Full of the kind of magic a day-dreaming child longs for – a brilliant mix of animals, adventure and magic. This is the first of a charming and funny fantasy adventure from a fabulous new talent, the second, The Shadow World is already published and the third Dragon’s Fire is hot off the press. A trip to the local pet shop is just the start of an amazing adventure for Ben, an ordinary boy just like other boys the world over, who meets a talking cat called Iggy. Iggy is desperate to escape the clutches of the cruel pet shop owner and he longs for his home, which is a magical and inventive secret country called Eidolon full of dragons, sprites and centaurs. However this spectacular shadow world is dying slowly as these magical creatures are being stolen and taken to Ben’s world. Something must be done and it’s left to Iggy and Ben to make amends but there is danger at every turn.
The first book of the three part Eidolon Chronicles series that includes The Secret Country, The Shadow World, and Dragon's Fire. Ben has been saving for weeks to buy the Mongolian fighting fish he's seen in the local pet shop. But on entering Mr Dodds' Pet Emporium, a small cat hooks his claws into Ben's jumper and begs to be bought. The cat tells Ben that Mr Dodds is importing rare magical beasts into this world and he needs his help to save them. Like fish out of water, they are dying in this world, away from their magical land. A parallel world, Eidolon, exists as a neighbour to our own and is filled with magic and magical creatures, like dragons, selkies, sabre-toothed tigers and faeries. With his new friend, Iggy the talking cat, Ben travels between the worlds and helps some of these amazing creatures return home. On his journey he makes loyal friends, encounters danger and adventure and discovers his own royal lineage in the Secret Country.
'With fresh and funny dialogue between the talking animals, there is bags of child appeal here.' Bookseller Previews
'If you love pets, adventure and magic, you'll love this book! 5 out of 5.' KRAZE CLUB MAGAZINE
Author
About Jane Johnson
Jane Johnson is the Publisher of HarperCollins' science fiction and fantasy list, Voyager. She has been involved in the publishing of JRR Tolkien's works for many years and is the author of the official Visual Companions to Peter Jackson's movie trilogy of The Lord Of The Rings. She has written adult novels as both Gabriel King and Jude Fisher, but the Secret Country books are her first for children. She lives in South London and Cornwall, with her two cats.
