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  • Published: 14 May 2024
  • ISBN: 9781529177435
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $22.99

Our Hideous Progeny




For fans of gothic fiction, a widely praised debut novel that is both a homage to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and a thrilling feminist historical adventure.

A gripping gothic adventure inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The perfect spooky season read for fans of Shirley Jackson, Weyward by Emilia Hart and Rosie Andrews' The Leviathan.

'Darkly brilliant and sumptuously gothic, this atmospheric debut left me reeling' C.J. Cooke, bestselling author of THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES

‘A masterful work of Gothic horror that will leave readers on the edge of their seat.’ GLAMOUR

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BETTY TRASK PRIZE *THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE* EDMUND WHITE DEBUT PRIZE*THE LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD* LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT PRIZE

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Mary is the great-niece of Victor Frankenstein.

She knows her great uncle disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the Arctic, but she doesn't know why or how.

The 1850s is a time of discovery and London is ablaze with the latest scientific theories and debates. Mary, with a sharp mind and a sharper tongue, is keen to make her name in this world of science. But as a woman without wealth and connections, her options are limited.

The comes the discovery - among some old family papers, Mary finds notes that allude to the shocking truth behind her great-uncle's past. But might they also hold the key to her future?

Mary's quest takes her to the wilds of Scotland, an alluring ally, and a deadly chase with a rival who is out to steal her secret...

Deliciously gothic, inventive, queer, this subversive twist on a classic tale brims with adventure.


Praise for Our Hideous Progeny:

'Compelling and utterly absorbing ... an artfully crafted debut that echoes the dark essence of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein while maintaining a fascinating originality all of its own' Susan Stokes-Chapman, bestselling author of PANDORA

'A wonderful book; dark, passionate, multi-layered' Joanne Harris, bestselling author of CHOCOLAT

'Exquisitely written... a story worthy of Mary Shelley' Sean Lusk, bestselling author of THE SECOND SIGHT OF ZACHARY CLOUDESLEY

'A gripping Gothic tale of grief and ambition, passion and intrigue' Jess Kidd, author of THE HAUNTING SEASON and THE WINTER SPIRITS

  • Published: 14 May 2024
  • ISBN: 9781529177435
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $22.99

About the author

C.E. McGill

C.E. McGill was born in Scotland and raised in North Carolina. They are a recent graduate of NC State University. C.E. McGill's short fiction has appeared in Fantasy Magazine and Strange Constellations, and they are a two-time finalist for the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing. They now live back in Scotland.

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