From the author of Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy comes the story of a girl struggling to navigate the twists and turns of a destiny she never knew she was meant for, set against the backdrop of a vividly realized Victorian England.
Annabel Grey is a proper young lady. She knows everything there is to know about high society life, from ballrooms to curtsies, and her biggest worry is whether or not she’ll receive those long-coveted emerald green ice skates for her 13th birthday. But Annabel’s carefree life is snatched away one fateful day when her mother suddenly announces that she must go abroad, leaving Annabel with two mysterious old aunts she’s never met before. Just like that, our unlikely heroine finds herself plunged into a world of magic she never knew existed, with the weight of its future resting entirely on her shoulders. But with the help of a wild girl who possesses some unknown magic of her own and a foul-smelling, twinkle-eyed troll, Annabel just might be able to defeat the dark forces threatening the existence of good magic, and even find a way to embrace the power within herself.
At the heart of this fast-paced fantasy adventure lies the story of a girl trying to figure out just who she is, where she comes from and where she should go from there. It’s a coming-of-age story with charming characters, excellent world-building rich in folklore, a relatable heroine worth rooting for, a dastardly villain and more than a touch of magic. This story will take readers on an extraordinary journey, all the while reminding them that true magic lies in everyday acts of friendship and kindness.
