Set in the world of New York Times bestseller Seraphina, a boy on the run from a dragon — among other dangers — seeks refuge in a haunted abbey in this wholly original YA ghost story about what haunts us, and what connects us, now available in paperback.
A few things to know about the town of St. Muckle's: It's too out-of-the-way to interest greedy lords, and too damp and muddy for marauding dragons to burn. And anyone, from a humble serf to a runaway nun, may earn their freedom by living for a year and a day within the town walls. Seven years ago, Charl and his mother fled to St. Muckle's and made it their safe-haven, building a new life in this so-called Peasant's Paradise. But when Charl sees something impossible — a ghost — soon the embers of his past are threatening to engulf his world in flames. A tragic accident is quickly followed by murder, a deadly plague, and a mercenary dragon.
Charl manages to escape to an abandoned abbey outside of town, but finds no safety within those ruined walls. A treacherous nun, a chorus of murdered girls, and the fearsome Battle Bishop await, ready to ensnare him in a complex web of history, magic, and fate. For some things should never be forgotten, however much they haunt us, and Charl will need all his wisdom and resiliency if he is to fight for the world he knows . . . and the people he calls home.
Discover more critically acclaimed fantasy from Rachel Hartman!
Seraphina
Shadow Scale
Tess of the Road
In the Serpent's Wake
A story of all the ghosts that manifest in life
"Book review: 4/5 ⭐️ Genre: YA fantasy, middle grade Themes: ghosts, memory, hauntings, morality 📖 Read if you like: Elle Enchanted This is a story about ghosts, those that manifest themselves in your memory and those that take a more corporeal form. It is a moving and heartfelt journey of discovery of a young boy deciding what type of man he wants to be and what he will be willing to do for those he loves. Well Charl really can’t help but care about everyone, even the bullies and the spies trying to kidnap him. Even if he is relatively powerless, he has a strong will to do what is right and stand in opposition to literal dragons. It is a YA novel with creative fantasy elements and a rather heartfelt moral compass. While perhaps catered to a younger audience with a youthful MC, it proved thought provoking for older readers. Set in the small town of St. Muckle, we find a young Charl with his mother, a former knight named Aris, and a wise teacher who goes by Sister Agnes. A place full of mud and runaways, where any may find their freedom by living there for a year and one day. This Peasant’s Paradise has been living in quiet obscurity, but that is all about to change with death, a plague and a mercenary dragon wreathing the town in flames. When Charl manages to escape the mayhem to a supposedly abandoned abbey, he finds an unexpected motley of fearsome beings. A treacherous nun, a group of murdered girls, a bloody baron, an amnesiac murderous dragon and a spy operating in the shadows make for an interesting playground. A place where wisdom, resiliency and compassion will be needed for survival. The omnipresent ghosts provided an eerie world where nightmares are relived, but forgetting your darkest moments can be equally problematic. Added to this medieval landscape where one religion has sought control over the pagans, is a small town under siege by evil powers. A mastermind who seeks to destroy not only the body, but the hope of a small town in order to vilify an idealist. It may have been slower in pace, but there were so many different concurrent storylines and thoughtful insights. A reminder that wisdom and doing what is right are not always aligned, just that those who are foolish are not always in the wrong. The paranormal meets the real world in this curious and rather dark tale that weaves together history, magic and determination. Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and the author for this gifted copy."
