Rave review in The Guardian for Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff

Maresi (Schildts & Söderströms 2014), Maria Turtschaninoff’s Finlandia Junior Prize-winning novel and Part I in The Red Abbey Chronicles, will publish in the UK by Pushkin Press in January of 2016. Abrams, who acquired North American rights, will launch the U.S. edition next fall.

Prior to its publication Maresi has already received enthusiastic advance buzz in the UK from authors, bloggers and booksellers. We are also happy to announce that the novel has received a rave review in The Guardian’s Childrens Books section:

“Turtschaninoff weaves in fantasy with feminism, creating a spellbinding read that is completely unputdownable. The setting is flawlessly described by Turtschaninoff, enabling her to seamlessly create changes in the atmosphere throughout the book. One of the most impressive points of Turtschaninoff’s writing is her ability to depict the effects that both psychological and physical abuse have on women whilst maintaining an almost serene feminist few point throughout, and it is this that makes the novel so unique.”
– Lucyal99, Guardian children’s books site teen reviewer

Abrams’ acquisition of The Red Abbey Chronicles was featured in Publishers Weekly on November 5th; read the article here!

Naondel, Book II in The Red Abbey Chronicles, will publish in Finland next year.

About The Red Abbey Chronicles by Maria Turtschaninoff:

Maresi, Book I: The Red Abbey is a refuge for women and girls where everyone pursues their own areas of interest. Maresi prefers to spend her time reading and learning. Everything changes when the frightened Jai arrives on the island. She has seen her sister get buried alive for speaking to a young man, and her father and a crew of thugs are after her. Maresi and her friends have to fight to defend both Jai and their community.

A prequel to Maresi, Book II, Naondel (Schildts & Söderströms) will tell the story of the First Sisters, and how they came to flee a harem in the faraway Eastern Lands and eventually establish the Red Abbey.

A sequel to Maresi, Book III (Schildts & Söderströms) will follow Maresi after she leaves the Red Abbey and sets out to establish a school in the oppressed province of Rovas.

RIGHTS SOLD: MARESI
Original publisher: FINLAND, Schildts & Söderströms
BELGIUM, Clavis
CANADA (French), Editions de la Bagnole/Groupe Livres Quebecor Media
DENMARK, Turbine
FINLAND, Tammi
GERMANY, Random House/Heyne
ITALY, Atmosphere Libri
NETHERLANDS, Clavis
ROMANIA, Editura Univers
SWEDEN, Berghs
TURKEY, Altin Kitaplar
UNITED KINGDOM, Pushkin Press
UNITED STATES, Abrams

Reading materials: The Red Abbey Chronicles
Book I, Maresi:
Full English text
Swedish edition
Finnish edition
Book II, Naondel:
English synopsis

Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com