Publication Date: 29 September 2022

The Blurb

Will believes in witches and the stories he’s grown up with – of mythical storm-lions, disappearing villages, and secret songs. Most of all, he believes the tales of magical treasure hidden in the Fens centuries ago. Treasure that he has to find, to solve the mystery of his Ma’s disappearance.

Then, in the eye of a storm, a witch arrives. She holds the key to finding the lost treasure – a powerful magical object that can summon storms. But someone else is searching for it too. If it falls into the wrong hands, Will’s beloved home could be destroyed, and with it, his chances of ever finding his ma.

Join Will on an epic quest filled with riddles, ruined towers, cloud cities and broomstick chases, on a journey to save everything he loves before time runs out.

The Review

Get yourself a warm drink, a big slice of cake, and clear an afternoon to read this astonishingly atmospheric adventure, that feels timeless, because once you start, you will not want to put it down.

Will cares deeply about the stories and songs passed down through the generations linking his family to the fens he and his family call home. While the stories and songs are linked to people who lived generations ago, they are seen as just that by most of the inhabitants of the Fens, but Will believes they are steeped in history, with a treasure to be discovered.

His friendship with Magda grows slowly, having had his trust broken before. He is quick to believe that she will abandon him when she no longer needs what he has to offer. Her steadfast refusal to give up on their search or Will, even when he doubts her, helps him to rebuild his faith in people.

Tim Tilley’s keen observations about the flora and fauna transport the reader to Will’s world, a time of rapid industrial growth, where motor cars are in their infancy. A strong environmental message about living in harmony with the natural world is woven effortlessly into this story of witches, wildlife, courage and hope. I’ll definitely be paying more attention to the clouds from now on.

Great for fans of:

• The Thirteenth Home Of Noah Bradley by Amber Lee Dodd
• A Pinch Of Magic by Michelle Harrison
• Lightning Falls by Amy Wilson

Huge thanks to Usborne for sending me an early proof copy. I can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy to see all of Tim’s illustrations throughout the book.