Description

‘Enchanting, immersive and beautifully imagined. Once I’d finished, I couldn’t stop dreaming of this magnificent magical world’ A.F. Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

‘Spellbinding storytelling – lyrical, heartfelt, and glittering with possibilities’ Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs

‘Intricately-woven and wholly authentic.’ Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocketful of Stars

My own Yara, if you are reading this, then something terrible has happened, and you are on your own. To return to the city of Zehaira, you must read out the words on the back of this letter . . . Good luck, my brave girl.

When Yara’s mother passes away, she leaves behind a letter and a strange set of instructions. Yara must travel from the home she has always known to a place that is not on any map – Zehaira, a world of sorcerers, alchemists and simmering magic. But Zehaira is not the land it used to be. The practice of magic has been outlawed, the Sultan’s alchemists are plotting a sinister scheme – and the answers Yara is searching for seem to be out of reach.
Yara must summon all of her courage to discover the truth about her mother’s past and her own identity . . . and to find her place in this magical new world.

A breathtaking adventure for fans of Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sophie Anderson and Eva Ibbotson – perfect for intrepid young explorers age 9+!

Publisher Review

“Spellbinding storytelling – lyrical, heartfelt, and glittering with possibilities.” — Sophie Anderson * author of The House with Chicken Legs * “A stunning story of the power of words and standing up for what’s right. Absolutely magnificent.” — Lizzie Huxley-Jones “Intricately-woven and wholly authentic.” — Aisha Bushby * author of A Pocket Full of Stars * “Pure alchemy on the page, every word woven with a spell of enchantment. I can’t wait for a return trip to Zehaira.” — Zillah Bethell “A beautiful book. Sumptuous and compelling, it had me gripped from the very first page. A magical thing.” — Joanna Nadin “Lyrical prose, strong characters and an utterly enchanting magical world.” — Abi Elphinstone “Utterly mesmerising. I loved journeying with Yara!” — A.M. Dassu “Beautifully written and utterly captivating – I loved it!” — Sarah Crossan “Steeped in elemental magic and myth, with brilliantly real characters and breath-catching tension, this is storytelling readers won’t want to miss.” — Sarah Driver * author of The Huntress Trilogy * “One of the best children’s fantasy debuts I’ve read in years.” — Anna James * author of the Pages & Co Series * “A glorious debut brimming with magic and warmth. The Kingdom Over The Sea dazzled me every time I turned the page.” — Natasha Hastings “Undoubtably a classic in the making. A rich, magical world that any child would long to get lost in.” — Sarah Underwood