Description

The perfect gift: a spellbinding story from the Sunday
Times-bestselling author of The Girl of Ink & Stars, winner
of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.’A story
bursting with imagination, sparkle and tender heart … I adored
it!’ JASBINDER BILAN

‘Both souful poetry and thrilling adventure; powerful and
delicate, chilling and comforting’ SOPHIE ANDERSON

‘Ripping propulsive plot, gorgeous imagery, floating fairytale
prose … absolutely loved it’ ROSS MONTGOMERY

In an Italian city ravaged by plague, Sofia’s mother carves beautiful
mementoes from the bones of loved ones. But one day, she
doesn’t return home. Did her work lead her into danger?

Sofia and her little brother Ermin are sent to the convent orphanage
but soon escape, led by an enigmatic new friend and their
pet crow, Corvith.

Together they cross the city underground, following clues in bones
up to the towers of Siena, where – circled by magpies – the
children find the terrible truth …

The fourth children’s novel by Times number
one bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave, winner of the Waterstones
Children’s Book Prize and the British Book Awards Children’s
Book of the Year

From the author of The Island at the End of Everything,
The Way Past Winter, Julia and the Shark
and The Mercies – chosen for the Richard & Judy Book
Club

A darkly beautiful historical novel featuring Kiran’s
trademark magical realism and an enthralling mystery

Longlisted for the Diverse Book Awards 2021