Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Thoughtfully imaginative and action-packed, Steeplejack is New York Times bestselling A. J. Hartley's YA debut set in a 19th-century South African fantasy world
Seventeen-year-old Anglet Sutonga lives repairing the chimneys, towers, and spires of the city of Bar-Selehm. Dramatically different communities live and work alongside each other. The white Feldish command the nation s higher echelons of society. The native Mahweni are divided between city life and the savannah. And then there s Ang, part of the Lani community who immigrated over generations ago as servants and now mostly live in poverty on Bar-Selehm s edges.
When Ang is supposed to meet her new apprentice Berrit, she finds him dead. That same night, the Beacon, an invaluable historical icon, is stolen. The Beacon s theft commands the headlines, yet no one seems to care about Berrit s murder except for Josiah Willinghouse, an enigmatic young politician. When he offers her a job investigating his death, she plunges headlong into new and unexpected dangers.
Meanwhile, crowds gather in protests over the city s mounting troubles. Rumors surrounding the Beacon s theft grow. More suspicious deaths occur. With no one to help Ang except Josiah s haughty younger sister, a savvy newspaper girl, and a kindhearted herder, Ang must rely on her intellect and strength to resolve the mysterious link between Berrit and the missing Beacon before the city descends into chaos.
A richly realized world, an intensely likable character, and a mystery to die for." Cory Doctorow, New York Times-bestselling author
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