Geomancer: The Ship of Strays

By Author / Illustrator

Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

Publisher

Orion Children's Books

ISBN

9781510107953

Format

Hardback

Published

28-08-2025

Synopsis

The thrilling third Geomancer book in the epic fantasy trilogy from the bestselling, award-winning Kiran Millwood Hargrave, for readers of Philip Pullman and Katherine Rundell.

Ysolda has unlocked the earth magic, and its powers are rising within her. Could she really find out what it is like to fly, or to control the creatures of the deep? With a rebel princess by her side, she is racing against the fearsome wolf queen. But they're in for a stormy journey across the sea, facing pirates and the elements, and with the future of the whole world at stake ...

From the author of The Girl of Ink and Stars, Julia and the Shark and The Mercies, the Geomancer trilogy is a new modern classic for readers young and old. 'Destined to be a classic' Garth Nix. 'This tale of adventure and magic is as brave as it is exciting' Independent. 'A stunning adventure' Cressida Cowell.

Also in the series: In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen (book 1); The Storm and the Sea Hawk (book 2);

Kiran Millwood Hargrave has won the Wainwright Prize, the Waterstones Book Prize, and the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year. She was a top 5 bestseller in the UK Nielsen Bookscan chart, 18 February 2025.

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Reviews

Jacqueline

Ysolde and Eira are now aboard a ship, captained by Cassandra and escaping the Wolf Queen. Ysolde has extraordinary powers after her encounter with the Anchorite, and she is fast losing herself to those powers. All the while she knows she has to try and reach the whirlpool of Hell’s Gate before the Wolf Queen and somehow stop the destruction and ‘happenings’ taking place.

The Ship of Strays is the third book in the Geomancer series and the final chapter of Ysolde's story. She started as a simple village girl from Glaw Wood and is now tasked with saving the whole world! The majority of the story takes place on the ship, and it is this claustrophobic atmosphere that lends much to the tensions of the book. Ysolde is a flawed heroine with good intentions, and she deals with events beyond her wildest imagination.

Once again, the book picks up pace as it nears the end and the finale is breathtaking (literally). The cover and illustrations by Manuel Sumberac are eye catching and a lovely addition to the book. I always appreciate a book with a map too and frequently flicked to the inside cover to look at the journey the ship was taking. I particularly liked the fact that this was almost recognisable as real places with alternative names. This felt like a very fitting end to a high octane and spectacular trilogy.

416 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher