This is an extraordinary book. A page-turner full of mystery . . . The language is dusted with magic . . . My advice: Be first in line

STEPHEN KING, author of It

Not since Donna Tartt's The Secret History have I loved a book filled with such magic and mystery as I have Melissa Albert's The Children … This is a layered, haunting adult fairy tale … I loved this book, you will love it, you will buy it, you will read it so fast

Jenna Bush Hager, Read with Jenna

Books about books or set in the publishing world are everywhere now … but Melissa Albert's dark literary fantasy about the children of a famous author is a standout … A brilliant exploration of the weight of memory, the bond between siblings and how trauma shapes our lives. It's a deliciously surprising novel, full of references to children's literature and with the feeling at times of fairy tale … This debut novel marks [Albert] as a hugely talented writer. The world she's created is believable, claustrophobic and unsettling in the best way. If you've ever wondered what life was like for Christopher Robin or Alice Liddell (the inspiration for Alice In Wonderland) after they were immortalised in print, this is for you

Joanne Finney, Good Housekeeping

Albert's debut adult novel contains both the magic and the darkness of a classic fairy tale . . . Albert spins a captivating tale exploring what it means for a mother to make art – and at whose expense

Jasmine Vojdani, New York Magazine

There's a trend right now for books about books … But it's Melissa Albert's The Children, about the lives of a famous (fictional) author's offspring, that's my new favourite. Few writers could create something so unique and surprising: I practically inhaled it … Albert creates a twisty – and twisted – grown-up fairy tale that I can't stop thinking about

Sarah Shaffi, Red Magazine

Albert's adult debut is a beguiling read; smart yet satisfying

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