"Fairy folklore, family secrets, and dual-heritage identity — this modern fantasy adventure is a myth-laden Middle Grade treasure."
Tingling with tremendous atmosphere, Victoria M. Adams’ The House at the End of the Sea sees a pair of siblings uncover eerie family secrets in the wake of their mother’s death.
Saffi and her little bother Milo are struggling with losing their mum, and terribly unhappy when their dad uproots them from their London home to live with their grandparents in their B&B by the sea. But soon after arriving, they notice all manner of strange things in the house — the sound of guests who aren’t apparently there, walls that change colour, and a mysterious face in a mirror.
After finding an ally and friend in local boy Birdy, Saffi uncovers secrets related to her ancestor, Sir Henry — a man who went to India to make his fortune and “did a bad thing to get it”. When the bad thing comes to light and Saffi realises it still has an eerie hold over her family, she must dig deep to find the courage to snap the spell.
Alongside being a thoroughly menacing mystery that throngs with fairy folklore and the repercussions of an ancestral pact, The House at the End of the Sea is also cleverly multi- layered as it explores grief, dual-heritage identity and colonialism through the lens of an atmospheric story.
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Saffi discovers her family has a portal to fairyland, and a long, dark past of serving the Fairy Queen. Can she find the courage to break the spell that holds her family in the Queen's thrall?
Saffi doesn't want her new life, living with her dad, little brother and old-fashioned grandparents in their B&B by the sea. She is grieving for her mum and longs for things to go back to normal. But this new home is anything but normal: the walls change colour, a face appears in the mirror, and the pantry is suddenly filled with fancy food.
When a party of extraordinary visitors arrive at midnight, Saffi begins to realise that her family has a dark, magical secret. It will take all her bravery to discover the truth and find a way into another world...
A classic fantasy adventure with a modern twist, exploring themesof colonialism, dual heritage identity and grief.Victoria M. Adams has drawn on ancient fairytales and myths aswell asher own experiences growing up with British and Iranian parents.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The House at the End of the Sea and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The House at the End of the Sea features in the following genres: Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Mystery / Mythology, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, PSHE: Bereavement and Grief, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Romance / Relationship Stories, Stories about Family and Friends, Featured Books for 9+ readers
The House at the End of the Sea is available in Paperback
The House at the End of the Sea was written by Victoria M. Adams and published by Andersen Press Ltd
The House at the End of the Sea has 246 pages
£7.19
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