There are no witches, no dragons and no secrets in Quill, so how can Brim be trapped in the School for the Prevention of Witches with Rose, a royal dragon with an injured foot, and a large mystery to untangle? A delightfully pleasing whimsical fantasy adventure with more knots and snarls than a skein of wool suitable for readers who love the books of Cressida Cowell or Katrina Nannestad.
Here are the three Laws of Quill, carved in stone outside every town hall, and learnt by every schoolchild:
There shall be No Witches.
There shall be No Dragons.
There shall be NO SECRETS.
Ten-year-old Brim has been sent to the Quillian School for Prevention of Witches, but she's sure it's a mistake. It's true that she has tiny feathers sprouting from her elbows, and that she's the only person who remembers the odd-looking calf that has been following her. But she is most definitely Not a Witch.
Meanwhile, Queen Rose of Hallow has received reports of a secret weapon in the mountains of Quill, and goes to investigate. Alone. Luckily, she's not just a twelve-year-old girl with red hair and a wilful nature. She is also a dragon.
Before long, Rose and Brim find themselves trapped in Quill, in the worst possible danger. Just a witch, a dragon and a LOT of secrets.
A bewitching tale of bravery, betrayal and one very forgettable horned glob, from the award-winning author of Rita's Revenge and Spellhound.
Praise for Spellhound
'Perfect twisty plot and pace, constant laughs, a fresh new world, and characters to cheer: this book made me beam. I loved it!' Jaclyn Moriarty, the award-winning author of the Kingdoms and Empires books
'Full of secrets and mystery, with wonder on every page.' Kate Temple, author of The Dangerous Business of being Trilby Moffat
'Full of twists and turns and secrets, like the very best kind of book! I loved it!' Deborah Abela, author of The Book of Wondrous Possibilities
'Lian has created an unforgettable mystical world so unlike anything I have ever encountered. I laughed aloud on every page. This is a true delight!' Zanni Louise, author of Queenie in Seven Moves
'This highly engaging fantasy adventure is set in a unique magical world filled with delightful, quirky characters. There are many twists and turns, particularly as it comes to its startling conclusion, but there is also plenty of humour.' Books + Publishing
About the Author
Lian Tanner has worked as a teacher, a tourist bus driver, a freelance journalist, a juggler, an editor and a professional actor. She has been dynamited while scuba diving and arrested while busking. She once spent a week in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, hunting for a Japanese soldier left over from the Second World War. It took her a while to realise that this was all preparation for becoming a writer. Nowadays Lian lives by the sea in southern Tasmania.
