Bloodflower

Bloodflower

"I can't tell you how much I loved the novel. I cried through the whole of the last chapter from the sheer beauty of these characters and their world. It may have cast of thousands, but I'm in love with all of them."- Melina Marchetta (author of Looking for Alibrandi, Finnikin of the Rock).

Allen and Unwin is thrilled to have discovered the exceptionally talented Christine Hinwood, whose extraordinary insight and literary skill is reminiscent of award winning author Margo Lanagan. In this deeply moving book, first-time novelist Christine Hinwood weaves together a complex story, set in a richly detailed world, peopled by lively characters and charged with humour and passion.

Everyone loves young Cam Attling, with his handsome face and troubled spirit- especially Graceful Feinster from the big house on the hill. But when Cam returns alone from war- all his fellow soldiers slain- suspicion swirls around him. What has he witnessed? Where does his true allegiance lie? Caught between duty and desire, between farm and castle, between the comradeship of men and the love of women, Cam struggles to find where he belongs… while other strive to win his restless heart.

An intense story of love, loss and turmoil in the aftermath of war, by an exceptional talented new author. For confident readers aged 14+.

Hinwood's unique, powerful writing has everyone at Allen and Unwin talking
"This kind of writing is our reward for doing what we do!"- Erica Wagner, A&U Publisher, Children's and YA Books.

"Bloodflower is like a rich piece of music- various tunes emerge, disappear, develop, overlap… you hear variation on themes… momentum gathers… and by the end you experience a deeply satisfying integrated work of art"- Rosalind Price, Former A&U Publisher, Children's and YA Books.

"What an incredible discovery of new talent! You know that feeling when you're at an art gallery and you're casually walking from painting to painting and then suddenly you come across that one painting that halts your footsteps and makes you just stand there and look at it for ages? This book was like that for me. Hypnotic. Complex. Absorbing. It's an intricate patchwork of stories that drew me further and further into the characters' lives with every single world"- Jyy-Wei Ip, Children's Marketing Coordinator.

Christine Hinwood was born in England, and has spent time in Japan and the USA, though she grew up mostly in Australia. She is now based in Melbourne. Although she has always been passionate about writing, and has created stories from a very young age, Bloodflower is Christine's first novel. In 2005, Christine was enrolled in the RMIT Professional Writing and Editing- what began as a short story assignment ('Snail Hunt', first chapter) slowly unfolded into a full-blown novel that was sent to Allen and Unwin officers as an unsolicited manuscript. Rescued from the slush pie, Bloodflower is now set to be one of the finest works of literary fiction for young adults this year.

Bloodflower
Allen and Unwin
Author: Christine Hinwood
ISBN: 9781741754711
Price: $19.99