The Language of the Birds: A Novel
K.A. Merson
May 2025 · Sold by Ballantine Books
4.0star
2 reviews
Ebook
368
Pages
family_home
Eligible
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About this ebook
A gifted but idiosyncratic teenager must unlock fiendish puzzles, pore through occult texts, and unearth buried clues—all while reckoning with the outside world in ways she never has before—as she pursues an ancient secret in this brainteasing, YA/adult conspiracy thriller.
When Arizona learns her mother’s been kidnapped and finds a cryptic test accompanying the ransom note, she has no idea that she’s just been enlisted in a treasure hunt, on the trail of an occult, centuries-old secret her father supposedly took to his grave. And if the prize at the end is real, it could shake the world.
Following a trail of cryptic clues across the remote American West, Arizona must use her unique skills and confront her greatest fears, all while staying one step ahead of those working against her as she races toward the dark and dangerous secret that is The Language of the Birds.
“A wondrous unstoppable read, knitted with bookish ciphers and puzzles, alchemy and poetics, all starring a brave, funny, unfiltered young woman whose differences are her greatest gifts—and the keys to deciphering some very dark secrets.”—Matthew Sullivan, bestselling author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
“A high-stakes treasure hunt and an intricate puzzle box of a novel filled with hope, history, and all kinds of heart.”—Ernest Cline, bestselling author of Ready Player One
When Arizona learns her mother’s been kidnapped and finds a cryptic test accompanying the ransom note, she has no idea that she’s just been enlisted in a treasure hunt, on the trail of an occult, centuries-old secret her father supposedly took to his grave. And if the prize at the end is real, it could shake the world.
Following a trail of cryptic clues across the remote American West, Arizona must use her unique skills and confront her greatest fears, all while staying one step ahead of those working against her as she races toward the dark and dangerous secret that is The Language of the Birds.
“A wondrous unstoppable read, knitted with bookish ciphers and puzzles, alchemy and poetics, all starring a brave, funny, unfiltered young woman whose differences are her greatest gifts—and the keys to deciphering some very dark secrets.”—Matthew Sullivan, bestselling author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
“A high-stakes treasure hunt and an intricate puzzle box of a novel filled with hope, history, and all kinds of heart.”—Ernest Cline, bestselling author of Ready Player One
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Ratings and reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Carvanz
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May 15, 2025
Wow! This turned out to be far more intricate than I anticipated. It’s packed with cryptograms, riddles, and a mystery woven from history. I absolutely loved the main character, Arizona—she was refreshingly unique, and I really appreciated how the author brought her to life. It didn’t take long before I was rooting for her.
Linda Dossett
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May 13, 2025
This is a difficult book to rate and review. I found it dry and lacking depth, I could not associate with the characters. The puzzles are interesting but by the end I found my interest lagging. I am sure some readers will enjoy this story, just not for me.
About the author
K. A. Merson is a vaguely reclusive writer who lives in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, along with a patient spouse, a malevolent boxer dog, and an Airstream trailer.
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