Lark and the Wild Hunt

by Jennifer Adam

Overview

The Real Boy meets The Girl Who Drank the Moon in this magical middle grade adventure, which takes readers deep into the world of the fae on one brave young girl’s quest to save her brother.

Never trust a fae.

Lark Mairen knows this. In her village, the border between the fae and human worlds is as thin as a whisper, and fae trickery is nothing new.

But Lark’s brother, Galin, has just disappeared into the fae realm while racing in the deadly Wild Hunt, and Lark’s only lead is a mysterious fae boy called Rook.

To save her brother, she’ll have to trust Rook—even if it takes her into the dangerous fae kingdom, where she’ll untangle riddles, navigate labyrinths, and face the wicked king himself.

From the author of The Last Windwitch, Lark and the Wild Hunt is the perfect blend of classic folklore and new twists, with a protagonist who will show readers that failure is nothing to fear—and resilience, bravery, and friendship can overcome even the most daunting adversaries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062981363
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/05/2022
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	480
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jennifer Adam adopts and rides wild mustangs off the western rangelands when she’s not busy writing and researching. Living on a third-generation farm in Missouri with her husband and children has taught her a deep reverence for nature and the weather, which also tends to weave its way into her stories. She has had a variety of short stories, essays, and poetry published in magazines and anthologies. She is the author of The Last Windwitch and the upcoming Lark and the Wild Hunt, and you can learn more about her at www.jenniferfrancesadam.com.

Editorial Reviews

Adam’s fantasy world is deftly constructed…. [and] the explanations of magical mischief, charms, and rules for interacting with the Fae are marvelous. Immersive, splendid, delightful.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Gripping from the start, with stunning descriptions, exquisite world building, and loads of historical details seamlessly woven into the story… Fantasy fans will do well to immerse themselves in this marvelous, magical world.” — Booklist (starred review)

“While the fae world is pure fantasy, the tone and pace is folkloric—this is a story that feels like it could be told on a cold winter’s night to a rapt audience. There’s true love, unexpected heroism, cool magical animals, a formidable villain, and a spritely girl in the middle of it all who knows her own strengths.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“A world in which magic and the everyday precariously exist side by side, brimming with intrigue and danger. Its resourceful heroine, ethereal Fae, strong setting, and perilous atmosphere make for a revitalizing fantasy adventure.” — Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Last Windwitch: “Brida’s unusual magic [is] beautifully described……Readers will appreciate the emphasis on individual kindness and widespread cooperation between different kinds of magic users and ordinary people united against oppression and cruelty.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“An intriguing setting, an interesting magical system, and a resourceful, empathic heroine mark this ambitious fantasy debut by Adam." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Praise for The Last Windwitch: “Brida’s unusual magic [is] beautifully described……Readers will appreciate the emphasis on individual kindness and widespread cooperation between different kinds of magic users and ordinary people united against oppression and cruelty.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

★ 2022-04-13
A young hero is unexpectedly called to help defeat a wicked, usurping king.

Twelve-year-old Lark is the last one to see her older brother, Galin, riding to the rescue of the Harvest King during the semiannual Wild Hunt, before he disappears. Lark’s home is close to the border separating the realms of humans and the immortal Fae. During the hunt, skilled riders, both human and Fae, clear the borderlands of rogue magical creatures known as wildkin. Long-held Accords between the realms offer time—something mortals possess and that offers the possibility of change—in exchange for magically enhanced tools from the Fae. Lark’s Ma breeds the part-Fae shadowbred horses ridden in the hunt; her Da is a tailor and dressmaker. Lark, who enjoys fixing things, begins to secretly reassemble the moonclock, a mysterious artifact that may have the power to help Galin return from the Fae realm. Ultimately, Lark’s courage and problem-solving skills help her to triumph in a final confrontation with the Briar King. Adam’s fantasy world is deftly constructed, and her use of language—which includes lots of compound nouns—convincingly suggests another time and place. The measured pace keeps pages turning yet offers readers time to understand Lark’s world and the way that magic operates within it. The explanations of magical mischief, charms, and rules for interacting with the Fae are marvelous. Human characters read as White.

Immersive, splendid, delightful. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews