Magicborn

Peter Bunzl, author of the popular Cogheart series, has written a new magical adventure story that will draw readers into an enthralling world where history and fairy tale fantasy entwine.  The setting is an alternative eighteenth century where Fairyland lies across an enchanted bone bridge and the Royal Sorcerer of England hunts down those who are magicborn to enslave them and use their magic for his own ends.  When Tempest, the Storm Girl, and Peter, the Wolf Boy, are captured by the Sorcerer, Lord Hawthorn, they begin to discover their lost memories, the secrets of their past and to grow into their magic powers.  Aided by Kwesi, an enslaved magicborn boy, and Coriel, Tempest’s enchanted robin companion, the children discover that they are twins, the long-lost prince and princess of Fairyland, cursed by their own family to exile and forgetfulness.  Together the friends find the strength to battle both their royal captors and Fairyland treachery to discover their own place in the world.

This imaginative, compelling story skilfully entwines alternating narratives, one taking the fast-moving plot forward in the present and the other drawing in memories from the past so that the reader learns important narrative threads as the characters do.  The plot developments are conveyed with a lightness of touch and an imaginative and witty use of language and rhyme so that the pace never falters, and the action builds to a gripping, magical climax. The narrative twists and turns, secrets, curses, and magic are revealed, the main characters grow in strength and confidence, and friendship, courage and kindness prevail in a satisfying denouement. The author’s accomplished storytelling is entrancing and readers who enjoy a mix of fantasy, magic and adventure will love this book.