First published 2020
Grayling has always lived in the shadow of her mother's sharp tongue. The hedge witch calls her daughter "Feeble Wits" and never misses a chance to point out her shortcomings. Then evil magic strikes their home, transforming Grayling's mother into a tree. Now the girl everyone considers useless must venture into dangerous territory to find help. She sets out with little confidence but growing determination, gathering unlikely allies along the way. A weather witch joins her quest, along with an aromatic enchantress and a cheese soothsayer. An apprentice who seems foolish but proves cleverer than expected becomes part of her band, as does Pook, a mouse who shifts between shapes. Together they face the forces that cursed her mother. Grayling discovers strengths she never knew she possessed as she fights to save the woman who never believed in her.
Genres: adventure, coming-of-age, fantasy, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: chosen-one, found-family
240 pages · Paperback · Clarion Books