📖 Overview
Susan Price is an English author of children's and young adult literature who has written over 60 books since beginning her career. Her work spans multiple genres including fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and folklore retellings, with many of her stories drawing inspiration from her Black Country roots in the English Midlands.
Price achieved significant recognition when her novel "The Ghost Drum" (1987), an original fairy tale incorporating elements of Russian history and folklore, won the Carnegie Medal. Another notable work is "The Sterkarm Handshake" (1998), and she has also been awarded the Guardian Prize for British children's books.
Coming from a working-class background in Dudley, Price began writing while working various jobs including supermarket and kitchen work. Her connection to the industrial heritage of the Black Country region has influenced her writing, which often reflects the area's rich history and geological character.
Price has maintained an active role in literary education, serving as a Royal Literary Fund fellow at De Montfort University. Her work continues to receive attention, with "The Ghost Drum" being reissued in 2024 and recognized as an important contribution to children's literature.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Price's rich folklore reimaginings and atmospheric fantasy writing, particularly in works like "The Ghost Drum" and "The Sterkarm Handshake." Many cite her ability to blend historical detail with fantasy elements without slowing the narrative pace.
Common points of appreciation:
- Complex female protagonists
- Detailed historical research
- Dark, unsentimental tone
- Time travel elements that avoid common tropes
Main criticisms:
- Some find her pacing too slow
- Violence levels in the Sterkarm series concern some YA readers
- Later series books receive lower ratings than first entries
Ratings:
Goodreads:
The Ghost Drum - 4.1/5 (289 ratings)
The Sterkarm Handshake - 4.0/5 (511 ratings)
The Sterkarm Kiss - 3.8/5 (226 ratings)
Amazon:
The Ghost Drum - 4.3/5 (31 reviews)
The Sterkarm Handshake - 4.4/5 (48 reviews)
Review volume remains relatively low across platforms, though ratings trend positive among core fantasy/historical fiction readers.
📚 Books by Susan Price
The Ghost Drum
A fantasy novel set in a world inspired by Russian folklore, following a witch's daughter who becomes a powerful sorceress in a realm where czars rule with cruelty.
The Sterkarm Handshake A science fiction story about a 21st-century corporation that discovers a time tube leading to 16th-century Scotland, where they encounter the dangerous Sterkarm clan.
The Sterkarm Handshake A science fiction story about a 21st-century corporation that discovers a time tube leading to 16th-century Scotland, where they encounter the dangerous Sterkarm clan.
👥 Similar authors
Diana Wynne Jones writes fantasy that mixes folklore with modern settings and complex magical systems. Her work spans children's and young adult categories, with stories that layer multiple plot threads and dimensions.
Alan Garner draws heavily from British folklore and creates stories rooted in specific geographical locations. His work connects ancient myths with contemporary settings while exploring themes of time and place.
Joan Aiken combines historical fiction with fantasy elements and creates alternative historical timelines. Her stories feature strong female protagonists and incorporate British folklore in unexpected ways.
Nicholas Stuart Gray writes fantasy that draws from folklore and fairy tales with particular focus on supernatural creatures. His work explores complex moral themes while maintaining traditional fairy tale structures.
Rosemary Sutcliff specializes in historical fiction set in Britain, particularly focused on Roman and Celtic periods. Her work emphasizes historical accuracy while telling stories through the perspectives of young protagonists.
Alan Garner draws heavily from British folklore and creates stories rooted in specific geographical locations. His work connects ancient myths with contemporary settings while exploring themes of time and place.
Joan Aiken combines historical fiction with fantasy elements and creates alternative historical timelines. Her stories feature strong female protagonists and incorporate British folklore in unexpected ways.
Nicholas Stuart Gray writes fantasy that draws from folklore and fairy tales with particular focus on supernatural creatures. His work explores complex moral themes while maintaining traditional fairy tale structures.
Rosemary Sutcliff specializes in historical fiction set in Britain, particularly focused on Roman and Celtic periods. Her work emphasizes historical accuracy while telling stories through the perspectives of young protagonists.