Spellfall (Earthaven) - Softcover

Roberts, Katherine

Softcover

ISBN 10: 153468154X ISBN 13: 9781534681545

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

Synopsis

Natalie saw the first spell in the supermarket car park. She was wet and cold and had better things to do than pick up someone else's litter. But the trap had been baited by one who knew a lot more about spells than she did...

Snatched from her family and stranded in another world, can Natalie persuade her kidnapper's son Merlin to help her escape in time to save the enchanted land of Earthaven, where unicorns roam and giant trees provide sanctuary for her mother's soul?

Originally published by Chicken House/Scholastic in 2001, Spellfall was selected by American independent booksellers as the "book most likely to fill the Harry Potter void this fall", and now there's a sequel! Natalie and her friends return to Earthaven in Book 2 Spell Spring.

"A thrilling and fast-paced fantasy adventure with shades of Tolkien and Pullman. Superb." The Bookseller.

About this title

Review

On a gray, rainy day in England, 12-year-old Natalie crosses a sodden supermarket parking lot carrying a bag of empty beer bottles for the recycling bin. Her attention is caught by a colorful piece of crumpled metallic paper in a puddle. Curious, she picks it up. From this prosaic opening bursts a story that whirls off on wings of fantasy as the bit of litter turns out to be a spell planted by Hawk (the sinister leader of a band of outlaw spellmages) as bait to trap Natalie into becoming the essential 13th member of their spellclave. Halloween approaches, and, during the 24 hours of the Opening, the outlaws plan an assault on the society of true mages who live within a gigantic spelltree in Unicorn Wood. Four teenagers--Natalie, her stepbrother, Tim, her best friend, Jo, and Hawk's fearful son, Merlin--are catapulted into the conflicts of this magical world that lies just outside of ordinary reality. At the same time, while they deal with kidnapping, black magic, unicorns, animal familiars, and the ultimate chemical weapon, they work out more ordinary problems with parents and each other. Hardcore fantasy fans will enjoy the complexities of this intricate and fast-moving tale. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell

About the Author

Katherine Roberts is an English author with a bit of Welsh and Spanish blood too. She won the Branford Boase Award in 2000 for her debut novel SONG QUEST and has been writing her own blend of fantasy, legend and myth for young readers ever since.

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 153468154X
• ISBN 13: 9781534681545
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 268