Sent by King Alaric on a crucial mission, Molly is drawn to the secret walled city of Harrowsgode, protected from the world by mountains and magic. The mysteries she encounters there, and the powerful forces she must overcome, require every ounce of her cunning and courage. With the help of Tobias, a ratcatcher named Richard, and a clever and devoted raven, Molly gains her own freedom in a most unexpected way. And in the process, both Molly and the Kingdom of Harrowsgode are forever changed.
Diane Stanely is the author and illustrator of beloved books for young readers, including The Silver Bowl, named a best book of the year by Kirkus Reviews and an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice; The Cup and the Crown; The Princess of Cortova; Saving Sky, winner of the Arab American Book Award; Bella at Midnight, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and an ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice; The Mysterious Case of the Allbright Academy; The Mysterious Matter of I. M. Fine; The Chosen Prince; and Joplin, Wishing.Ms. Stanley has written and illustrated numerous picture books, including three creatively reimagined fairy tales, The Giant and the Beanstalk, Goldie and the Three Bears, and Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter, and an award-winning series of picture book biographies. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can visit her online at www.dianestanley.com.