The Tinder Box

About the book

'A MARVELLOUS DARK FABLE' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires
'SPARKS WITH WONDER AND PERIL' Melissa Caruso, author of The Last Hour Between Worlds

Prepare to be entranced by this utterly unique dark fantasy with a fairytale feel from the million-copy bestselling M. R. Carey, author of The Girl With All the Gifts.

In a kingdom forgotten by history, a legend unfolds . . .

Wounded in his county's endless wars, former soldier Mag Tresti finds work in the home of a reclusive widow, Jannae Mirchella. But Jannae is more than she seems. A witch of great skill and might, she hides her powers and her deep-laid plans behind a mask of harmless respectability.

When a dead demon falls out of the sky, the fates of the soldier and the witch are irrevocably intertwined. On the demon's body Mag finds a tinderbox - an artefact of terrifying magical power that can not only grant his every wish, but also change the fate of nations.

This is a tale of spellcraft and devilry, of witchcraft and trickery - of the wickedness that resides within a few, the goodness that lies deep within us all, and the choices on which our lives turn.

Discover this dark and enchanting fantasy tale from one of the most original voices in speculative fiction - perfect for fans of Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden and A Sorcerer Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher.

Praise for The Tinder Box:

'Carey's craft manages to feel at once familiar and startling, which for me is a hallmark of exceptional writing . . . Confirms M.R. Carey's place among the best living writers in fantasy' Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires and The Blacktongue Thief

'The Tinder Box sparks with wonder and peril . . . It holds all the magic of a fable and all the complex kindness and cruelty of a human heart. Prepare to be enchanted!' Melissa Caruso, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Hour Between Worlds

'Witty, crisp, sharp and tender in all the right places. Exactly on the border between gunpowder and fairy tale. You'll find yourself missing these big characters after they're gone' Paul Cornell, Hugo Award-winning novelist and screenwriter

'In a grey age of violence and greed, Carey's tale strikes a spark of kindness, humanity, and hope' Marie Brennan, author of A Natural History of Dragons

'Carey masters yet another subgenre of speculative fiction' Kirkus

'Fantasy fans - especially of Joe Abercrombie's The Devils - will love Carey's updated version of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale' Booklist (starred review)