The Children | Melissa Albert

The Children: A Novel

Accolades & Praise

• Adult Fiction Debut: A highly anticipated and intoxicating new entry from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert.
• Atmospheric Masterpiece: Hailed as a haunting story that blurs the line separating magic and memory.

Extended Synopsis

Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods. In one, she lives in the wooded shadow of her family's isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, she lives in the pages of her mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where her magical adventures have made her a household name. In reality, Guinevere's childhood isn't the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers imagine. She and her older brother grow up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the lichen-clotted woods they’ve made their playland.

As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors.

Now an adult coasting on her mother's name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother announces an upcoming installation titled Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface. Her public facade starts to crack, forcing her to confront the questions she's spent the last twenty years running from: What really happened the night of the fire, and what dark history lies behind their mother’s creative genius?

About the Author

Melissa Albert is a New York Times bestselling author widely recognized for her captivating and atmospheric storytelling. The Children marks her haunting, masterful debut into the realm of adult fiction.

Reader Targeting

• Fans of gothic thrillers and atmospheric dark fantasy.
• Readers who love complex family dramas exploring the dark side of fame and legacy.
• Anyone fascinated by stories that blur the lines between childhood memory, reality, and fiction.

Bibliographic & Physical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Children about?
The novel centers on Guinevere and Ennis Sharpe, the estranged adult children of a legendary author, as they are forced to confront the dark legacy and hidden truths behind the magical book series that defined their traumatic childhood.

Is this a Young Adult novel?
No, The Children marks Melissa Albert's highly anticipated debut in adult fiction.

What are the main themes of the book?
The story deeply explores the mythic weight of childhood memory, the destructive consequences of fame, the complexities of family legacies, and the blurry line between magic and reality.

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