Cirrus@Austlit

'Step into the magical world of Hedgewitch, where the land of Faerie lies just beyond our own . . . The third book in the enchanting Hedgewitch series, perfect for children age 9+ and readers of Nevermoor and Michelle Harrison.

'Cassie Morgan needs to earn her Sapling pin to get one step closer to passing her Witch's Licence. To do this, she's set a challenge of training a beginner witch by the Hedgewitch - but the newest member of her coven is not what she expected. Meanwhile, the wicked Erl King is luring witches up and down the country to his side, with promises of unimaginable power. Those who stand against him are running a deadly risk.

'When a letter arrives from Cassie's cousin Sebastian, desperate for help to solve an intriguing mystery, she travels to his home of Porthmorven with her friends, both new and old, to help work out what's going on.

'But Porthmorven is no ordinary place, it's a Faerie border town, like Hedgely, and it has its own protector: the elusive Seawitch. But she is nowhere to be found and Cassie is determined to help the people of Porthmorven however she can.

'Can Cassie use all of her training - along with help from her friends - to solve the secrets of the sea and foil the Erl King's plans once and for all?' (Publication summary)

'Step into the magical world of Hedgewitch, where the land of Faerie lies just beyond our own . . . The enchanting new series continues.

'Cassie has settled into life in Hedgely when, out of the blue, her troubled cousin, Sebastian, comes to stay for Hallowe'en. Sneering and scornful, Sebastian trails after Cassie and her friends, interfering with their coven projects and belittling the dangers of the faery world.

'But Cassie, Rue and Tabitha have bigger problems - as the nights grow longer, a dark shadow creeps out of the Hedge and villagers start behaving strangely, possessed with the desire to find a mysterious object.

'When the Hedgewitch is called away, the girls decide to investigate and discover that whoever is controlling the villagers is seeking a faery relic: an ancient and dangerous weapon, hidden somewhere in the village. Their magical training will be put to the test as they venture deeper into the Hedge and race to find the faery treasure before it falls into the hands of the Erl King.' (Publication summary)

'When Cassie runs away from her dreary boarding school, in search of her missing mother, she ends up in the magical village of Hedgely and discovers she comes from a family of witches - women who protect Britain from the denizens of Faerie, who are all too real and far more frightening than the story books suggest.

'First in a magical five-book series for readers of Nevermoor, The Worst Witch and The Dark Is Rising.

'It has been seven years since Cassie Morgan last saw her mother. Left at a dreary boarding school, she spends her days hiding from the school bully and reading forbidden story books about the world of Faerie.

'Certain that her mother is still alive, Cassie is determined to find her, whatever the dangers, and runs away from school. Lost and alone, she is chased by a pack of goblins but, to her surprise, escapes with the help of a flying broom and a talking cat named Montague, who takes her to the cosy village of Hedgely.

'Here she discovers that she comes from a family of witches, women who protect Britain from the denizens of Faerie, who are all too real and far more frightening than her story books suggest.' (Publication summary)