Deep Dark
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Chapter Book · Ages 9–18 · 2025

Deep Dark

Written by Zohra Nabi

Part of the Cassia Thorne Mysteries series

A ballad seller who spends her nights in prison chases a mystery through old London.

4.0 Goodreads · 111 ratings
336 pages· ~710L· AR ~4.6
$8.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Cassia Thorne leads a double life: by day she sells ballads at Bartholomew Fair, and by night she is locked up in Fleet Prison. She has plans to escape both lives, but when a boy is swallowed by the dark, Cassia is drawn into a mystery that runs through the streets and secrets of eighteenth-century London.

From the publisher

'Zohra Nabi has clearly done her research. Deep Dark dives into history to enthralling effect. The street life of the time, particularly London's lost economy of patterers and ballad-sellers, shouting out the latest songs and stories, is brought into raucous, vivid colour ... Outstanding.' -The Times Children's Book of the Week The dark was deep; it opened like a cavernous mouth and swallowed the boy whole. Cassia Thorne leads a double life. By day, she sells ballads at Bartholomew Fair. By night she spends her evenings locked up in Fleet Prison. Cassia has plans of escaping both of these lives. But this year there are rumours of children being snatched off of the streets of London and no one willing to help. So Cassia decides to take matters into her own hands; with the help of a young pickpocket, Teo and her friend Felix, Cassia starts to investigate the disappearances. She soon discovers a sinister conspiracy at the heart of the city - mysterious men in blue coats and whispers of a beast that lives in the deep dark tunnels below the city. Can Cassia get to the bottom of the mystery and rescue the missing children before it's too late? Join Cassia and her friends on a spine-tingling supernatural adventure through the streets of London! This is a breathtaking new direction from a rising star and the author of The Kingdom Over the Sea, a Waterstone's Children's Book of month. Praise for Deep Dark: 'This book is stunning - Zohra Nabi writes like a dream and has achieved the impossible by conjuring up a living, breathing Victorian London right before my eyes. I felt like I was right there with Cassia while reading it, magic sparkling around us.' - Natasha Hastings, author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers 'A spine-tingling, Dickensian adventure.' - The Bookseller 'Meticulously researched and sparklingly written, with an irresistible heroine.' - The Guardian 'An atmospheric adventure with a wonderfully engaging heroine - this richly evocative story will sweep you away to the streets of 19th century London.' - Katherine Woodfine, author of The Clockwork Sparrow

At a glance
Format
Paperback
Pages
336
Reading age
9–18
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
~710L
AR book level
~4.6
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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
F&P level
~Q
Publication
Published
March 16, 2027
First published
March 27, 2025
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9781398532922

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