The School Between Winter and Fairyland - by Heather Fawcett

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Autumn, the beastkeeper at Inglenook School for Magicians, befriends Cai Morrigan the young magician prophesied to destroy the dragon suspected of devouring Autumn's twin brother, and together they uncover the dark truth that lies at the heart of Inglenook School.

Book Synopsis

A fresh and exciting twist on magical boarding schools, the well-loved Chosen One trope, and the nature of true heroism--from the author of The Language of Ghosts and Ember and the Ice Dragons. Perfect for fans of middle grade fantasies including the Serafina series by Robert Beatty and Neil Gaiman's Coraline.

Twelve-year-old Autumn Malog is a servant at the enchanting Inglenook School, where young magicians study to become the king's future monster-hunters. Along with her Gran and three too many older brothers, she works as a beastkeeper, tending to Inglenook's menagerie of terrifying monsters.

But when she isn't mucking out the wyvern stalls or coaxing the resident boggart to behave, Autumn searches for clues about her twin brother's mysterious disappearance. Everyone else thinks he was devoured by the feared Hollow Dragon, but Autumn is convinced she's heard--and glimpsed--him calling to her from within the castle walls. But who will believe a lowly servant?

So when Cai Morrigan, the "Chosen One" prophesied to one day destroy the Hollow Dragon, comes to her for help, Autumn agrees on one condition: Together, they'll search for her brother and uncover the dark truth at the heart of enchanting Inglenook School once and for all.

Review Quotes

Praise for THE LANGUAGE OF GHOSTS: "A sly, cake-eating sea serpent; an elderly dragon familiar; and vain otters who can "move in and out of death" make for an endearing supporting cast, while the siblings, with their distinct personalities and inevitable squabbles, make for an authentic focal point. Fans of Eva Ibbotson and Diana Wynne Jones will appreciate Fawcett's well-paced, wholly imaginative middle grade romp." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A charming, surprisingly nuanced middle-grade fantasy.... with witty prose and sharply drawn characters." - Kirkus Reviews
"Readers will roll their eyes in sympathy at the sibling shenanigans Noa has to put up with and cheer as she comes into her own." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Praise for EMBER AND THE ICE DRAGONS: "This highly readable middle grade fantasy adventure wins with its likable heroine and ecological angle." - School Library Journal
"Fawcett's story is full of original details that add depth... But it is the richly nuanced primary and secondary characters, as well as the evenhanded inclusion of females as intelligent scientists, that give the story its richness... Fresh and original." - Kirkus Reviews
"Stunning descriptions and well-rounded characters are woven into a story that hums with excitement and adventure."
- ALA Booklist
"I tore through The School Between Winter and Fairyland faster than a wyvern claws through hearts. An exhilarating, witty, brilliant twist on a classic Chosen One story. With magic and monsters and adventure abound, attending Inglenook is a MUST." - Lauren Magaziner, author of the Case Closed series
"An adventure with monsters, magic, and mysterious prophecies! You won't want to put it down!" - Jessica Day George, NYT bestselling author of the TUESDAYS AT THE CASTLE series
"A vividly realized adventure set in an imaginative fantasy world." - Booklist
"This familiar-yet-original fantasy hits all its marks." - Horn Book Magazine
"Smart, funny and full of wonder. Part gripping Arctic adventure, part richly woven fantasy, this is the rare type of story that readers will want to visit again and again."
- Kim Ventrella, author of Skeleton Tree and Bone Hollow
"Full of intrigue and adventure, magic and science, Ember and the Ice Dragons will keep you reading all the way to the last icy, breathless page."
- Ruth Lauren, author of Prisoner of Ice and Snow
"A hugely inventive and enjoyable fantasy. Pure magic." - Claire Fayers, author of The Voyage to Magical North
"Fans of other boy wizards will be mesmerized by this original addition to the genre, and humor-loving readers will revel in the Diana Wynne Jones-style snark that's interjected throughout. Themes of class, education, and equality are interwoven seamlessly, providing additional food for thought. A magical addition to any bookshelf." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"In this lively fantasy, Fawcett (The Language of Ghosts) plays with familiar tropes (magical schools, chosen ones), centering a female protagonist, a fresh take on heroics, and a clearly built world layered with history and an interesting magical system." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A wonderfully imaginative story filled with an enticing array of magical creatures, The School Between Winter and Fairyland celebrates the abiding bond of siblings, the many kinds of heroism, and the revolutionary power of empathy. This book is a delight." - Anne Ursu, award-winning author of Breadcrumbs and The Lost Girl