1567Aphra is not a normal child. Found abandoned as a baby among the reeds and rushes, the two outcast witches who raise her in their isolated cottage are never sure if she was born, or just pushed up through the foul, black mud for them to find. Little Aphras gifts in the dark craft are clear, even as an infant, but soon even her guardians begin to fear her.When a violent fire destroys their home, Aphra is left to fend for herself. Years of begging and stealing make her strong, but they also make her bitter, for she is shunned and feared by everyone she meets.Until she reaches Bryers Guerdon and meets the man they call Long Lankin the leper. Ostracized and tormented, he is the only person willing to help her.And together, they plot their revenge.1962Four years have passed since the death of Ida Guerdon, and Cora is back in Bryers Guerdon in the manor house her aunt left to her. It is a cold, bitter winter, and the horrifying events of that sweltering summer in 1958 seem long past.Until Coras father arranges for some restoration work to take place at Guerdon Hall, and it seems that something hidden there long ago has been disturbed. The spirit of Aphra Rushes intent on finishing what she began, four centuries ago.

 

 

This book has been graded for interest at 12-17 years.

There are 496 pages in this book.

It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.

This book was published in 2015 by Penguin Random House Children's UK .

Lindsey Barraclough was born in Essex. She worked as a music teacher and lives in London with her husband and their five children. Long Lankin is her first novel.