The sun never shines in the land of Anglavia. Its
people live within a constant mist created by their rulers, the cruel Agromond
family. But things are about to change, for the youngest at Agromond Castle is
not like the others…
Fiery-headed Jemma has always felt like the misfit
at gloomy Agromond Castle. The night before her thirteenth birthday, she
discovers why. She is not who she thinks she is. She has magical powers she
knows nothing about—and her life is in danger. With the Agromonds in pursuit,
she flees into the Mist.
But escape is just the beginning. Ghosts and
outcasts, a pair of crystals and a mysterious book reveal the truth about Jemma’s
past, while an ancient prophecy claims she has a dangerous destiny to
fulfill—one that the Agromonds are determined to prevent…
With her trusted friend, Digby, and her two telepathic golden rats, Noodle
and Pie, Jemma faces human and
supernatural enemies. Then, just as the worst seems to be over, the Agromond
evil takes a nastier turn. And Jemma, with
her emerging powers, might be only hope for a kingdom in peril.
Richly atmospheric, this first novel paints a vivid picture of a heroine
strong in her convictions and determination in the face of a
centuries-old adversarial power. ~ BooklistVideo review by 12-year old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqV6aAPPKAk
Blogger reviews:
Kit Grindstaff's debut novel is stunning. Dark, action-packed, with a strong female heroine and intricate, original worldbuilding (wait until you discover the source of the Agromonds' power), this is the kind of novel fantasy lovers will take to heart. ~ Blogger Joanne
I loved the characters, I think they all had very realistic, well-defined personalities, and it was a great read. ~ On Emily's Bookshelf
…the kind of fantasy that made me want to read fantasy in the first place. ~ Readingful Things
Grindstaff's writing is crisp and neat and pulls you in to the pages so that you can imagine everything completely - you will not want to put the book down. ~ Reader’s Heartstring
Reader reviews
This is probably the best book I have ever read! It made me laugh and cry and think about a lot of matters that face the world today. ~ Beth Macek
A wonderful read - and one that will have readers hoping for a sequel. ~ Librarian Leslie
If you love fantasy and a strong heroine than please put this on your list! These are the types of books I love to buy for my daughters! A great read with a fantastic main character on a dangerous journey and a superb setting! I wanted more as soon as I was finished. ~ Sunny in DC