Skipshock

Set in a universe where time is key to power and privilege, this dazzlingly inventive, genre-defying fantasy romance is the first in a duology by best-selling author Caroline O’Donoghue.

Margo is a troubled schoolgirl. After the death of her father, she’s on her way to a new boarding school in a new city.

Moon is a salesman. He makes his living traveling through a series of interconnected worlds on a network of barely used train lines.

They never should have met. But when Margo suddenly appears one day on Moon’s train, their fates become inextricably linked. If Margo wants to survive, she has to pass as a traveling salesman, too—except it’s not that easy.

Move north on the train line and time speeds up, a day passing in mere hours. Move south and time slows down—a day can last several weeks. Slow worlds are the richest ones: you live longer, your youth lasting decades. Fast worlds are sharp, cruel, and don’t have time for pleasantries. Death is frequent. Salesmen die young of skipshock. That is, if they’re not shot down by the Southern Guard first.

As Margo moves between worlds and her attachment to Moon intensifies, she feels her youth start to slip between her fingers. But is Moon everything he seems? Is Margo?

Told through the eyes of both naive Margo and desperate Moon, the unforgettable realm of Skipshock will shake the way you think about love, time, and the fabric of the universe. The first in a planned duology from the best-selling author of the Gifts series, this utterly original epic is a must-read.

Readers will burn through the pages as they traverse gorgeous, fully realized worlds replete with their own varied dramas. . . . Incredibly immersive and utterly unique.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In this dazzling duology opener, O'Donoghue (Every Gift a Curse) deploys inventive worldbuilding that complements an intricate plot advocating social justice and immigration reform. Moon's first-person narration alternates with third-person chapters following Margo; their witty banter and burgeoning romance buoys the tone amid constant danger and high-stakes action sequences.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Skipshock isn’t just a book. It is, literally, a new world to dive into, and one so exquisitely conjured that you feel you live there for a while. A suspenseful, romantic, charming, and really unique tale. Will make you hungry for the next one. Strongly recommended.
—Matt Haig, best-selling author of The Midnight Library

O’Donoghue, best known for her All Our Hidden Gifts trilogy, skips into sf here and has great and intriguing ideas for magic and tech. This will hook readers fast, and they will be ready for the planned sequel.
—Booklist

Caroline O’Donoghue is the New York Times best-selling author of the fantasy trilogy the Gifts, including All Our Hidden Gifts, which has been published in more than twenty territories around the world, The Gifts That Bind Us, and Every Gift a Curse, all illustrated by Stefanie Caponi. She is also the author of an adult novel, The Rachel Incident, which NPR, Time, and LitHub all named on their best books of the year lists. She has written for the London Times and the Guardian and is the host of an award-winning podcast, Sentimental Garbage. She was born in Ireland and lives in London.

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