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  • Published: 6 June 2013
  • ISBN: 9781409025597
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 368

Noble Conflict




The gripping new novel by award-winning Malorie Blackman, author of the bestselling Noughts & Crosses sequence.

Years after a violent war destroyed much of the world, Kaspar has grown up in a society based on peace and harmony. But beyond the city walls, a vicious band of rebels are plotting to tear this peace apart. It is up to the Guardians - an elite peacekeeping force - to protect the city, without ever resorting to the brutal methods of their enemy.

When Kaspar joins the Guardians, he has a chance encounter with a rebel - a beautiful girl named Rhea. Haunted from that moment on by strange visions and memories - memories that could only belong to Rhea - he realises he hasn't been told the truth about what the rebels really want, and what he's really fighting for.

  • Published: 6 June 2013
  • ISBN: 9781409025597
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 368

About the author

Malorie Blackman

Malorie Blackman has written over seventy books for children and young adults, including the Noughts & Crosses series, Thief and a science-fiction thriller, Chasing the Stars. Many of her books have also been adapted for stage and television, including a BAFTA-award-winning BBC production of Pig-Heart Boy and a Pilot Theatre stage adaptation by Sabrina Mahfouz of Noughts & Crosses. There is also a major BBC production of Noughts & Crosses, with Roc Nation (Jay-Z’s entertainment company) curating the soundtrack as executive music producer. In 2005 Malorie was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children’s books. In 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children’s literature, and between 2013 and 2015 she was the Children’s Laureate. Most recently Malorie wrote for the Doctor Who series on BBC One, and the fifth novel in her Noughts & Crosses series, Crossfire, was published by Penguin Random House Children’s in summer 2019.

Also by Malorie Blackman

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Praise for Noble Conflict

A fantastic book that had me gripped . . . Malorie doesn't just write great stories, she also writes characters that can tell those stories with a real heart in them . . . Noble Conflict is just as much a thriller of the mind as well as making your heart race

sisterspooky.co.uk

Malorie's back with a new novel exploring love, violence, trust and betrayal . . . highly anticipated

Fiona Noble, The Bookseller

A brilliant book which I quite literally could not stop reading

Clare Poole, The Bookseller

Another gripping, thought-provoking read...The essence of war and weaponry, corruption and control is explored making this a pertinent read, and one that resonates in today’s society

Vanessa Lewis, The Bookseller

I love the way Malorie Blackman writes . . . Her plotting is second to none . . . As I hoped, Noble Conflict is gripping and powerful with a clever subtlety underlying the action. Characters you believe in. A strong morality and an acknowledgement that life is full of Catch-22s. What more could you want?

The Bookbag

Terrorism and morality are tricky issues to cover in a book aimed at adults, never mind a YA one, but Malorie Blackman has never been afraid of tackling difficult themes . . . Thoughtful as well as action-packed

SFX

As ever, for Blackman, story is king. The dialogue is vivid, inclusive, full of energy and ribald humour . . . her legions of fans have a treat in store

Guardian

Blackman is a terrific storyteller whose strongly drawn characters thrill young readers and draw them into dilemmas about love, loyalty, truth and violence

The Times

Expertly plotted and well-paced, Noble Conflict also touches on telepathy and the ability to turn memory into reality

Independent

A tense plot, convincing world and sassy dialogue demonstrate exceptional storytelling skill

Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times

Noble Conflict is a very enjoyable piece of literature. Whilst it must have been very tempting to draw from other dystopian fiction and cinema, Blackman instead draws more from taking the idea of terrorism and exploring how it might actually evolve in the future. This set up allows for a very interesting cat and mouse narrative . . . A very entertaining book; it takes a very relevant topic and, with a strong narrative and lead character, allows the reader to question the arguments of each side and judge who the real villains are

Starburst

A powerful story

Big Issue

The new UK Children's Laureate, Malorie Blackman, doesn't disappoint with her teen novel . . . a powerful examination of war, loyalty and love

Irish Independent

A satisfying meld of fantasy and reality which will absorb readers of either sex

Carousel

A thrilling, powerful, page-turning story of love, violence and betrayal, that will stay with teen readers long after they finish it

Mumsnet

A thought-provoking novel which makes us all think about what we accept and what we really want. It doesn't pull any punches but there are touches of humour to lighten the story

Parents in Touch

A gripping, conspiracy-filled read

Children's Books Ireland