Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A guidebook to the peculiar world for fledgling members, with notes about the variety of peculiar abilities, techniques for blending in with normals, and other helpful features. Breaking out a fresh flurry of atmospheric and oddball antique photographs as illustrations, Riggs opens with generous galleries of peculiars arranged by type, from earthworkers to invisibles and deadrisers. Not to mention real historical peculiars such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mary Seacole. He goes on to discuss time loops (with a handy guide to finding their hidden entrances), ploys and disguises for passing as normal in the outside world, the origins of deadly wights and hollowgast, and, in a final omnium-gatherum section, the peculiar world’s language, party games, and foundational texts. The photos, most of which are portraits, are likely to be the most immediate draw, as even the ones that don’t feature creepy figures with rubbed out eyes or fall under the general theme of fun with skeletons have a decidedly otherworldly air. The staring subjects include racial and cultural diversity. A keepsake that may fill in a few blanks even for devoted fans of the series. (photo credits, map, index) (Informational fantasy. 12-14) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A guidebook to the peculiar world for fledgling members, with notes about the variety of peculiar abilities, techniques for blending in with normals, and other helpful features.Breaking out a fresh flurry of atmospheric and oddball antique photographs as illustrations, Riggs opens with generous galleries of peculiars arranged by type, from earthworkers to invisibles and deadrisers. Not to mention real historical peculiars such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mary Seacole. He goes on to discuss time loops (with a handy guide to finding their hidden entrances), ploys and disguises for passing as normal in the outside world, the origins of deadly wights and hollowgast, and, in a final omnium-gatherum section, the peculiar worlds language, party games, and foundational texts. The photos, most of which are portraits, are likely to be the most immediate draw, as even the ones that dont feature creepy figures with rubbed out eyes or fall under the general theme of fun with skeletons have a decidedly otherworldly air. The staring subjects include racial and cultural diversity.A keepsake that may fill in a few blanks even for devoted fans of the series. (photo credits, map, index) (Informational fantasy. 12-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.