Fireborn: Twelve and the Frozen Forest

By Author / Illustrator

Aisling Fowler, Sophie Medvedeva

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN

9780008394189

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

29-09-2022

Synopsis

'The perfect balance of high adventure, breathless action and eerie wonder' Jonathan Stroud, author of the Bartimaeus trilogy 'The best kind of children's fantasy story: thrilling and imaginative while packing an emotional punch!' B. B. Alston, author of Amari and the Night Brothers

Set in the snowy northern forests of a prehistoric world, Fireborn is the middle-grade debut of the decade. By turns exciting, funny and heart wrenchingly sad, it marks the introduction of an unstoppable new voice in children's storytelling.

A FIERCE HEROINE RISES. Twelve has spoken the Pledge and now she is a Huntling. She has given up her name to train in the art of fighting monsters, and she won't choose a new one until she has earned it. But when her friend is taken, Twelve sets off on a dangerous journey to rescue her. Teaming up with Dog, the stone Guardian of the Hunting Lodge, Twelve ends up on an epic adventure that will change her life, her name - and her entire world.

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Reviews

Twelve is a huntling who has pledged her loyalty to the Lodge and given up everything she has, including her name, to protect the seven clans. However, Twelve is driven by a dark purpose, darker even than she realises. Before she can complete her training, the Hunting Lodge is attacked and Twelve finds herself on a quest to track a kidnapped huntling, (the closest she has to a friend besides her squirrel) Widge. Alongside some reluctant companions, Twelve is torn between her need for revenge and a future where she might just be the hope of hunters everywhere.

Fireborn is an exciting, action-packed and magical adventure from debut author Aisling Fowler. A classic quest with a tantalising darkness, this novel is a must-read for ages 11+. The pace is fast, the fantasy setting well drawn and the character development very believable. Themes of grief, friendship, guilt and relationships are woven effortlessly into scenes of battle and magic. Highly recommended!

432 pages / Reviewed by Rhiannon Cook, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+

Twelve lives at the Hunting Lodge. With the other Huntlings, she has taken the pledge, giving up her name and her past to fight the monsters which roam Ember. However, Twelve is driven by the desire for revenge against those who killed her family, keeping a distance from her peers. When the Hunting Lodge is attacked and one of the Huntlings is snatched, Twelve sets off in pursuit and finds herself on a quest which changes everything.

What an adventure! Ember is a richly imagined world, inhabited by seven clans. It is plagued by magical creatures which the Hunters of the Lodge have pledged to defend them from. Twelve and her fellow Huntlings have given up their names and won't be given new ones until they have earned them by passing a Blooding. The world building is excellent, with the past history of the land enabling the reader to understand how the present situation has developed as well as flashbacks from Twelve's past revealing her pent up anger and sorrow. Locations are vividly described throughout, creating the perfect setting for this amazing quest.

Twelve is a powerful character, complex and vulnerable under the layers she has built up to defend herself. Her desire to remain aloof from the other Huntlings is gradually eroded as she learns to trust, despite challenges along the way. Other characters are equally engaging and interesting, with strong personalities and well developed back stories.

I found Seven particularly fascinating and there is plenty of scope here for future adventures in this amazing world. The story is peppered with darker moments and there is plenty to keep the reader on the edge of their seat in this immersive fantasy. One not to miss…

432 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher