The Finnish Feminist Fantasy Maresi was published in the UK by Pushkin Press on January 14th, 2016.
Maresi (Schildts & Söderströms 2014), Maria Turtschaninoff’s story about The Red Abbey, a refuge and a haven for girls, which is located on a small, southern island. On of the residents is the 13-year-old Maresi with an appetite for learning and books who fled famine and poverty four years ago. Critics have praised Turtschaninoff’s portrayal of friendship and the book’s originality.
The feminist fantasy novel Maresi has got some amazing reviews:
“It’s hard not to be impressed with Turtschaninoff’s magical world”
– Alex O’Connell, The Times
“Both magical and sad, inspiring and frightening, Maresi is a fairytale for the modern world.”
– 5 star review, Tearaway
“I love Maresi. I really do. And it’s one of those books that I feel like everyone should read”
–When You Close the Book blog
“It’s a haunting fable that resonates with the death cults and honour violence of today. ”
– Financial Times
“This piece is a beautiful tale about women with a very special sisterly bond and I will gladly recommend it to all fantasy lovers.”
– 5 star review, LaChouett
“A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound.”
– 5 star review, Rising Shadow
“Written with charm and wit, yet still carrying a certain dispassionate aloofness which I actually liked, Maresi is a great read, and the short chapters make it a quick one too.”
– Mangoblogalicious blog
“This is a thrilling and mesmerising story of friendship, with a slight religious undertone, that is layered with a fantastic punch of magical fantasy. The amazing backdrop will suck you into an atmospheric world of escapism. You will not be able to put this book down until the very last page has been turned. ”
– Mr Ripleys Enchanted Books
Maria Turtschaninoff has also been disucussing feminist fantasy in The Guardian and Standard Issue Magazine.
Read here Maria Turtschaninoff’s ten favourite feminist heroes.
Read here Maria Turtschaninoff’s article about feminist fairy tales.
RIGHTS SOLD: MARESI
Original publisher: FINLAND, Schildts & Söderströms
BELGIUM, Clavis
CANADA (French), Editions de la Bagnole/Groupe Livres Quebecor Media
CHINESE (Simplified), Shanghai 99 Readers’ Culture
DENMARK, Turbine
FINLAND, Tammi
GERMANY, Random House/Heyne
ITALY, Atmosphere Libri
NETHERLANDS, Clavis
ROMANIA, Editura Univers
SWEDEN, Berghs
TURKEY, Altin Kitaplar
UNITED KINGDOM, Pushkin Press
UNITED STATES, Abrams
Reading materials: The Red Abbey Chronicles
Book I, Maresi:
Full English text
Swedish edition
Finnish edition
Book II, Naondel:
English synopsis
Contact: info@ahlbackagency.com