Maresi, Red Mantle tells girls that they matter. That they can, and should, do things. It tells boys that girls can, and that the boys will be better for it. It's very beautiful.
Bookwitch
An extraordinary and complex novel. This series is rich and beautiful, examining the literal and figurative havens women find when confronted with a Patriarchal world. Prepare to cry alongside Maresi, but more than that, be prepared to grow as a result of reading her story
Book Murmuration
There are some moments of such true kindness that I felt so emotions...the resolution scene was so dramatic and described so wonderfully
Sabrina'a Booktails
Praise for The Red Abbey Chronicles
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An unforgettable feminist epic, shot through with hypnotic dark charm
The Bookseller
Epic in its scope, intimate in its observation: if Maresi felt like encountering a rare and blazing talent, Naondel is here to brand the certainty under your skin. An origin story of sorts, in Naondel Turtschaninoff pushes us further into the darkness, shining a light on the best and the worst of human nature
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of 'The Girl of Ink and Stars'
Should appeal to fans of Ursula Le Guin... A lucid, layered, deeply engaging story
Metro
Turtschaninoff weaves a hypnotic spell... at once contemporary and timeless
Guardian
Dark, powerful and original... it really stands out in a very crowded YA marketplace. Thrilling, suspenseful and gloriously feminist
The Bookseller
Brutal and beautiful, Maresi walks the knife edge so thrillingly I read it in one sitting. Embued with myth, wonder, and told with a dazzling, compelling ferocity. I can hardly wait for the next instalment
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars
Full of courage. Dark, brave and so gripping you will read it in one sitting
Laura Dockrill
A prequel that introduces the founding sisters of the all-female Red Abbey... their interwoven stories, told with unflinching clarity, rise to a vengeful climax with the glow of the red moon, and will stay with the reader long after the book is closed
Guardian
Maresi is rich, powerful vision - thrilling, harrowing and exhilarating by turns. It conjures up a startlingly well-fashioned world that's different to ours, yet disturbingly familiar. It grips like a vice and enchants like a distant song. It's tale-telling as strong, complex and admirable as its heroine
Jonathan Stroud, author of The Amulet of Samarkand
I cannot recommend this book enough, whether you've read Maresi or not. If you enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale or Only Ever Yours then you'll love this. It's tragic and painful and hopeful and empowering and I just loved it
Maia and a Little Moore (blog)
Reading it, I felt empowered. I felt proud to be a woman, and of who I am
Once Upon a Bookcase (blog)
A great read for teens and adults alike... the lives of so many women described in this book is heart breaking and yet ultimately empowering. Either one of these books could have been book one, both brilliant yet different
Independent Book Reviews
This novel absolutely blew me away, tore my heart out and rebuilt me. It was far more than I ever expected, even though my expectations were high
Little Huxtales (blog)
5 Words: Power, control, feminism, survival, magic
Tea Party Princess (blog)
The Bookseller magazine named this book as 'An unforgettable feminist epic, shot through with hypnotic dark charm' - I could not have summed it up better myself
Everything I Wished For (blog)
Exquisite... I could talk forever about how much I love Maria Turtschaninoff's writing
Ink Drops Books (blog)
Bears comparison with the best of Ursula K. Le Guin
Helsingin Sanomat
Maresi stands out for its startling originality, and for the frightening plausibility of the dangerous world it creates
Rebecca Hawkes, Telegraph
Combines a flavour of The Handmaid's Tale with bursts of excitement reminiscent of Harry Potter's magic duels
Observer
A haunting fable
Suzy Feay, Financial Times
Atmospheric, immersive and definitely original, Maresi has a quiet urgent magic that makes her story powerful, poignant and memorable
For Books' Sake
A beautifully painted, fantastical setting like no other; this story will resonate with me for a long time
Ben Alderson, booktuber
A poignant, slow-burning fantasy
Taran Matharu, author of the Summoner fantasy series
A few times in a life time, a book comes along that wraps you completely in its world and its characters. Wildly imaginative and vivd and filled with wonders... this book makes me proud to be a woman
Casey Daveron, booktuber (Casey Ann Books)
Maresi is a tale of sisterhood, survival and fighting against the odds that will capture the hearts of both teen and adult feminists alike and will leave you feeling extremely empowered... I think it's a very special book and one that deserves lots and lots of attention
Lucy Powrie, booktuber (Queen of Contemporary)
Maresi is an incredible book... if you like Louise O'Neill's Only Ever Yours, you'll love this. Fantastically original... [and] a very important read
Amber Kirk-Ford, booktuber (The Mile Long Bookshelf)
Absolutely incredible, wonderfully mesmerising and a complete delight...I will definitely read whatever Turtschaninoff writes in future. Maresi completely captured my heart along with my imagination, and I'm not sure I want it back
Once Upon a Bookcase
This dark, deceptively simple story is a great addition to the growing feminist fantasy genre
Scotsman
Beautifully written... Maresi has a touch of Katniss about her, and although the target market is different, female lovers of dystopian fantasy adventures will enjoy the journey
The School Librarian