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Skin: a gripping historical page-turner perfect for fans of Game of Thrones (Skin 1) Kindle Edition

by Ilka Tampke (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 180 ratings

A thrilling historical novel of one woman's journey to protect her people, perfect for fans of Outlander, Game of Thrones, and Sky Atlantic's Britannia.

***

'A visceral tale of ritual, magic and violence' THE SUNDAY TIMES

'Filled with drama and passion... I was captivated' ANTONIA HODGSON

'Those who root for Game of Thrones' Daenerys Targaryen will find much to love in Ailia's quest' NEW DAILY

***

Ailia has never truly belonged, for she has no totem, no 'skin'. Without skin, she is not allowed to learn the traditions of her ancestors, or to marry.

But this is Celtic Britain, and the dark power of the Roman Empire is gathering in the distance.

As Ailia's people prepare to face a brutal enemy and an uncertain future, it is Ailia who must embrace the extraordinary power which lies within her... and who must stand, alone, to protect the people she loves from the end of everything they've ever known.

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Skin
  2. Print length
    369 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Hodderscape
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    6 Aug. 2015
  7. File size
    3.0 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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 See full series
There are 2 books in this series.
This option includes 2 books.

Product description

Review

'Conjuring up a wholly alien world with impressive imagination, Tampke has created a visceral tale of ritual, magic and violence' ― The Sunday Times

[An] enticing and immensely satisfying debut ― Good Reading Australia

'Skin is a mesmerising read, set in a distant past that feels both real and magical. Filled with drama and passion, it is also an intensely soulful story about courage, sacrifice and belonging. I was captivated.' -- Antonia Hodgson, author of THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA

'[Skin] slowly sucks you in and before you know it you've been completely hooked...At its core, Skin is a young girl's coming of age story, but its resonant prose, distinct characters, thematic depth and emotional sensitivity all combine to form a tale as evocative as it is compelling. 9/10' ― Starburst Magazine

'What a brilliant and original idea for a novel. I couldn't resist reading the first line and then the first paragraph, then the first chapter, even though I was supposed to be doing something else. I am hooked! [Ilka] is an amazing writer.' -- Karen Maitland, author of The Vanishing Witch

'Ilka Tampke's intriguing Skin is a cracker...A thrilling debut, it throbs with the passions of a young woman's sexual awakening and paints a brutal world teeming with enticing detail that teases out a pagan past soon to be subsumed by Christianity...Those who root for Game of Thrones' Daenerys Targaryen will find much to love in Ailia's personal quest, with Tampke more successfully navigating the realms of almost fantasy than Ishiguro, marking her out as an exciting talent to watch.' ― New Daily Australia

I am in awe of Ilka's ability to recreate a Britain of AD 43. Caer Cad is alive and I felt I was there, standing by its fires, from page one. A great book -- Cecilia Ekbåck, author of WOLF WINTER

I loved the depth, sincerity and beauty of Skin. It gives a name and a shape to our capacity for yearning. -- Isobelle Carmody, author of the Obernewtyn Chronicles

`Skin is a beautiful and brilliant book, a masterpiece' -- John Marsden, author of the Tomorrow series

Powerful and assured...Skin will appeal to lovers of historical fiction and lovers of literary fiction equally as well. It is an accomplished, absorbing and powerful debut. ― The Hoopla

This book gripped me from the first, with a haunting scene of spirit and sacrifice in the opening pages that left me horrified and intrigued; from there I could barely pull myself away from the book and Ailia's journey -- Alphareader.com

From the Back Cover

Prophecy. Legacy. Destiny.

I had no skin.
I was half-born,
Born in body but not in soul.

Ailia has never truly belonged, for she has no totem, no 'skin'. Without skin, she is not allowed to learn the traditions of her ancestors, or to marry.

But this is Celtic Britain, and the dark power of the Roman Empire is gathering in the distance.

As Ailia's people prepare to face a brutal enemy and an uncertain future, it is Ailia who must embrace the extraordinary power which lies within her... and who must stand, alone, to protect the people she loves from the end of everything they've ever known.

'A visceral tale of ritual, magic and violence' The Sunday Times

'A page-turning novel of transcendence and change' Guardian

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00TE3HF98
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodderscape
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 6 Aug. 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 369 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1473616400
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Skin
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 180 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
180 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a gripping historical page-turner with fantastic realism and wonderfully written prose.

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8 customers mention ‘Readability’8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a really good read, with one customer describing it as magic.

"...The important thing for you to know is that this book is magic and you should read it." Read more

"...it quickly became redundant to me. This is a truly wonderful book that captivated me and I was unable to stop...." Read more

"...but, I enjoyed the story and the world-building." Read more

"This is one of the best books I have ever read, I couldn't put it down, literally finished it in under a week. Perfect condition too!..." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Realism’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's realism, describing it as a fantastic tale of realistic fantasy.

"...But in Skin, the characters are solid, so real that that wonderful magic happens where you forget you're simply reading words on a page...." Read more

"...Having said that, this is a work of fiction and the hill-fort life evoked by Tampke is believable and detailed...." Read more

"...Skin is brutal, honest, gripping & wonderfully written...." Read more

"Loved this book. A good read and didn't want it to end. Authentic and sucked you into that time zone." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Writing quality’5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one noting it's an easy read.

"...I didn't slow or become distracted. It held me. Tampke is a masterful writer, with a style that is strong and truly her own...." Read more

"...The writing quality is pure joy and I am sad that the novel has come to its end...." Read more

"...Skin is brutal, honest, gripping & wonderfully written...." Read more

"...iron age life with all the superstition and mystical beliefs , beautifully written you can imagine being there" Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Been waiting for a book like this
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I don't often leave reviews because I'm lazy, but this book has compelled me.
    I often find it difficult to become fully immersed in a story. Editor brain is usually there, picking away - "That sentence is clumsy," "This writer is trying too hard," "How amateurish."
    Editor brain didn't even whisper with this one. I was instantly transfixed. Bewitched from the first page to the last. I was so deeply enveloped in this story I wanted to devour it, cover to cover, in one sitting.
    When I'm reading a book, I often find myself uncomfortably aware of the writer. The characters seem transparent, and I can see through them to the writer's intentions. But in Skin, the characters are solid, so real that that wonderful magic happens where you forget you're simply reading words on a page.
    Also, the pacing is perfect. Not once did I labour through the prose. I didn't slow or become distracted. It held me. Tampke is a masterful writer, with a style that is strong and truly her own.
    I think I was going to say something else but I can't remember. The important thing for you to know is that this book is magic and you should read it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Nosyness
    4.0 out of 5 stars Skin - A thoughtful book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 July 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I've not quite finished reading this book yet so a further star could be added if the remainder of the book continues to make me think. It's a book that when you start to read you think along the lines of other books of a similar timeline, but the further you get into the book, it becomes clear that it's quite different. The central character becomes a strong figure, but without spoiling the plot, as you read you're not sure if their lifestyle is real or a dream. It's not a book I could just read without analysing it as I went along, therefore I wouldn't say it was a quick or easy book to read but I am enjoying it and I look forward to finishing to see if I'm right in my thoughts of it!
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  • J Freeman
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good book for young adults.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2016
    I reviewed this book as part of reading group promotion. I found Ailia a likeable enough protagonist and the period detail, especially the language, accurate enough to satisfy. Ithe book was enjoyable enough to keep me reading but I found the ending deeply unsatisfactory, I felt as if I'd been left with nothing resolved. As a fan of Jean Auel's epic series set in prehistoric times, it was difficult not to draw comparisons but as a debut novel, perhaps aimed at a younger audience, I think it should do well enough.
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  • Dom Kelly
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is ......a wonderful joy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 April 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I am Welsh and proud of my Celtic heritage. I read this book after reading Conn Iggulden's 2nd book of the life of Julia's Caesar. Julia's sacked the Gaul (france and Germany) lands and made his way to Britain as it was. His 1st trip was a disaster but he came back the following year (and the rest is history......pun intended).
    I wanted to find a historical fiction novel that would paint 'the other perspective' and came across reviews of this book.
    Whilst Skin does give quite a bit of the other side of the coin. .......it quickly became redundant to me. This is a truly wonderful book that captivated me and I was unable to stop. The writing quality is pure joy and I am sad that the novel has come to its end. I am left wanting to read the next book as soon as possible, even though it's not yet published.
    I am skin of the Dog without any doubt. I'm quite certain that Neja in this book is a Welsh border collie.
    This is (and I've surprised myself because I read a lot), possibly In the top 10 of close to 1,000 plus historical fiction novels I've read. Wonderful. Do not hesitate .....buy this wonderful book.
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  • P. L. Tickell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic realism or Realistic Fantasy?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 March 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A mixture of realism and fantasy, this is not a novel for those who delight in historical accuracy. Indeed a main premise that the Dorset hill-forts were sites of occupation at the time of the Roman invasion of Britain seems to have been debunked in the last year or so. Having said that, this is a work of fiction and the hill-fort life evoked by Tampke is believable and detailed. I especially enjoyed the recreation of Beltane and other festivals: one person's take on what might have been. The interface with the "other world" is suitably liminal and we care about the main characters and what happens to them. If the author were to write a sequel based on other parts of the Roman invasion, I would definitely buy it.
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  • eccomaggio
    4.0 out of 5 stars An easy read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Not the greatest of writing (especially the cod olde-worlde language that everyone speaks in) but, I enjoyed the story and the world-building.
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  • lisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 January 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of the best books I have ever read, I couldn't put it down, literally finished it in under a week. Perfect condition too! I brought the second one in the series too and that was just as good. Highly recommended
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  • Fidelina
    3.0 out of 5 stars A bteter read for the younger person I think
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2016
    Whilst a good read and page turner there was always something missing for me in this book. I think it was a mistake for the book to have been written in the first person - it did not hold me enough for this, I never felt connected to the main character. I became tired of the young love line and found too many errors in the writing for the story ever to grasp me. Ilka makes a good attempt in her style of writing to reflect the ways of old but every so often a clanger is dropped, a random word, that shrills too loudly of the modern world. I great read for the younger reader I think. (Ps - if one is cut by a sword on one's non-sword arm the blood cannot then run into the handle of my own sword !)
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Rob Scherer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful.
    Reviewed in Australia on 21 March 2015
    Verified Purchase
    What a wonderful story. And beautifully written by Ilka Tampke.
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  • AJones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United States on 29 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellently written book and placed me firmly in the story with richly described characters and narrative. Both earthy and magical these aspects of life were interwoven beautifully with the story. I hope Ilka writes another novel.
    Report
  • Chinka Steel
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read
    Reviewed in Australia on 27 October 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Whilst acknowledging my historical knowledge of this era is sadly lacking the relevance to the story is real..the words are masterful..from a humbled Woodendian
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  • Peter Gerrand
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy novel weighed down by its historical underpinnings
    Reviewed in Australia on 26 May 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A well-written fantasy novel based on good historical research of a not well known period of English history. The use of Australian aboriginal totem values as a plot device only partly worked, as ultimately the dominant importance of 'skin' allegiance was undermined by the plot.

    Unfortunately the novelist could not develop an ingenious ending to compensate for the historical truth that the heroine's tribe was demolished by the Roman invaders – to which the novel remains faithful. So the novel's ending went pear-shape along with the fate of the tribe.
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  • kimber
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Australia on 7 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel!
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