Description
In this fresh reimagining of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel by acclaimed author L. L. McKinney, Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason must save each other from the horrifying machinations of Mr. Rochester in this intrigue-filled, empowering young adult romance.
Jane Eyre has no interest in a husband. Eager to make her own way in the world, she accepts the governess position at Thornfield Hall.
Though her new employer, Edward Rochester, has a charming air—not to mention a handsome face—Jane discovers that his smile can sharpen in an instant. Plagued by Edward’s mercurial mood and the strange wails that echo through the corridors, Jane grows suspicious of the secrets hidden within Thornfield Hall—unaware of the true horrors lurking above her very head.
On the topmost floor, Bertha Mason is trapped in more ways than one. After her whirlwind marriage to Edward turned into a nightmare, he locked her away as revenge for withholding her inheritance. Now his patience grows thin in the face of Bertha’s resilience and Jane’s persistent questions, and both young women are in more danger than they realize.
When their only chance at safety—and perhaps something more—is in each other’s arms, can they find and keep one another safe before Edward’s dark machinations close in around them?
About the Author
L.L. McKinney is a writer, a poet, and an active member of the kidlit community. Named one of the Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans, she’s an advocate for equality and inclusion in publishing, the cofounder of Juneteenth Book Fest, and the creator of the hashtags #PublishingPaidMe and #WhatWoCWritersHear. She’s also a gamer girl and an adamant Hei Hei stan. She is the author of A Blade So Black, A Dream So Dark, and A Crown So Cursed.
Praise For…
"In the immersive world of McKinney’s Thornfield Hall, Jane and Bertha are thoroughly vivid and compelling. A deeply satisfying companion and a highly accessible entry point for a contemporary audience [...] L. L. McKinney breathes new life into a well-worn tale, and the novel's originality shines brightly, yielding surprises for those familiar with Brontë’s version or not." — Booklist (starred review)
"Thrilling, compulsively readable novel." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A sinister gothic romance revamped." — Kirkus Reviews
"A swoonworthy sapphic-tinged YA romance highlighting the beauty of women working together." — School Library Journal
"Shared narration between Jane and Bertha separates this from its inspiration, allowing Bertha to be a richly developed character, and her growing romantic relationship with Jane provides a lovely ray of light in an otherwise (appropriately) dark story. McKinney successfully deploys Gothic tropes to make Thornfield Hall utterly menacing while maximizing the tension of its oppressive atmosphere." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“McKinney breathes new life into a much-loved tale.” — Bethany C. Morrow, bestselling author of A Song Below Water
“A beautifully written, daring take on a classic. I couldn’t stop reading.” — Goldy Moldavsky, New York Times bestselling author
“A riveting and powerful read.” — Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All
“A Gothic gift of a book: eerie and romantic, bloody and blooming.” — Betsy Cornwell, New York Times bestselling author of Reader, I Murdered Him
“A winsomely crafted reimagining, full of secrets, intrigue, betrayal, and love.” — Amalie Howard, USA Today bestselling author of Queen Bee
"I raced through this clever and suspenseful retelling. It kept me guessing right up until the end!” — Allyson Dahlin, author of Cake Eater
"A thrilling, slow-burn retelling...the alternating narrations of Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason drive this well-crafted, powerful read and infuses it with the yearning and tension of forbidden love. Filled with romance and suspense, this updated classic will be hard to put down." — Krystal Marquis, New York Times best-selling author of The Daveports