Join LoveReading4Schools Editorial Expert Joy Court in conversation with Anna James, author of the much loved Pages & Co series, the wonderfully reimagined Alice with a Why, and now introducing her newest creation The Chronicles of Whetherwhy.

The Chronicles of Whetherwhy - the series so far....

The Age of Enchantment

The first in this brand-new fantasy series from acclaimed author Anna James. In Whetherwhy, everyone has magic inside them - grown from the changing seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. But a rare few are Enchanters: people born with magic in their bones, who can wield all four seasons of magic.

When Juniper discovers she is an Enchanter, she is invited to study at Thistledown Academy. Unwilling to be left behind, her twin brother, Rafferty, follows her to the capital city of Stormgrove and takes up an apprenticeship at a bookbindery.

As Juniper learns to wield enchantment, Rafferty becomes involved with a mysterious secret society that meets after dark. Monsters are creeping out of the shadows and dangers lurk in unexpected places. Amid night markets and magic lessons, the twins realise there is more to enchantment than they ever imagined - and the adventure that follows brings their paths together again in ways they could never have expected …

The Season of Flames

The second book in the Chronicles of Whetherwhy series brings a magical quest to the very edges of Whetherwhy. At the magical Circus Astra, Elio helps his father look after Tangles - miniature tigers, mice with butterfly wings and a peacock made of ice crystals. Always on the move, the circus puts on incredible performances across the land of Whetherwhy under the stern eye of their ringleader Stella.

But after the arrival of mysterious visitors to one of their performances, Elio discovers that he has something the queen of Whetherwhy wants, something she will stop at nothing to get. Elio must leave the circus behind and team up with some unexpected friends, on a journey that will take him to the very edges of the map … and to discoveries that will change everything: for himself, and for all of Whetherwhy.

Joy wrote, "One of the things I loved about the first book was the unusual framing of the story, with an unknown gentleman reading to his eager grandchildren from the actual Chronicles of Whetherwhy, and how the story is interspersed with little pauses in the adventure, where they discuss what is happening and what will happen next. 

There are nail biting adventures ahead with plenty of twists and turns and the thrilling reappearance of dragons, which will have readers anxiously awaiting book three. I cannot wait to find out where the story goes from here, but I am hoping that we also find out just why the grandfather figure has the actual Chronicles to read to his grandchildren. Beautiful illustrations by the talented David Wyatt add to the attractiveness of this brilliant series for fantasy lovers."

Read Joy's full review here and you can download the first chapter of the book. 

The Chronicles of Whetherwhy can be read in any order, and will eventually include four stories - one for each of the seasons, all magically woven together.