Esther Mettlestone-Staranise (cousin to Bronte) is looking forward to another year at Katherine Valley Boarding School. But she arrives to find a number of strange and unsettling changes. Her new teacher is rumoured to be an Ogre. The mountains surrounding the school - usually a delight of glaciers, teashops, lakes and Faeries - are now crowded with wicked Shadow Mages.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the kingdom, the little Prince of Cloudburst who was stolen from the seashore by a Water Sprite, has found his way home. The King and Queen are planning the biggest party in their Kingdom's history to welcome him.

As secrets and dangers escalate, Esther - who is not talented like her sisters, nor an adventurer like her cousin - must find answers to several puzzles. Why is her teacher behaving so oddly? Which of Esther's classmates is the Spellbinder? And could the Stolen Prince of Cloudburst be connected in some way...?

Perhaps Esther is more talented than she thinks as she must battle to save her school, her family, and possibly her whole world... Esther Mettlestone-Staranise (cousin to Bronte) is looking forward to another year at Katherine Valley Boarding School. But she arrives to find a number of strange and unsettling changes. Her new teacher is rumoured to be an Ogre. The mountains surrounding the school - usually a delight of glaciers, teashops, lakes and Faeries - are now crowded with wicked Shadow Mages.

Esther, stuck between two talented and brave sisters, is looking forward to returning to boarding school - but when she arrives, she discovers some strange and unsettling changes; when the school and her family are thrown into terrible danger, it becomes her responsibility to save them all and Esther discovers courage and talents of her very own.

About the Author

Jaclyn Moriarty is the best-selling author of many novels for children, young adults and adults. She has been the recipient of the NSW Premier's Literary Award, the Queensland Literary Award, and the Aurealis Award for Fantasy. Her books have been named Boston Globe Honor Books, White Raven selections and Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association.

Jaclyn grew up in Sydney, Australia with four sisters (including authors Liane and Nicola Moriarty), one brother, two dogs and twelve chickens. She has lived in the US, UK and Canada, but now lives in Sydney again, along with her son, Charlie. She is very fond of chocolate, blueberries and sleep.

Reviews
This title, like its siblings, is a perfectly accessible stand-alone, although, together, they give a deeper immersion and lay the groundwork of something like a middle-grade version of Terry Pratchett's Discworld-fantasy adventure steeped in humor, with a touch of satire, and set in a whimsical secondary world of the highest order. * The Booklist *
There's a lot packed into this sweet tale told in a deceptively simple, authentic 12-year-old voice. Without devolving into a didactic tone, this novel addresses the concept of safe adults, the danger of comparing oneself to others, the importance of telling the truth and standing up to bullies, and the value of apologizing. Readers can return to this text over and over, and always discover something new.VERDICT A delightfully quirky story with nuance, depth, and a colorful cast of characters, this book begs for multiple readings. * School Library Journal *
Splendidly entertaining * Kirkus *



Book Information
ISBN 9781913101510
Author Jaclyn Moriarty
Format Hardback
Page Count 448
Imprint Guppy Publishing Ltd
Publisher Guppy Publishing Ltd
Weight(grams) 410g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 135mm * 36mm