Verdigris Deep

By Frances Hardinge

In the tradition of truly fantastic storytelling, Verdigris Deep is a darkly witty, utterly creepy and clever novel by Frances Hardinge, author of The Lie Tree.

Verdigris n. a blue-green rust that tarnishes ageing and forgotten copper coins, altering them entirely . . .

One evening, Ryan and his friends steal some coins from a well. Soon after, strange things begin to happen. Peculiar marks burn on Ryan's knuckles and light bulbs mysteriously explode. Then the well witch appears, with her fountains for eyes and gargled demands. From now on the children must serve her – and the wishes rotting at the bottom of her well.

'Everyone should read Frances Hardinge. Everyone. Right now' - Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Release date: Sep 4, 2008
• ISBN: 9780230712843

Frances Hardinge

Frances Hardinge spent a large part of her childhood in a huge old house that inspired her to write strange stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University, then got a job at a software company. However, a few years later a persistent friend finally managed to bully Frances into sending a few chapters of Fly By Night, her first children's novel, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer. The book went on to publish to huge critical acclaim and win the Branford Boase First Novel Award. She has since written many highly acclaimed children's novels including, Fly By Night's sequel, Twilight Robbery, as well as the Carnegie shortlisted Cuckoo Song and the Costa Book of the Year winner, The Lie Tree.

Reviews for Verdigris Deep

[beckers_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ariel LopezThis book is a fiction book and has 11 A.R points. I think this book is preety good because it has a little mystery and i like to solve and be challenged by things.Well Witched is based on three kids who are best friends,and they get are about 13. They all need bus money to get home and it turns out that they don't have any. One of the kids who does not really care for what actions he has decides to go down a well to get some change,and that is how the promblem starts. The well has a spirt that grants the wishes,and she gets mad. After they go down the well bad and weird things start to happen to all three of them. They all decide to have a conversation about it and they start to think it is because of the well,so they start to grant the people's coins that they took out of the well. They all do that because they get powers, and that is how it starts. Read it to found out the rest!

[shellypya · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After taking bus fare from an old wishing well, Ryan, Chelle, and Josh, ages eleven to thirteen, are confronted by the well witch, who forces them to serve her as wish granters.

[rivkat_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three friends make a wish at a very special wishing well, and start to gain powers the well wants them to use to grant other wishes. But the wishes keep going wrong, and the ringleader of the friends seems too enamored of his powers. This is a solid story about the terrors of childhood and the ways in which friends can be cruel to each other.

[inky_fingers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ryan, Chelle and Josh steal coins from a wishing well and are forced to grant all the wishes of those who threw the coins into the well in the first place. Wonderful, edgy, exciting, scary, strange. Characters you care about. First published in Great Britian as "Verdigris Deep" by Macmillan Children's Books.

[phoebesmum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frances Hardinge has some claim to Diana Wynne Jones’s YA crown, although it’s early days yet, she’s only written four books. This is possibly my least favourite of the three I’ve so far read: there’s a slightly uncomfortable, unpleasant edge to it. But, then again, so there is to 'Wilkins’ Tooth', which is the DWJ this most reminds me of.

[mutantpudding · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this! I don't like to compare authors but this reminded me a bit of Diana Wynne Jones. Complex and interesting plot, logical and very creepy magical elements, and well done characters and worldbuilding.

Alternate book synopsis; three children take a very expensive bus ride.

[ilirwen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had great expectations for this book, because everything I'd read about it told me I'd love it. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed. It's well written, thrilling, scary and absolutely fascinating. I suppose I was just a little surprised at how 'serious' and dark it was, considering that it's for kids. The characters are excllently sketched, children and adults alike. I can't praise this book enough. Fortunately for me, I'll be able to read more books by this author, very soon. Looking forward to that.

[a.j.ponder · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If I could, I'd give this book a 6 star review. It's a modern fairy tale with rich, dense language for connoisseurs of language and story telling. Totally blew me away.

[emitnick_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The U.S. edition I read is called "Well-Witched" which goodreads hasn't listed yet. This is the story of three modern kids who, after stealing some coins from an ancient wishing-well, find themselves owing a heavy debt to the witch who dwells within it. Hardinge knows how to take a truly mundane setting - bland, blighted surburbia - and imbue it with dreadful creepiness. The kids are intriguing, especially main character Ryan, and descriptions and dialogue sparkle. Fans of Gaiman's Coraline would love this, as would fans of Edward Eager who are ready something darker.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When three friends steal some coins from a well they find themselves cursed by the spirit of the well. They are obliged to fulfil people's wishes using abilities granted to them by the well spirit. However not all wishes are what the wishers really want. The three of them find themselves dealing with their own issues as well as those of other people. Trying to get themselves out of the deal without causing more damage is a problem.It's a story with characters with problems and issues. Problems that aren't just solved by hand waving. The story unfolds well and it made me think. I also found the ending very touching. Overall this is a recommended read.

[biblyotekerin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very interesting and unique story, excellently written. Weaving Celtic mythology into modern day lives, Frances Hardinge paints a portrait of believable pre-teens and their parents, with the kids swept up in an other-worldly adventure.