First published 2001
Corinna Stonewall never feels cold and her hair grows two inches each night. At fifteen, she works as the only Folk Keeper in Rhysbridge, spending long hours in dark cellars with dangerous creatures. The Folk are fierce, cave-dwelling beings with wet mouths who spoil milk, destroy vegetables, and sicken livestock. Corinna feeds and calms these angry, hungry monsters, drawing their rage like a lightning rod pulls electricity. The hard-hearted orphan takes pride in her power over them. When Lord Merton calls her to his coastal estate Cliffsend, he reveals she is the lost family member he has searched for. At this seaside mansion, Corinna must serve as Folk Keeper while discovering the truth about her strange abilities. She learns why the ocean calls to her and begins to understand her mysterious powers. In this new place, the proud girl who lived in cold, narrow spaces finds warmth, connection, and even love.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, mystery
Setting: Cliffsend, Rhysbridge
Period: 19th-century
162 pages · Paperback · Aladdin Paperbacks