'Ora waded frantically toward the shore. She didn't need to look over her shoulder to know what was there. The surface of the lake bulged into a long, smooth mound that hurled itself after her, faster than a galloping horse...'

Quickwater Lake is a black as night, a dark jewel in the heart of Folavia. But it is deadly, and only one person - baby Ora - has survived the quickwater. Now almost fifteen, Ora is drawn into the natural world beyond the castle gates ... and something in the lake is calling to her. Soon she is caught up in a web of betrayal that threatens the very existence of the Kingdom. Ora must confront the King's terrible secret and discover the truth about the Shaedow Master before her world is torn apart.

A stunning new mythical adventure, set in a troubled world where one young girl may hold the key to healing old wounds and restoring life to the drought-ridden land, this is a book to set alongside Philip Pullman, William Nicholson and Ursula Le Guin.

What readers say:

'Absorbing, magical, mind-blowing! I became so attached to the characters. It was as if I had known them all my life and the book had absorbed me into their world.'

Lucy Prentice, 14

'Mystery on every page and always keeps you thinking. A great book for kids aged between 10 and 16.'

Jason Saville, 16

'Fantastic! As good or better than Harry Potter.'

Hugh Brown, 15

'I read it in 5 hours straight. I was up till 1am. on a school night because I couldn't stop reading.'

Kandy Kasinee Potts, 13

'Absolutely fantastic. A perfect and unique mix of everything a great fantasy book needs. I loved it and so will you.'

Lyndon Riggall, 13