First published 2005
A king mourns his firstborn son, declared stillborn at birth. His second son, gentle and kind, stands as heir to the throne. Yet disturbing reports reach the capital from distant woodlands. Travelers speak of an unnatural being that stalks through the trees. This creature appears neither fully human nor entirely beast. The rumors grow more persistent. The forest dweller seems part boy, part wild animal. As stories spread about this mysterious figure, questions arise about what really happened to the king's first child. The sweet younger prince must navigate a world where his brother's fate remains unclear. Fuller draws from the rich tradition of Middle Eastern storytelling to craft this tale of royal succession and family secrets. The narrative explores what happens when the dead may not be truly gone and when inheritance depends on forces beyond human control.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: family-drama, mystery, royal-intrigue, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Middle East
Period: Middle Ages
224 pages · Hardcover · Chatto & Windus