"A truly magical new adventure from the creator of Podkin One-Ear."
November 2024 Book of the Month
Set in an otherworld England, in which Lady Jane Grey became queen and where her descendants still rule alongside six magical Guilds, Kieran Larwood’s new story is bursting with magic, intrigue and excitement.
Sickly, bullied orphan Jed Greenleaf is as surprised as anyone to discover that he is a member of the Guild of Leaf, with the magical ability to transform his skin into the rough, solid bark of an oak tree. Competing at the Arthanfest trials alongside members from the other Guilds, he finds out that Iron and Fire are cheating, and this realisation puts him and his gentle new Leaf friends in deadly danger.
Can Jed prevent Albion falling into the power of these ruthless Guilds for ever, or can he restore the older, juster way of things? In his efforts, he discovers he has even more power than anyone realised, and is helped by Hobb, a merry and very, very old dryad.
This self-contained story is a wonderful adventure and feels as though it has sprung from ancient folktales particular to our green and pleasant land. As fresh as the brightest green shoots and as sturdy as the oldest oak, this is a wonderful piece of storytelling.
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