something new and interesting.
I enjoyed listening to this very interesting story. It was unlike anything I have read before and I think that's what made it all more enjoying. I liked the progression of the characters relationship from beginning to end and how they develop to trust each other more. I also liked how the world was unique and I was constantly learning more and more how these moving castles worked. At times, it was hectic but in a good way. Overall, this is a solid read for anyone wanting to branch out and try something new and interesting.
September 19, 2026
A great lesson in humanity, with a bonus of moving castles and a very brave family.
October 18, 2026
This is both very good and Hardinge-Lite: it never builds to the urgency or profundity or zaniness, frankly, of her earlier great books. There’s a remove and there’s a derivative feel to certain characters and there’s a simplicity to both the heroes and the plot. Everything feels inconclusive, like it all comes down to sheer luck…
This is very good. In a world where competency is hard to find, it might come across as great. But in a world with other Hardinges - I can’t shake the feeling that somehow, this could have been better.
This is very good. In a world where competency is hard to find, it might come across as great. But in a world with other Hardinges - I can’t shake the feeling that somehow, this could have been better.
August 31, 2026
howls moving castle meets the game RISK, which is a venn diagram i am exactly at the centre of.
i feel some of the character work (whippet, in particular. and i had no idea how old sorrell was supposed to be at any point) was a bit rushed, but hardinge is still 8000 years ahead of so much of the YA fantasy space. loved the writing style, loved the gothic terror of the castle trying to kill you, and loved the '''''lions''''' (iykyk).
i feel some of the character work (whippet, in particular. and i had no idea how old sorrell was supposed to be at any point) was a bit rushed, but hardinge is still 8000 years ahead of so much of the YA fantasy space. loved the writing style, loved the gothic terror of the castle trying to kill you, and loved the '''''lions''''' (iykyk).
October 11, 2026
Everyone saying that this is Hardinge's Howl's Moving Castle needs to read more Diana Wynne Jones. It is extremely obvious from the first chapter that if there's conceptual DWJ inspiration in this book it's from The Homeward Bounders!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings below are my own.
Hm. I did not like this book for a multitude of reasons.
First of all, it was very boring. A lot of the events of the novel weren't things the characters actively did. A lot of it was just passive actions happening to our characters. I rarely, if ever, felt like Burr did anything to impact the plot. It mostly just felt convenient. Lucky. Which, obviously, meant that I didn't enjoy this book. I wanted Burr to step up and do something, and he never does! People just do stuff around him and he goes with it! Boring!
And really, that's problem number two - I do not care about a single character or relationship in this book. No one really develops or grows or changes. Sure, they get older, they go through things that would theoretically shift the way someone interacts with the world, but I don't think the Burr at the beginning of the book and the Burr at the end of the book are different in any way, shape or form. I don't think anyone is different from their first introduction to their last. That, in turn, sours my feelings on the relationships. There's three relationships hinted at in this book and I won't give spoilers but my thoughts on them are 1) why did this happen?, 2) when did this happen?, and 3) who cares if this happened?
I really loved the concept of this world but it ultimately just fell flat for me. There's not a lot of time devoted to the Game, and the scenes we did get were weird and cryptic (for no reason) or just downright boring. I swear, every time we rejoined the Game, we were stuck in the same scene. And the ending part set in the Game was so stupid. That epilogue really was dumber than a bag of bricks. Oh, and this is also not even mentioning the non-Game parts of the world. I got very little sense for each location we got dropped into, however, that could just be me and my lack of visualisation ability at work here. Seriously, take this bit of criticism with a HUGE grain of salt.
The writing was fine, I guess? Nothing stood out to me as awful, but nothing really stood out to me as "holy wow, I have to jot this down" either. Just very passable, if a bit juvenile? Definitely read like more of a younger YA, or even a middle grade, novel at times. Again, not a problem, just doesn't help shift my rating any higher.
Overall, I just didn't have a good time with this, unfortunately. This book is 448 pages and it took me 5 days to read. Five. That's... basically unheard of for me. I read Alchemised, all 1000-and-something pages of it, in 4 days. And I also gave that book 2 stars. I think there are plenty of people who will get more out of this than I did, but I can't say I'll be rushing forward to recommend it, especially not when the author has much better works like Deeplight or The Lie Tree.
Just a small request before I go: more magpies, please. There really wasn't enough. (Signed, a magpie lover.)
Hm. I did not like this book for a multitude of reasons.
First of all, it was very boring. A lot of the events of the novel weren't things the characters actively did. A lot of it was just passive actions happening to our characters. I rarely, if ever, felt like Burr did anything to impact the plot. It mostly just felt convenient. Lucky. Which, obviously, meant that I didn't enjoy this book. I wanted Burr to step up and do something, and he never does! People just do stuff around him and he goes with it! Boring!
And really, that's problem number two - I do not care about a single character or relationship in this book. No one really develops or grows or changes. Sure, they get older, they go through things that would theoretically shift the way someone interacts with the world, but I don't think the Burr at the beginning of the book and the Burr at the end of the book are different in any way, shape or form. I don't think anyone is different from their first introduction to their last. That, in turn, sours my feelings on the relationships. There's three relationships hinted at in this book and I won't give spoilers but my thoughts on them are 1) why did this happen?, 2) when did this happen?, and 3) who cares if this happened?
I really loved the concept of this world but it ultimately just fell flat for me. There's not a lot of time devoted to the Game, and the scenes we did get were weird and cryptic (for no reason) or just downright boring. I swear, every time we rejoined the Game, we were stuck in the same scene. And the ending part set in the Game was so stupid. That epilogue really was dumber than a bag of bricks. Oh, and this is also not even mentioning the non-Game parts of the world. I got very little sense for each location we got dropped into, however, that could just be me and my lack of visualisation ability at work here. Seriously, take this bit of criticism with a HUGE grain of salt.
The writing was fine, I guess? Nothing stood out to me as awful, but nothing really stood out to me as "holy wow, I have to jot this down" either. Just very passable, if a bit juvenile? Definitely read like more of a younger YA, or even a middle grade, novel at times. Again, not a problem, just doesn't help shift my rating any higher.
Overall, I just didn't have a good time with this, unfortunately. This book is 448 pages and it took me 5 days to read. Five. That's... basically unheard of for me. I read Alchemised, all 1000-and-something pages of it, in 4 days. And I also gave that book 2 stars. I think there are plenty of people who will get more out of this than I did, but I can't say I'll be rushing forward to recommend it, especially not when the author has much better works like Deeplight or The Lie Tree.
Just a small request before I go: more magpies, please. There really wasn't enough. (Signed, a magpie lover.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
absolutely brilliant and completely original fantasy (although it still pays plenty of homage to fantasy, history, myth and legend that has gone before it).
frances hardinge has a really clear voice and an excellent way of constructing stories which means they unravel at just the right pace. her characters are so distinctive and understandable. the emotions run high but never seem overworked.
this is technically YA fantasy but it's perfectly well suited for adult readers too. it doesn't have any of the juvenile or over-simplified writing that plagues so many other YA fantasy novels (and frankly plenty of adult fantasy and romantasy too).
the story focuses tightly on a small community of village farmers in a period where everyone must pay homage to their nearest castle, which can sometimes magically switch places with other castles. however those castles are run by lords who are in turn subservient to mysterious god-like "players" who are trying to figure out how to win a game that nobody fully understands.
one forest ranger and his four children are driven to desperation by the arrival of a scheming new castle lord and they must figure out how to save themselves and their neighbours from the grim machinations of the players. the themes are broad, covering: class, greed, poverty, shame, mortality, lawfulness, power, family, community, etc.
i can't recommend this book enough - again, it has some very fresh concepts so it's difficult to compare to existing works... but i think it could be compared to game of thrones if it were more YA-friendly, and also IMO better! (since it has a very satisfactory arc that is begun and completed in a single work...) or perhaps a bit like a medieval version of neverwhere.
there are magical creatures in the woods, break ins and seiges, great libraries with untold knowledge, loves and betrayals, enchanted tapestries, an otherworldly goddess-like being, young people coming of age, a bit of philosophy, mysteries, rivalries, sacrifices and more.
the reading by ciaran saward is also very good, really brought the whole thing to life.
i'm very grateful to netgalley and the publisher for the ALC.
frances hardinge has a really clear voice and an excellent way of constructing stories which means they unravel at just the right pace. her characters are so distinctive and understandable. the emotions run high but never seem overworked.
this is technically YA fantasy but it's perfectly well suited for adult readers too. it doesn't have any of the juvenile or over-simplified writing that plagues so many other YA fantasy novels (and frankly plenty of adult fantasy and romantasy too).
the story focuses tightly on a small community of village farmers in a period where everyone must pay homage to their nearest castle, which can sometimes magically switch places with other castles. however those castles are run by lords who are in turn subservient to mysterious god-like "players" who are trying to figure out how to win a game that nobody fully understands.
one forest ranger and his four children are driven to desperation by the arrival of a scheming new castle lord and they must figure out how to save themselves and their neighbours from the grim machinations of the players. the themes are broad, covering: class, greed, poverty, shame, mortality, lawfulness, power, family, community, etc.
i can't recommend this book enough - again, it has some very fresh concepts so it's difficult to compare to existing works... but i think it could be compared to game of thrones if it were more YA-friendly, and also IMO better! (since it has a very satisfactory arc that is begun and completed in a single work...) or perhaps a bit like a medieval version of neverwhere.
there are magical creatures in the woods, break ins and seiges, great libraries with untold knowledge, loves and betrayals, enchanted tapestries, an otherworldly goddess-like being, young people coming of age, a bit of philosophy, mysteries, rivalries, sacrifices and more.
the reading by ciaran saward is also very good, really brought the whole thing to life.
i'm very grateful to netgalley and the publisher for the ALC.
Want to Read
September 2, 2025Castles traded places sometimes. Everyone knew that. It was always something that might happen, except that it never had. It was one of those unlikelihoods, like finding treasure, or being eaten by a wolf, or having a handsome, powerful stranger turn up to right all your wrongs. It could happen, except it didn’t.
Until all of a sudden it did.
Far above the valleys and villages of the Kingdom of Thaletal, a Great Game is played. Players move castles around the realm like chess pieces - and the ordinary villagers are mere pawns at the whim of their tactics.
When 16-year-old Burr's peaceful village is disrupted by the arrival of an ominous new castle, he decides he's had enough. But what starts as a plucky coup soon escalates - and soon the castle is wrenched away to a far-flung corner of the kingdom, where whispers mount of a mysterious ancient maiden whose magpies collect her debts at dangerous prices.
Here, the stakes are higher than the tallest turrets, and every move counts. Burr must work with his sisters and friends - and rely on the unexpected help of a strange and intriguing heiress - to unravel the secrets of the Magpie Maiden and the origins of the Great Game before he becomes just another casualty of the Players' deadly contest.
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/...
So excited for a new Frances Hardinge book!
Until all of a sudden it did.
Far above the valleys and villages of the Kingdom of Thaletal, a Great Game is played. Players move castles around the realm like chess pieces - and the ordinary villagers are mere pawns at the whim of their tactics.
When 16-year-old Burr's peaceful village is disrupted by the arrival of an ominous new castle, he decides he's had enough. But what starts as a plucky coup soon escalates - and soon the castle is wrenched away to a far-flung corner of the kingdom, where whispers mount of a mysterious ancient maiden whose magpies collect her debts at dangerous prices.
Here, the stakes are higher than the tallest turrets, and every move counts. Burr must work with his sisters and friends - and rely on the unexpected help of a strange and intriguing heiress - to unravel the secrets of the Magpie Maiden and the origins of the Great Game before he becomes just another casualty of the Players' deadly contest.
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/...
So excited for a new Frances Hardinge book!
October 14, 2026
"If you were any more your father's son, you would be his ghost."
This was such a vividly imagined and beautifully constructed book - it feels like a work of art. The intricacies of the worldbuilding, themes, imagery, and plot all play together and against one another like a symphony. It was pretty addictive to read, but also just feels like a technical feat.
Anyway, what if there was a fantasy world filled with moving castles powered by otherworldly beings, but instead of hot wizards, they housed communists? Only Frances Hardinge can answer this question.
This was such a vividly imagined and beautifully constructed book - it feels like a work of art. The intricacies of the worldbuilding, themes, imagery, and plot all play together and against one another like a symphony. It was pretty addictive to read, but also just feels like a technical feat.
Anyway, what if there was a fantasy world filled with moving castles powered by otherworldly beings, but instead of hot wizards, they housed communists? Only Frances Hardinge can answer this question.
September 4, 2026
Such a fun UNIQUE concept with beautiful prose that immerses the reader within the medieval backdrop. I also loved the portrayal of sibling dynamics and love.
My main gripe with this book was that character appearances weren’t often described and so it made it extremely difficult to keep track of the large cast of characters.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden!!
My main gripe with this book was that character appearances weren’t often described and so it made it extremely difficult to keep track of the large cast of characters.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden!!
September 23, 2026
Another banger from Hardinge. Historical fantasy with English civil war vibes featuring revolting peasants and jumping castles as allegory for changes in rulers. Perfect for precocious youngsters yearning for YA who want a fantasy they can sink their teeth into.
The audiobook narration was ably done, with distinct but subtle vocal characterizations and did not overshadow Hardinge’s wonderful prose. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me early access.
The audiobook narration was ably done, with distinct but subtle vocal characterizations and did not overshadow Hardinge’s wonderful prose. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me early access.
April 3, 2026
in 2026 we live in a world where those in power have seemingly infinite ability to help people which they choose not to use, instead harming the people they are meant to protect. this is not unlike a cruel feudal lord. and a cruel lord can only get away with harming his people for so long before they rise up and harm him in return. this is kind of the core of traitor's nest. none of the book would have happened the way it did had lord stephen not overstepped his pwoer at the very beginning and taken the valley's food. perhaps this could be a message to billionaires everywhere.
this is as immersive and unique as all of hardinge's other books. it has the detailed worldbuilding--here focused on the intertwining of homeland and afterlife in a world where you can be whisked an unfathomable distance away at an inhuman player's whim. it has her trademark 'feral girl' in the form of pirin, a manticore-taming younger sister (and i LOVED the use of manticores, i was so scared of them as a kid after coming across them in the fantasy encyclopedia and yet you never ever see them in fantasy). it has a deep concern for giving power to the disempowered. i LOVED that this was deeply medieval because I have been craving a return to 2025's Medieval Fall (i took a class on medieval europe)......and I loved the uncertainty of what animal the "lions" really were in a world where it is difficult to look up and ascertain any facts at all. and (of dubious morals though they may be) the slakers and their quest for understanding castles over all else was so awesome.
i particularly loved (maybe even Most Of All) the detail that the marmonel coast had castles before the kingdom of thaletal--it very much makes me think of the golden age of islam and all the knowledge arab scholars had centuries upon centuries before europeans.
i am not very up to date on ya anymore and do not know if class uprisings on this scale (with a focus on being kinder and better than your wealthy oppressors until the world, too, becomes kind) is a subgenre but if it is this is absolutely a worthy addition to that canon! deeplight and cuckoo song remain my favs and it's hard to rank hardinge books because she never ever misses....but this is a worthwhile addition to the canon as well.
this is as immersive and unique as all of hardinge's other books. it has the detailed worldbuilding--here focused on the intertwining of homeland and afterlife in a world where you can be whisked an unfathomable distance away at an inhuman player's whim. it has her trademark 'feral girl' in the form of pirin, a manticore-taming younger sister (and i LOVED the use of manticores, i was so scared of them as a kid after coming across them in the fantasy encyclopedia and yet you never ever see them in fantasy). it has a deep concern for giving power to the disempowered. i LOVED that this was deeply medieval because I have been craving a return to 2025's Medieval Fall (i took a class on medieval europe)......and I loved the uncertainty of what animal the "lions" really were in a world where it is difficult to look up and ascertain any facts at all. and (of dubious morals though they may be) the slakers and their quest for understanding castles over all else was so awesome.
i particularly loved (maybe even Most Of All) the detail that the marmonel coast had castles before the kingdom of thaletal--it very much makes me think of the golden age of islam and all the knowledge arab scholars had centuries upon centuries before europeans.
i am not very up to date on ya anymore and do not know if class uprisings on this scale (with a focus on being kinder and better than your wealthy oppressors until the world, too, becomes kind) is a subgenre but if it is this is absolutely a worthy addition to that canon! deeplight and cuckoo song remain my favs and it's hard to rank hardinge books because she never ever misses....but this is a worthwhile addition to the canon as well.
Want to Read
May 3, 2026
October 7, 2026
ARC | Unfolds slowly | I have long loved Frances Hardinge, and was very excited to receive this ARC for review. And then couldn't settle to it. I read the first few pages several times over a couple of weeks and it simply wasn't engaging me. Finally, knowing that the deadline was approaching, I determined to just sit and read regardless, and I'm glad I did. I ended up reading it across two days, in two long chunks of time, and once I got a couple of chapters in I was connected with it enough to want to do so. One big stumbling block for me was that the plot synopsis and in-text description of shadowy, god-like creatures existing outside of the bounds of human reality as they look down from above and play their unknown game with our world as the game board and a teen boy who gets caught up in it all against his will and finds himself shunted from place to place made me think not of Howl's Moving Castle but of Diana Wynne Jones' Homeward Bounders, which I love. The two do share some book-DNA, but Homeward Bounders is a quicker moving story with far fewer characters and threads. I think that the pace here isn't in Hardinge's favor. Even when action was happening I felt no real urgency, and the ending felt like more of a machine that has run down than a conclusion. That said, there's a lot to love here, and plenty of space for young readers to muse in their own minds over the workings of a world with these moving castles. It's also very satisfying, and the messages of consideration and loyalty are well presented.
ARC provided free of charge by the publisher, which had no impact on my review
ARC provided free of charge by the publisher, which had no impact on my review
September 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & RB Media for the ARC!
The Traitors’ Nest is truly unlike any book or world I’d read before. The closest comparison is that of Narnia & a fairytale—the whole time I was listening to it, all I could think was “I need a copy so I can read this to my future children.” It’s full of high fantasy and world building so stunning that you’re truly transported into the scene. I recommend this to all, it’s an unmatched magical experience.
The Traitors’ Nest is truly unlike any book or world I’d read before. The closest comparison is that of Narnia & a fairytale—the whole time I was listening to it, all I could think was “I need a copy so I can read this to my future children.” It’s full of high fantasy and world building so stunning that you’re truly transported into the scene. I recommend this to all, it’s an unmatched magical experience.
September 17, 2026
This book seemed to have an interesting mix of real life and magical fantasy. I did like the concept of oridinary people getting control of the castles and working with each other to make a better world. Honestly I was a little confused sometimes as to what was going on. I definitely was all in to finding out what the lions really were. I think this book works well as a YA fantasy but it may be a little too slow paced at times.
October 27, 2026
A book that asks what we owe each other and what world we want to create, in the context of castles leaping from spot to spot, farmers accidentally rebelling, and magpies causing all kinds of mischief.
October 13, 2026
Hardinge thinks about power so carefully. This is a book which is conceptually fascinating, and on a plot and character level so satisfying. It's never completely predictable, but it's also not so off-kilter that you lose your bearings. It's a satisfying *story*, as well as a fascinating meditation on how societies are constructed. As always, brilliant.
October 20, 2026
This did not feel like a Frances Hardinge book.
October 11, 2026
Imaginative and interesting. Great characters engaging story, fascinating ideas.
October 13, 2026
🎧 audiobook review
Why haven't I read any Frances Hardinge before??
Her imagination is incredible. I thought the story and world building were so interesting and immersive. Or perhaps I should say 'worlds building', as with moving castles, there were multiple locations. I won't say too much as I don't want to spoil anything, but it was such good fun, and it's such a clever plot device, as it built tension and suspense not knowing whether a move would be a good thing for the people inside or outside of a castle.
The book started off really strong, and I quickly became invested in the residents of the valley, particularly Joett and Burr. I think a huge part of that is down to Ciaran Saward's narration, which is among the best of any audiobooks I've listened too. All the distinctive voices and accents made it so easy to follow along.
The descriptions and scene setting were so realistic, that it almost felt like historical fiction. Like glimpsing into another reality.
Billed as YA, Traitor's Nest struck a great balance in that it felt accessible enough for that audience, without patronising or dumbing anything down. I am definitely not a YA! And I can see this having wide appeal from 12 year olds and with no upper age limit.
Thank you to NetGalley, Frances Hardinge and Macmillan UK audio for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Why haven't I read any Frances Hardinge before??
Her imagination is incredible. I thought the story and world building were so interesting and immersive. Or perhaps I should say 'worlds building', as with moving castles, there were multiple locations. I won't say too much as I don't want to spoil anything, but it was such good fun, and it's such a clever plot device, as it built tension and suspense not knowing whether a move would be a good thing for the people inside or outside of a castle.
The book started off really strong, and I quickly became invested in the residents of the valley, particularly Joett and Burr. I think a huge part of that is down to Ciaran Saward's narration, which is among the best of any audiobooks I've listened too. All the distinctive voices and accents made it so easy to follow along.
The descriptions and scene setting were so realistic, that it almost felt like historical fiction. Like glimpsing into another reality.
Billed as YA, Traitor's Nest struck a great balance in that it felt accessible enough for that audience, without patronising or dumbing anything down. I am definitely not a YA! And I can see this having wide appeal from 12 year olds and with no upper age limit.
Thank you to NetGalley, Frances Hardinge and Macmillan UK audio for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2026
It's Hardinge. It's brilliant. I expect nothing less. I love this tale of gods, god making, and revolution.
Others are mentioning Howl's Moving Castle, but it's Diana Wynne Jones's Homeward Bounders that came to my mind. In that book mysterious players are playing a game that forces those who have stumbled into it to move around boundaries. This could be the game they play.
I have read an awful lot about the English Civil War and came to the conclusion that the biggest favour Parliament did for the future of this country was to smash the power of the castles (basically, they got fed up of sieges and, knowing that holding a castle = holding the countryside) they started to raise them. This book really fitted well with what I've read.
The illustrations by Nick Hayes are just gorgeous.
Others are mentioning Howl's Moving Castle, but it's Diana Wynne Jones's Homeward Bounders that came to my mind. In that book mysterious players are playing a game that forces those who have stumbled into it to move around boundaries. This could be the game they play.
I have read an awful lot about the English Civil War and came to the conclusion that the biggest favour Parliament did for the future of this country was to smash the power of the castles (basically, they got fed up of sieges and, knowing that holding a castle = holding the countryside) they started to raise them. This book really fitted well with what I've read.
The illustrations by Nick Hayes are just gorgeous.
September 28, 2026
Although there are moving castles, the Diana Wynne Jones this novel reminded me of more was The Homeward Bounders, with its secret group of powerful entities manipulating the world in a great game. But any suggestion that this novel is derivative would be an insult to Hardinge, who is always startlingly original. This is set an alternate middle-ages, rooted firmly in what we know from our own world. Hardinge's castles are real castles, and much of the social underpinning is around their power, the power held by anyone who controlled one, and what it means to attempt to rebel against the injustices of that society.
September 15, 2026
It's so, SO rare to read a book where the people struggling against oppression aren't *in any way* aristocrats, or gentry, or rich, or otherwise "elite, but one of the *good* ones", and Hardinge NAILS it, she never, *ever* loses track of the fact that the aristocrats are NOT the good guys. Even
September 29, 2026
I liked the premise - though I think it could stand to be a lot darker and weirder - but I didn’t vibe with a single character except maybe that one archer girl whose dad dies early.
September 24, 2026
In this fantasy tale, the castles move around to avoid being attacked. Sixteen year old Burr, the main character, is fed up with always being on the move, so he joins forces with others in order to unravel the mystery and find the real reason for the castle movement.
I will admit, I was pretty disappointed by this book. The premise sounded promising, but the execution was too long and not engaging enough. Is this a narrator issue? Possibly–I had a very hard time staying focused while listening. Normally I like fantasy books but this one did not do it for me.
I will admit, I was pretty disappointed by this book. The premise sounded promising, but the execution was too long and not engaging enough. Is this a narrator issue? Possibly–I had a very hard time staying focused while listening. Normally I like fantasy books but this one did not do it for me.
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