"An atmospheric, blood-drenched dark fantasy for a cold and stormy night." Kirkus Reviews From the author of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender comes a haunting tale of magic and murder. When Rona Blackburn landed on Anathema Island more than a century ago, her otherworldly skills might have benefited friendlier neighbors. Instead, guilt and fear led the island's original eight settlers to burn "the witch" out of her home. So Rona invoked the privileges of a witch; she cursed them. But such a spell always comes with a terrible price, and in punishing the island's residents, Rona also bound her family ever tighter to them. Fast-forward to the present day and all Nor Blackburn wants is to live an unremarkable teenage life. And she has reason to hope that she may have escaped the thorny side-effects of the family matriach's curse. But then a mysterious book comes out, promising to cast any spell for the right price. The author - Nor's own mother - seems capable of performing magic that should be far beyond her capabilities. And such magic always requires a sacrifice. A storm is coming. It's coming for Nor.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 14+ years.

There are 288 pages in this book. This is a guide book. This book was published 2018 by Walker Books Ltd .

Leslye Walton says that The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender began as a short story that came to her while listening to a song. She has an MA in Writing, and this is her first novel. Leslye Walton is a native of Tacoma, Washington, where she currently teaches at a high school. @LeslyeWalton