Frances Hardinge weaves a dark, otherworldly tale in "A Skinful of Shadows," her first book since the Costa Award-winning "The Lie Tree." "Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now." - Patrick Ness. "Hardinge is a talent who deserves to be read by children and adults alike." - Guardian. When a creature dies, its spirit can go looking for somewhere to hide. Some people have space inside them, perfect for hiding. Makepeace, a courageous girl with a mysterious past, defends herself nightly from the ghosts that try to possess her. Then a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard for a moment. And now there's a ghost inside her. The spirit is wild, brutish, and strong, but it may be her only defense in a time of dark suspicion and fear. As the English Civil War erupts, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession or death.