Arkspire 1 - Arkspire

**'A triumph . . . The magic is mesmerising, the humour masterful and the adventure magnificent.' - A. F. Steadman, bestselling author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief 'Full of fabulous characters, fantastic humour and breakneck thrills.' - Jonathan Stroud, bestselling author of Lockwood & Co.** Glorious, powerful, magic; a city of twists, turns and tricksters; extraordinary secrets which only one girl can uncover . . . welcome to the world of Arkspire. Arkspire is a city obsessed by magic. The five Arcanists - a group of all-powerful magicians - have protected the great city for as long as anyone can remember. Within the hustle and bustle of these cobbled streets lives Juniper Bell, a thief who'd do anything for her family - even her unbelievably annoying sister, Elodie. Then one night, something incredible happens. A mysterious stolen relic (nothing to do with Juni, ahem...) explodes, revealing a mysterious creature, Cinder - who appears to 'bond' with Juni. The only creatures like that are allegedly dangerous enemies of the Arcanists . . . and it's not long before they turn their attention to Juni. Soon Juni, Cinder and everyone she loves are pulled into an extraordinary world of magic, power and prestige - but also grave danger. It seems the world Juni thought she knew is nothing but a lie - and now only Juniper and Cinder can bring it down. **A thrilling adventure and astonishingly illustrated new fantasy series, from the bestselling author of Frostheart. Praise for the Frostheart series:** **'Wild, funny, lavishly illustrated and filled with excitement' - The Guardian 'A rip-roaring action adventure, full of humour, heart and unforgettable characters' - The Bookseller** 'Littler is an expert at pushing reluctant readers from one chapter to the next' - The Times