This book is an absolute delight. The story, the imagery, all just working in tandem. Me and my daughter have really enjoyed reading this one together.

Such a beautiful read. Thoroughly enjoyed. Always great reads from this author. Well written and flows perfectly.

It's a coming of age story, a dark fantasy, and a very well written and atmospheric story. I was enthralled and couldn't put it down.
Great world building and storyteling, gorgeous illustrations
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a beautifully wrought novella based on folk tales around death.

Milo has never wanted to inherit the role of ferryman . The ferryman's role is to transport the Dead to the Island of the Broken Tower- a sort of transition place for the afterlife. Milo has always believed that this a role for his calmer brother

When the young daughter of the Lord of Merlank dies, he is so desperate in his grief that he seeks to prevent this journey for her.

Besieged by the forces of the Lord of Merlank, with his necromancers and tough sailors Milo has few options. What will he do? Can he really fulfill the difficult role of the Ferryman if he has to?

With its roots in myths (Orpheus and Eurydice) and folktales, this was just the right length for its story. Less skilful authors would have made it much longer and less powerful.
A poignant but reassuring read, it allows us to face our fear of death in a safe way.

A beautifully atmospheric book, that I adore. It contains Frances' typical breathtaking writing style, and I completely allowed myself to get sucked into this incredible story. Amazing.

Island of Whispers by Frances Hardinge

5 STARS

Frances Hardinge is one of my favourite authors so whenever she has a new book out, I'll be at the front of the queue.

Island of Whispers is different and yet still contains the magic and imagination I've come to expect. This is a short novella alongside gorgeous illustrations that transport us to a new and different world (I'm always in awesome at the detail in the world's Hardinge creates).

A wonderful read and highly recommended.

With Francis Hardinge's fantastic writing and imagination combined with gorgeous illustrations by Emily Gravett, this book was an utter joy to read. It was really nice to have a short read that I could just sink into for a hour.

The story was really sweet for a ghost story. I loved Milo's interaction with the ghosts and how he put his own stamp on the ferryman's job. He showed kindness and compassion and those are qualities I always love to see in a character. I loved how it was his journey to become ferryman as well as a journey full of danger and high stakes.

I have to say again how great the illustrations were. They really brought Hardinge's work to life. I especially liked the illustrations of the moths, though there was one bit I would have loved to see illustrated that wasn't.

Dark and fantastical children's tale about death.

What a pairing. Gravett has a beautiful style and is perfect for this illustrated short story for older children. Hardinge is well practiced at the subject matter but writes it skilfully for a slightly younger audience than her usual.

On one island, when a person dies, their ghost must be taken soon after the event by ferry over the seas to a place where they cannot cause havoc among the living. This job has fallen for the last few decades to the Ferryman, Milo's father.

But when a young girl sadly dies and her wealthy father refuses to allow her ghost's departure, Milo finds himself in his father's role and with a number of the dead to ferry away, despite pursuit, danger and his own feelings of inadequacy.

This is a otherworldly and unusual story for children, with perspectives of the dead and the living vying for the reader's consideration. The illustrations bring this misty world to life and it's a short enough voyage for primary-aged readers (who won't feel overly spooked by the content).

For ages 8-13.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

"The Island of Whispers" is a thrilling fairy tale of ghosts and magic, written by Frances Hardinge and illustrated by Emily Gravett. The story is set on the island of Merlank, where the dead must not be allowed to linger. The very sight of their ghosts can kill you. Young Milo is thrust into the role of Ferryman following his father’s sudden death. He must carry away the Dead and navigate strange and perilous seas where untold threats whisper in the mist. Milo is pursued by a vengeful lord and two malignant magicians. Does he have the courage and imagination to complete his urgent mission?

The book is a collaboration between two equally talented, multi-award-winning women, published by Two Hoots. It is a short (seven chapters), but atmospheric read, that takes you through the journey at a fast pace, but without undermining the high stakes the protagonist faces. It was written in an almost folktale-esqe style, so understandably there was information that felt omitted and many things that need to be taken at face-value. The book emulated it well and was advanced by mystery it shrouded itself in. Every setting was intriguing, and the characters were all interesting and imaginative in their own unexpected way.

The book is highly illustrated throughout with a luscious blue ink by Emily Gravett. It is glittering all over with shining silver moths. It makes an exquisite gift for anybody who loves mysterious fantasy worlds, and for fans of Neil Gaiman and Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
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This is a short beautiful read by, to me, one of the greatest children’s authors, Frances Hardinge. Island of Whispers reminds me once again why I hold Hardinge in such high regard.

The tale is simple, set on the island of Merlank, Milo is the father of the Ferryman, a job that will one day be passed to his older brother. To ferry the dead to their final resting place, their loved ones bring a pair of their shoes, shoes that the dead will follow. One day an angry father, a powerful and grieving Lord, demands back the boots of his recently deceased daughter his wife recently brought to the ferryman. While Milo’s father refuses, he is killed by the Lord’s soldiers and his brother is taken. With no training or preparation and with the Lord and a pair of magicians hot on his trail, Milo takes on the role on his father to board their boat, navigate the waters and deliver the dead to their final resting place.

Hardinge really does have a wonderful imagination, with every idea feeling bee and original, and once again it shows here. From the idea of the different shoes/boots guiding the dead, to the journey itself through the most and the gateway, to the magicians, to the deceased daughter herself and her poems she’d share with Milo, a lot of is shaped in your mind as a reader and a beautiful journey is created in a short space of time. While I read the e-book version, I have looked through the physical copy of this story and it’s accompanied by some wonderful illustrations. This is a brilliant, powerful, vast and touching read, but I’d expect nothing less. Wonderful visuals are created as you read this, Milo is likeable and has important character development, growing in confidence in a role he was never considered for but one that he steps into regardless.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Island of Whispers is my first Frances Hardinge book and it was a fantastic choice. The art of Emily Gravett perfectly accompanies Hardinge's fairy tale, taking it to another level and making this book a pleasure to read.

“Kindness is not weakness. To be kind in this unkind world is walking through a battlefield without armour or sword. It takes courage and strength to be kind.”
Wow! This short story packs a powerful punch. It was full of powerful magical messages addressing bereavement and self determination amongst other things. The illustrations were perfect too. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Though I'm not a huge fan of fantasy books, I tend to enjoy this genre more in stories for younger readers and I've long wanted to read Frances Hardinge. This is her latest book, aimed at readers aged 12 upwards, and it was rather special.

Frances Hardinge is an award-winning, bestselling writer and for this book has joined forces with the double Kate Greenaway medal winner Emily Gravett. Together they have produced a beautiful coming-of-age fairy tale of ghosts and magic.

When young Milo takes on the role of Ferryman following his father’s sudden death, he must carry the Dead away from the island of Merlank - they cannot be allowed to linger because the sight of their ghosts can kill.

This difficult, fraught and emotive task is made even more challenging as Milo is pursued by a vengeful lord and two malignant magicians, on dangerous seas, dodging headless birds and sinister shrouded figures. Does he have the courage and imagination to complete his urgent mission?

The writing is beautiful, the characters and setting compelling and the story is powerful and haunting. While I only read an early version as an e-book, the pictures were fabulous and the actual hardback glitters with shining silver moths!

I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Its a hauntingly beautiful story that tells us that just because your father did things one way doesn't mean you have to continue to do things that way. Things can change.

But I also feel that it's a story that tells us death isn't to be feared it's just a journey on to whatever comes next. I loved this haunting read.

This book feels like a distillation of everything I love about Frances Hardinge’s writing. It’s so short (120 pages, of which a good amount of the space is further taken up by illustration) that I don’t really want to say much about the specifics. Just know it’s definitely up there among my favourites of her books!

It’s also now going to be top of my list for recommending to people as a good place to start with Frances Hardinge’s work. It’s a great introduction to her style, but easily digestible – not at all confusing, and not too weird!

It has everything I love most about her writing: the creepy, almost-sentient setting; the lyrical prose that’s metaphor-heavy without feeling over the top; nuanced themes; and a protagonist you just want to hug and wrap in a warm blanket. And yet somehow (in somewhat of a departure from her usual style!) instead of taking 100 pages for the story to really get going, in Island of Whispers she somehow manages to do all of that in this tiny package.

Plus, Emily Gravett’s beautiful and deceptively simple illustrations. There are just three colours: black, white and blue, and they won’t be everyone’s style, but they fit the mood of the story so perfectly. I don’t always (or even often) buy physical copies of books I’ve read as eARCs, but this is one I can’t wait to get my hands on, because I’m certain it’s just going to be an absolutely stunning object!

CW: grief, death of a loved one

In awe of this, how can such a powerful, vivid story fit into such a small book?

A short read, marketed towards children, but enjoyable for all because of it's beautiful presentation, and stunning writing.

Island of Whispers is at times eerie, moving, haunting, thrilling, hopeful, joyous, and compassionate. Milo, the son of a Ferryman, who transports the spirits of the dead on to the next stage of their journey, is tasked with filling his fathers shoes, but the compassion for those he ferries could be the weakness they need to cause his downfall.

The way that Frances Hardinge shows how compassion and understanding can be, not only the ultimate strength, but have it's own rewards in terms of happiness and community, but all wrapped up in a ghost/adventure story without that message ever once being preachy or heavy-handed, is truly inspiring and a beautiful message for a beautiful book.

A beautifully written, atmospheric story of a young boy who has to take his father's place as the ferryman of dead souls. Milo is a lovely sensitive character and the story exudes warmth and kindness as he embarks on his journey. An emotional read enhanced by the haunting illustrations.
This would make a superb gift. Highly recommended.

sland of Whispers by Frances Hardinge is due to be released next month and will make a stunning little gift for book lovers young and old! The fantastically talented Frances Hardinge crafts a beautiful modern fairytale about Milo and his need to step up and take on the role of the Ferryman, the person responsible for carrying away the spirits of the dead so that they can move on peacefully. Emily Gravett more than plays her part in the creation of this magical book with her wonderful illustrations bringing the story to life.

I read the book via kindle from an advanced copy I got through Netgalley, so that is naturally going to diminish the full experience of consuming a beautifully illustrated book like this, yet they still popped off the screen. I feel it is the kind of book that would be wonderful to have sat on a bookshelf to pick up and read in one sitting, I think it is one I may have to get a copy of once it comes out. It is also a book I am seriously considering getting as a Christmas gift for a family member who I know would absolutely adore it!

I am a sucker for mysterious, magical fantasy worlds and this fits right in with that vibe perfectly. There is a quirkiness to it that endears the reader even in the rather short span of 120 pages. It also packs a poignant punch with the themes around the idea of grief, letting go of lost loved ones and moving on without allowing the grief to consume you!

"Island of Whispers" by Frances Hardinge (illustrated by Emily Gravett) is a children's book about Milo, a young boy who unexpectedly has to take over the mantle of being the Ferryman of the dead.

A lovely story. I am not usually reading children's fiction but I really liked the blurb in this and the illustrations were wonderful! It's a strange story and I think it is in a sense horror for children but the dark elements are not overwhelming and I think it would be a lovely piece to share with young friends/family members.

I really liked how it took the Ferryman trope and twisted it a little to make it feel fresher.

A beautiful tale filled with glorious illustrations that follows Milo, the Ferryman's son as he, alone, had to complete his father's role.

How people behave when faced with loss varies but the Ferryman is there to take the departed to the Island. He collects the deceased's shoes and off they go....unless someone can't face losing their loved one.

Hardinge writes with such beautiful, lyrical prose that you can't help but be swept along in her tales.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for an e-arc, all opinions are my own.