celebrations box

DIVE INTO THE WORLD-BURNING HORROMANTASY, BRINGING TOGETHER LITERATURE'S MOST FAMOUS LADY VILLAINS, LADY MACBETH AND KLYTEMNESTRA . . . For fans of A Dowry of Blood, Clytemnestra, and Piranesi, Vile Lady Villains is an unforgettable ride into the realm of stories -- THE WORLD MISTAKES YOU BOTH FOR VILLAINS You are Lady Macbeth. You have plotted your king's death and now you need to flee. You turn to the Three Witches for help, but their spell casts you out into a unrecognisable new realm. You fall through a door only to stumble upon another woman's blood-soaked triumph: you meet Klytemnestra as she stands over her husband's corpse. But as this Queen of Mycenae mistakes you for a spirit, she chases you through another mysterious door into the world of stories. Hunted by wraiths in an unfamiliar land determined to destroy you both, you are forced into alliance. Castles crumble. Myths collide. In the chaos, your dark rivalry gives way to a fiery attraction no one could have predicted. To survive, you must choose: return to the tragedies that define you, or burn those stories' pages and rewrite your ending, together . . . -- Praise for Vile Lady Villains:- Cathartic and deeply romantic , Vile Lady Villains is the iconic queen crossover of my dreams! Claret and Anassa's empowering journey through harrowing trials, innovative dreamscapes, and murky choices builds like a fever breaking into a celebration of vicious women, second chances, and taking control of your story. - Leanne Schwartz, author of A Prayer for Vengeance and To a Darker Shore Vile Lady Villains is a stunningly original novel, dense and dark and overwhelmingly magical. It's a daring blend of borrowed stories, recreating characters we thought we knew, and giving them the full, unfettered life they deserve. Lovers of Shakespeare and Greek myth will be enchanted - Louisa Morgan, The Faerie Morgana In confident, luscious prose, Christopoulou creates an enthralling liminal quest, where two of literature's most infamous female villains reclaim their stories -and fall irrevocably in love. I was spellbound from the very first page and could hardly breathe as the ending neared. Heart-rending, atmospheric and unmissable. - Kika Hatzopoulou, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threads That Bind Danai Christopoulou's Vile Lady Villains is part classical theatre compressed into a jewel-box of metafiction, part living painting: its palette supersaturated with passion, poetry, and portent. Her familiar protagonists, Claret and Anassa, like two firebirds of blood and spirit, arise entwined from the wreckage of their own tragic narratives, pursued by fates, furies, and the chance at something better. - C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter A rollicking ride through time and space, drawing together two women from very different worlds. With prose as sharp as a blade and as rich as blood, Christopoulou has created a deeply satisfying story. - Luna McNamara, author of Psyche & Eros A richly intertextual narrative about writing your own story rather than the one that is written for you, Vile Lady Villains reimagines the powerful women of literature and myth. Christopoulou brings two iconic characters together for an adventure that will delight, inspire, and surprise. Teeming with queer tension and sparking with anger and joy in equal measure, this is a rare and exciting work of feminist literature. - Elyse John, author of Orphia and Eurydicius

DIVE INTO THE WORLD-BURNING HORROMANTASY, BRINGING TOGETHER LITERATURE'S MOST FAMOUS LADY VILLAINS, LADY MACBETH AND KLYTEMNESTRA . . . For fans of A Dowry of Blood, Clytemnestra, and Piranesi, Vile Lady Villains is an unforgettable ride into the realm of stories -- THE WORLD MISTAKES YOU BOTH FOR VILLAINS You are Lady Macbeth. You have plotted your king's death and now you need to flee. You turn to the Three Witches for help, but their spell casts you out into a unrecognisable new realm. You fall through a door only to stumble upon another woman's blood-soaked triumph: you meet Klytemnestra as she stands over her husband's corpse. But as this Queen of Mycenae mistakes you for a spirit, she chases you through another mysterious door into the world of stories. Hunted by wraiths in an unfamiliar land determined to destroy you both, you are forced into alliance. Castles crumble. Myths collide. In the chaos, your dark rivalry gives way to a fiery attraction no one could have predicted. To survive, you must choose: return to the tragedies that define you, or burn those stories' pages and rewrite your ending, together . . . -- Praise for Vile Lady Villains:- Cathartic and deeply romantic , Vile Lady Villains is the iconic queen crossover of my dreams! Claret and Anassa's empowering journey through harrowing trials, innovative dreamscapes, and murky choices builds like a fever breaking into a celebration of vicious women, second chances, and taking control of your story. - Leanne Schwartz, author of A Prayer for Vengeance and To a Darker Shore Vile Lady Villains is a stunningly original novel, dense and dark and overwhelmingly magical. It's a daring blend of borrowed stories, recreating characters we thought we knew, and giving them the full, unfettered life they deserve. Lovers of Shakespeare and Greek myth will be enchanted - Louisa Morgan, The Faerie Morgana In confident, luscious prose, Christopoulou creates an enthralling liminal quest, where two of literature's most infamous female villains reclaim their stories -and fall irrevocably in love. I was spellbound from the very first page and could hardly breathe as the ending neared. Heart-rending, atmospheric and unmissable. - Kika Hatzopoulou, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threads That Bind Danai Christopoulou's Vile Lady Villains is part classical theatre compressed into a jewel-box of metafiction, part living painting: its palette supersaturated with passion, poetry, and portent. Her familiar protagonists, Claret and Anassa, like two firebirds of blood and spirit, arise entwined from the wreckage of their own tragic narratives, pursued by fates, furies, and the chance at something better. - C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter A rollicking ride through time and space, drawing together two women from very different worlds. With prose as sharp as a blade and as rich as blood, Christopoulou has created a deeply satisfying story. - Luna McNamara, author of Psyche & Eros A richly intertextual narrative about writing your own story rather than the one that is written for you, Vile Lady Villains reimagines the powerful women of literature and myth. Christopoulou brings two iconic characters together for an adventure that will delight, inspire, and surprise. Teeming with queer tension and sparking with anger and joy in equal measure, this is a rare and exciting work of feminist literature. - Elyse John, author of Orphia and Eurydicius

DIVE INTO THE WORLD-BURNING HORROMANTASY, BRINGING TOGETHER LITERATURE'S MOST FAMOUS LADY VILLAINS, LADY MACBETH AND KLYTEMNESTRA . . . For fans of A Dowry of Blood, Clytemnestra, and Piranesi, Vile Lady Villains is an unforgettable ride into the realm of stories -- THE WORLD MISTAKES YOU BOTH FOR VILLAINS You are Lady Macbeth. You have plotted your king's death and now you need to flee. You turn to the Three Witches for help, but their spell casts you out into a unrecognisable new realm. You fall through a door only to stumble upon another woman's blood-soaked triumph: you meet Klytemnestra as she stands over her husband's corpse. But as this Queen of Mycenae mistakes you for a spirit, she chases you through another mysterious door into the world of stories. Hunted by wraiths in an unfamiliar land determined to destroy you both, you are forced into alliance. Castles crumble. Myths collide. In the chaos, your dark rivalry gives way to a fiery attraction no one could have predicted. To survive, you must choose: return to the tragedies that define you, or burn those stories' pages and rewrite your ending, together . . . -- Praise for Vile Lady Villains:- Cathartic and deeply romantic , Vile Lady Villains is the iconic queen crossover of my dreams! Claret and Anassa's empowering journey through harrowing trials, innovative dreamscapes, and murky choices builds like a fever breaking into a celebration of vicious women, second chances, and taking control of your story. - Leanne Schwartz, author of A Prayer for Vengeance and To a Darker Shore Vile Lady Villains is a stunningly original novel, dense and dark and overwhelmingly magical. It's a daring blend of borrowed stories, recreating characters we thought we knew, and giving them the full, unfettered life they deserve. Lovers of Shakespeare and Greek myth will be enchanted - Louisa Morgan, The Faerie Morgana In confident, luscious prose, Christopoulou creates an enthralling liminal quest, where two of literature's most infamous female villains reclaim their stories -and fall irrevocably in love. I was spellbound from the very first page and could hardly breathe as the ending neared. Heart-rending, atmospheric and unmissable. - Kika Hatzopoulou, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threads That Bind Danai Christopoulou's Vile Lady Villains is part classical theatre compressed into a jewel-box of metafiction, part living painting: its palette supersaturated with passion, poetry, and portent. Her familiar protagonists, Claret and Anassa, like two firebirds of blood and spirit, arise entwined from the wreckage of their own tragic narratives, pursued by fates, furies, and the chance at something better. - C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter A rollicking ride through time and space, drawing together two women from very different worlds. With prose as sharp as a blade and as rich as blood, Christopoulou has created a deeply satisfying story. - Luna McNamara, author of Psyche & Eros A richly intertextual narrative about writing your own story rather than the one that is written for you, Vile Lady Villains reimagines the powerful women of literature and myth. Christopoulou brings two iconic characters together for an adventure that will delight, inspire, and surprise. Teeming with queer tension and sparking with anger and joy in equal measure, this is a rare and exciting work of feminist literature. - Elyse John, author of Orphia and Eurydicius

DIVE INTO THE WORLD-BURNING HORROMANTASY, BRINGING TOGETHER LITERATURE'S MOST FAMOUS LADY VILLAINS, LADY MACBETH AND KLYTEMNESTRA . . . For fans of A Dowry of Blood, Clytemnestra, and Piranesi, Vile Lady Villains is an unforgettable ride into the realm of stories -- THE WORLD MISTAKES YOU BOTH FOR VILLAINS You are Lady Macbeth. You have plotted your king's death and now you need to flee. You turn to the Three Witches for help, but their spell casts you out into a unrecognisable new realm. You fall through a door only to stumble upon another woman's blood-soaked triumph: you meet Klytemnestra as she stands over her husband's corpse. But as this Queen of Mycenae mistakes you for a spirit, she chases you through another mysterious door into the world of stories. Hunted by wraiths in an unfamiliar land determined to destroy you both, you are forced into alliance. Castles crumble. Myths collide. In the chaos, your dark rivalry gives way to a fiery attraction no one could have predicted. To survive, you must choose: return to the tragedies that define you, or burn those stories' pages and rewrite your ending, together . . . -- Praise for Vile Lady Villains:- Cathartic and deeply romantic , Vile Lady Villains is the iconic queen crossover of my dreams! Claret and Anassa's empowering journey through harrowing trials, innovative dreamscapes, and murky choices builds like a fever breaking into a celebration of vicious women, second chances, and taking control of your story. - Leanne Schwartz, author of A Prayer for Vengeance and To a Darker Shore Vile Lady Villains is a stunningly original novel, dense and dark and overwhelmingly magical. It's a daring blend of borrowed stories, recreating characters we thought we knew, and giving them the full, unfettered life they deserve. Lovers of Shakespeare and Greek myth will be enchanted - Louisa Morgan, The Faerie Morgana In confident, luscious prose, Christopoulou creates an enthralling liminal quest, where two of literature's most infamous female villains reclaim their stories -and fall irrevocably in love. I was spellbound from the very first page and could hardly breathe as the ending neared. Heart-rending, atmospheric and unmissable. - Kika Hatzopoulou, Sunday Times bestselling author of Threads That Bind Danai Christopoulou's Vile Lady Villains is part classical theatre compressed into a jewel-box of metafiction, part living painting: its palette supersaturated with passion, poetry, and portent. Her familiar protagonists, Claret and Anassa, like two firebirds of blood and spirit, arise entwined from the wreckage of their own tragic narratives, pursued by fates, furies, and the chance at something better. - C. S. E. Cooney, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Saint Death's Daughter A rollicking ride through time and space, drawing together two women from very different worlds. With prose as sharp as a blade and as rich as blood, Christopoulou has created a deeply satisfying story. - Luna McNamara, author of Psyche & Eros A richly intertextual narrative about writing your own story rather than the one that is written for you, Vile Lady Villains reimagines the powerful women of literature and myth. Christopoulou brings two iconic characters together for an adventure that will delight, inspire, and surprise. Teeming with queer tension and sparking with anger and joy in equal measure, this is a rare and exciting work of feminist literature. - Elyse John, author of Orphia and Eurydicius

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING WORLD BOOK DAY COMEDY FOR TEEN READERS FROM THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF STEADY FOR THIS, KING OF NOTHING, WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE AND LIKE A BROTHER! Noranto knows who he is. Or at least, he thinks he does. Footballer. Hustler. One of the boys. He's got the playground game on lock and big plans for his mum's surprise birthday party this weekend. But poetry? That's just something he does quietly - in his head, on the bus, between goals. Until his teacher spots his talent and encourages him to enter a creative writing competition. Noranto laughs it off. No chance: the deadline's in three days and he's already got way too much going on. His mates agree and tell him to stick to what he knows. Poetry doesn't win matches. But the rhymes won't stop coming. And a little voice inside him keeps asking: What if this is his shot? What if he could do it all? As the weekend unfolds and obstacles are thrown in his way, Noranto finds himself stuck between what's expected of him and who he really wants to be. Can he find the words in time - and the courage to share them - against all the odds? A funny and authentic story about the joys and challenges of dreaming big and showing the world you don't have to fit into just one box. PRAISE FOR STEADY FOR THIS: WINNER OF THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2024 WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S DIVERSE BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2024 "Crammed with outrageously hilarious wordplay, Lessore's exuberant debut for 12+ is a southeast London celebration of teen awkwardness, creativity and silly joy ." - Guardian " Funny, original and heart-warming ." - The Times "An engaging, positive and heart-warming read." - BookTrust PRAISE FOR KING OF NOTHING: WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE FOR OLDER READERS 2025 WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE SHADOWERS' CHOICE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2025 WINNER OF THE JHALAK CHILDREN'S & YOUNG ADULT PRIZE 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR AMAZON BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 " Rib-achingly funny, poignant, thoughtful and sly , Lessore's second novel confirms him as a uniquely talented writer ." - Guardian "Confirms [Nathanael Lessore] as a major new name in writing for younger teenagers . . . an immensely readable book ." - The Observer "This teen comedy really is very funny , while also being meaningful and heartwarming ." - iPaper PRAISE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE: "Begins as Adrian Mole for the gaming generation and then becomes, through its big-hearted tale of one awkward teenager's split life between reality and the internet, the kind of book you wish that boy from Adolescence had read [...] A brilliant, heartfelt book about now ." - The Times "The blend of smart dialogue, believable characters and humour makes big issues immensely readable ." - The Observer " Hilarious, thoughtful and deeply felt , this is another superb 13+ contemporary novel from the Branford Boase-winning Lessore." - Guardian PRAISE FOR LIKE A BROTHER: SHORTLISTED FOR AND HIGHLY COMMENDED BY THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2026 THE TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Few capture the wisecracking energy of teenagers, quite like Lessore. Everything in this charming, sensitive novel about masculinity is played for laughs . . . A fresh and funny read ' - The Times 'Lessore uses humour to shed light on issues including homophobia and masculinity , and is brilliant on the messy, unpredictable business of being a teenager' - The Observer

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING WORLD BOOK DAY COMEDY FOR TEEN READERS FROM THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF STEADY FOR THIS, KING OF NOTHING, WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE AND LIKE A BROTHER! Noranto knows who he is. Or at least, he thinks he does. Footballer. Hustler. One of the boys. He's got the playground game on lock and big plans for his mum's surprise birthday party this weekend. But poetry? That's just something he does quietly - in his head, on the bus, between goals. Until his teacher spots his talent and encourages him to enter a creative writing competition. Noranto laughs it off. No chance: the deadline's in three days and he's already got way too much going on. His mates agree and tell him to stick to what he knows. Poetry doesn't win matches. But the rhymes won't stop coming. And a little voice inside him keeps asking: What if this is his shot? What if he could do it all? As the weekend unfolds and obstacles are thrown in his way, Noranto finds himself stuck between what's expected of him and who he really wants to be. Can he find the words in time - and the courage to share them - against all the odds? A funny and authentic story about the joys and challenges of dreaming big and showing the world you don't have to fit into just one box. PRAISE FOR STEADY FOR THIS: WINNER OF THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2024 WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S DIVERSE BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2024 "Crammed with outrageously hilarious wordplay, Lessore's exuberant debut for 12+ is a southeast London celebration of teen awkwardness, creativity and silly joy ." - Guardian " Funny, original and heart-warming ." - The Times "An engaging, positive and heart-warming read." - BookTrust PRAISE FOR KING OF NOTHING: WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE FOR OLDER READERS 2025 WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE SHADOWERS' CHOICE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2025 WINNER OF THE JHALAK CHILDREN'S & YOUNG ADULT PRIZE 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR AMAZON BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 " Rib-achingly funny, poignant, thoughtful and sly , Lessore's second novel confirms him as a uniquely talented writer ." - Guardian "Confirms [Nathanael Lessore] as a major new name in writing for younger teenagers . . . an immensely readable book ." - The Observer "This teen comedy really is very funny , while also being meaningful and heartwarming ." - iPaper PRAISE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE: "Begins as Adrian Mole for the gaming generation and then becomes, through its big-hearted tale of one awkward teenager's split life between reality and the internet, the kind of book you wish that boy from Adolescence had read [...] A brilliant, heartfelt book about now ." - The Times "The blend of smart dialogue, believable characters and humour makes big issues immensely readable ." - The Observer " Hilarious, thoughtful and deeply felt , this is another superb 13+ contemporary novel from the Branford Boase-winning Lessore." - Guardian PRAISE FOR LIKE A BROTHER: SHORTLISTED FOR AND HIGHLY COMMENDED BY THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2026 THE TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Few capture the wisecracking energy of teenagers, quite like Lessore. Everything in this charming, sensitive novel about masculinity is played for laughs . . . A fresh and funny read ' - The Times 'Lessore uses humour to shed light on issues including homophobia and masculinity , and is brilliant on the messy, unpredictable business of being a teenager' - The Observer