A bewitching and powerful tale of sparkling magic, spellbinding mystery and a friendship worth risking everything for, perfect for fans of Tamzin Merchant, Abi Elphinstone and Anna James.

Several months after the Frost Fair cast its spell over London, best friends Thomasina and Anne are running their own sweet shop - and, truth be told, longing for adventure again.

Then the rumours begin - rumours of unexplained storms and catastrophic shipwrecks. And then disaster strikes, and their beloved friend Henry disappears: snatched by a mysterious creature, and dragged down into the depths of the River Thames.

Determined to save him, the girls venture into the deep, and discover the enchanting world of the Free Waters: a vast, glittering underwater city, home to mermaids and sirens. But the Free Waters are threatened by a monstrous and terrifying evil: the Sea Queen. It is she who has Henry in her clutches - and the girls must complete three treacherous and impossible magical tasks if they are to save his life . . .

An unputdownable and exciting new tale from the bestselling author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair.

New for 2024, the next adventure in the illustrated children's fantasy series

About the Author

Natasha Hastings was selected to join The London Library's Emerging Writers Programme in 2019. Currently working as a fundraiser, she started developing The Frost Fair while studying History at Cambridge University, where she focused on gender and mental illness. She became determined, while exploring these topics, to have the lives of working women form the heartbeat of The Frost Fair.

Alex T. Smith is an award-winning illustrator of children's books including the Claude series. He is a World Book Day Illustrator.

Reviews

Praise for The Miraculous Sweetmakers - The Frost Fair:

'A gloriously told, wonderfully wintry debut, Hastings' beautifully evocative historical novel is set during the Great Frost of 1683 and revolves around two girls drawn into the sinister world of a mysterious conjuror' Waterstones, Books of the Year 2022

'Spooky and haunting - what struck me most about this historical fiction/fantasy story for children was the high quality of the writing' Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl

"This is perfect for cosy readings on chilly nights" The Week Junior's Book of the Week

'An exciting and mysterious debut' Editor's Choice in The Bookseller

'A gripping, atmospheric, fantastical tale of atonement' Kirkus Magazine (USA)

'A great, fast-paced book full of adventure - and I feel lucky to have had my hands on a yet-to-be published copy' Books up North

'A haunting story of loss and of love, this book crackles with icy atmosphere' inews.co.uk, 30 best children's books for Christmas 2022

Included in the Mail on Sunday and Scottish Mail on Sunday's Children's recommendations for December 2022 (04/12/22).

Book Information
ISBN 9780008496111
Author Natasha Hastings
Imprint HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers