Best Seller
Hardcover
$19.99
Published on Jun 03, 2025 | 400 Pages
Set in a universe where time is key to power and privilege, this dazzlingly inventive, genre-defying fantasy romance is the first in a duology by best-selling author Caroline O’Donoghue.
Margo is a troubled schoolgirl. After the death of her father, she’s on her way to a new boarding school in a new city.
Moon is a salesman. He makes his living traveling through a series of interconnected worlds on a network of barely used train lines.
They never should have met. But when Margo suddenly appears one day on Moon’s train, their fates become inextricably linked. If Margo wants to survive, she has to pass as a traveling salesman, too—except it’s not that easy.
Move north on the train line and time speeds up, a day passing in mere hours. Move south and time slows down—a day can last several weeks. Slow worlds are the richest ones: you live longer, your youth lasting decades. Fast worlds are sharp, cruel, and don’t have time for pleasantries. Death is frequent. Salesmen die young of skipshock. That is, if they’re not shot down by the Southern Guard first.
As Margo moves between worlds and her attachment to Moon intensifies, she feels her youth start to slip between her fingers. But is Moon everything he seems? Is Margo?
Told through the eyes of both naive Margo and desperate Moon, the unforgettable realm of Skipshock will shake the way you think about love, time, and the fabric of the universe. The first in a planned duology from the best-selling author of the Gifts series, this utterly original epic is a must-read.
“A suspenseful, romantic, charming, and really unique tale.” —Matt Haig, author of The Midnight Library
“Genre-blending brilliance.” —Katherine Webber, coauthor of Twin Crowns
“Inventive, compelling, and completely original.” —Melinda Salisbury, author of Her Dark Wings
“Warm, witty, and compassionate.” —R.F. Kuang, author of Babel
“Readers will burn through the pages as they traverse gorgeous, fully realized worlds replete with their own varied dramas. . . . Incredibly immersive and utterly unique.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
- Perfect for readers who love epic fantasy, speculative fiction, and coming-of-age stories
- A sweeping YA fantasy romance set across interconnected parallel worlds
- A time-based magic system where time is power and every journey has consequences
- Dual perspectives, high-stakes adventure, immersive world-building, and slow-burn romance
Margo is a troubled schoolgirl. After the death of her father, she’s on her way to a new boarding school in a new city.
Moon is a salesman. He makes his living traveling through a series of interconnected worlds on a network of barely used train lines.
They never should have met. But when Margo suddenly appears one day on Moon’s train, their fates become inextricably linked. If Margo wants to survive, she has to pass as a traveling salesman, too—except it’s not that easy.
Move north on the train line and time speeds up, a day passing in mere hours. Move south and time slows down—a day can last several weeks. Slow worlds are the richest ones: you live longer, your youth lasting decades. Fast worlds are sharp, cruel, and don’t have time for pleasantries. Death is frequent. Salesmen die young of skipshock. That is, if they’re not shot down by the Southern Guard first.
As Margo moves between worlds and her attachment to Moon intensifies, she feels her youth start to slip between her fingers. But is Moon everything he seems? Is Margo?
Told through the eyes of both naive Margo and desperate Moon, the unforgettable realm of Skipshock will shake the way you think about love, time, and the fabric of the universe. The first in a planned duology from the best-selling author of the Gifts series, this utterly original epic is a must-read.
“A suspenseful, romantic, charming, and really unique tale.” —Matt Haig, author of The Midnight Library
“Genre-blending brilliance.” —Katherine Webber, coauthor of Twin Crowns
“Inventive, compelling, and completely original.” —Melinda Salisbury, author of Her Dark Wings
“Warm, witty, and compassionate.” —R.F. Kuang, author of Babel
“Readers will burn through the pages as they traverse gorgeous, fully realized worlds replete with their own varied dramas. . . . Incredibly immersive and utterly unique.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
