Description

Saffi doesn’t want her new life, living with her dad, little brother and old-fashioned grandparents in their B&B by the sea. She is grieving for her mum and longs for things to go back to normal.
But this new home is anything but normal: the walls change colour, a face appears in the mirror, and the pantry is suddenly filled with fancy food. When a party of extraordinary visitors arrive at midnight, Saffi begins to realise that her family has a dark, magical secret. It will take all her bravery to discover the truth and find a way into another world…

Cover art by Sharon King-Chai

Publisher Review

“A delightfully eerie mystery that explores complicated family histories. A twisty tale of fairy folklore and what it means to stand betwixt and between” — Skye McKenna “Majestic, in the tradition of Garner and Cooper. A debut with real magic in its pages” — Sinead O’Hart “What a gorgeous story! The setting felt inventive, while leaning into traditional folktales. The family dynamic was complex and nuanced, but totally sympathetically done. I was gripped by the story and characters and raced through the final chapters. A brilliant book for young readers” — Elen Caldecott “Set in a quiet English seaside town, this warm fantasy rises like a wave, with grief, family, and colonialism as backdrops to dangerous bargains with magic. Starring a brave girl trying to both discover the truth and protect her younger brother, this delightful contemporary take on fairy legends also poses questions of how to recognize – and atone for – a troubled past” — Diane Magras “I LOVED this book – a magical tale weaving together fairy and folk tales and posing questions about colonial legacies, families, and friendships” — Sarah Brooks