The Penderwicks meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this thrilling middle grade fantasy adventure about a trio of royal siblings who unlock a long-forgotten magical language in their bid to reclaim their stolen throne—from Ember and the Ice Dragons author Heather Fawcett. Perfect for fans of Kelly Barnhill and Robert Beatty.

Forced into exile on an enchanted, moving island, ex-princess Noa Marchena has two missions: reclaim her family’s stolen throne and ensure that the dark powers her older brother, Julian, possesses don’t go to his head in the process. But between babysitting her annoying little sister, Mite, and keeping an eye on the cake-loving sea monster that guards the moving island, Noa has her hands full.

When the siblings learn that their enemies are searching for a weapon capable of defeating Julian—whose legendary spell weaving is feared throughout the kingdom—once and for all, they vow to get to it first. To everyone’s surprise, the key to victory turns out to be a long-lost magical language—and only Noa can speak it.

But what if by helping her brother, Noa ends up losing him?

• Royal Siblings: Meet ex-princess Noa, her powerful brother Julian, and their quirky little sister Mite as they fight to reclaim what’s rightfully theirs.
• Enchanted Moving Island: Their only refuge is Astrae, a magical island that travels the seas, guarded by a very hungry, cake-loving sea monster.
• Magical Language: When a long-lost language of magic is the key to defeating their enemies, the non-magical Noa is shocked to discover she’s the only one who can speak it.
• Sibling Bonds: Noa must protect her brother not only from their enemies, but from the corrupting dark powers he wields. Can their family survive the coming war?

“Fawcett brings snow-capped mountains—and their baleful secrets—alive in this magical, atmospheric debut.”