Fantasy

Fantasy genre

The Shadow World

Ben Arnold had hoped that exposing Mr. Dodds’s vile Pet Emporium — abusiness that stole magical creatures from Eidolon to sell to England’s rich and curious — would prevent the Secret Country from fading away into ruin. However, it soon becomes clear that the evil, dog-headed Dodman’s reign of terror has only just begun. Ben’s mother, Queen Isadora, returns to her homeland to lead its creatures against the Dodman. Unwilling to be left behind, Ben’s sister, Ellie, crosses into the Secret Country and walks straight into a trap. Ben and his father follow close behind, and soon the entire Arnold family is scattered across Eidolon’s magical and dangerous terrain. The Arnold children are destined to save the Secret Country, but first they must save each other.

The Lion Hunter (The Mark Of Solomon)

It is the sixth century in Aksum, Africa. Young Telemakos—King Arthur’s half-Ethiopian grandson—is still recovering from his ordeal as a government spy in the far desert, trying to learn who was breaking the Emperor’s plague quarantine. Before he is fully himself again, tragedy and menace strike, and he finds himself sent, with his baby sister, Athena, to live with Abreha, the ruler of Himyar—a longtime enemy of the Aksumites, now perhaps a friend. His aunt Goewin, Arthur’s daughter, warns him that Abreha is a man to be wary of, someone to watch carefully. Telemakos promises he will be mindful—but he does not realize that Goewin’s warnings are not enough to protect him. The Sunbird was the first book about Telemakos. The Lion Hunter continues his story, to be quickly followed by The Empty Kingdom—a two-book sequence called The Mark of Solomon.

Thumbelina Of Toulaba

This retelling of the H. C. Andersen fairy tale is set on an imaginary island in the Carribean.  A tiny girl is stolen from her loving mother and many siblings, has adventures with a wise caiman, an injured bird of paradise, and other exotic creatures, and learns how to say no while fending off suitors. Includes a glossary of plants and animals.

The Icebound Land: Ranger’s Apprentice

Kidnapped after the fierce battle with Lord Morgarath, Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia as captives aboard a fearsome wolfship. Halt has sworn to rescue Will, and he will do anything to keep his promise—even defy his King. Expelled from the Rangers he has served so loyally, Halt is joined by Will’s friend Horace as he travels toward Skandia. On their way, they are challenged constantly by freelance knights—but Horace knows a thing or two about combat. Soon he begins to attract the attention of knights and warlords for miles around with his uncanny skill.

Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest

Samuel and Martha have just moved to Norway to live with their aunt Eda, and she’s taking some getting used to. She has too many rules, no TV, and insists that they eat local delicacies like brown cheese and reindeer soup. And then there’s the most peculiar thing about her—her irrational fear of her own backyard. Sure, Uncle Henrik hasn’t been heard from since he disappeared into it ten years ago, but that can’t be the forest’s fault.Samuel is skeptical, until he disobeys Rule #1—Never go up to the attic—and finds an unusual book: The Creatures of Shadow Forest, which gives scary descriptions of the fantastic creatures supposedly living in the forest. So when Sam starts seeing strange things venture past the treeline after dark, he can’t help wondering: Could Aunt Eda be right? What really happened to Uncle Henrik?

Here Be Monsters!

Skulduggery is afoot!Welcome to Ratbridge. But beware — for there is skulduggery afoot. Young Arthur has fallen foul of the appalling outlaw, Snatcher, and is trapped alone in the town with every way home sealed. Meanwhile Snatcher and his men are working tirelessly in secret on a fiendish and dastardly plan to take over — and destroy — the entire town. With the help of Willbury Nibble, QC; some friendly boxtrolls and cabbageheads; Marjorie the frustrated inventor; and the rats and pirates from the Ratbridge Nautical Laundry, can Arthur thwart Snatcher’s evil plans and find his way home?