After the Last Spell

For young wizards aged 7 and up, and the grown-ups who never stopped dreaming of magic.

On an ordinary Tuesday morning, every spell in the world stopped working. The singing kettles fell silent. The street lamps of Highmere went dark. And at sunset, the Great Lantern that had burned for nine hundred years went out.

Now the last Archivist of Lantern Hall has written a handbook for whoever finds it. Whoever opens this book becomes her newest apprentice, and the one who might bring the magic back.

After the Last Spell is an illustrated fantasy adventure written as a real wizard's survival guide. Chapter by chapter, readers help rebuild a whole civilization from the very first spark:

• Kindle a flame with the Kaen charm and find hidden water with a hazel rod
• Make a first wand from a fallen stick
• Learn the old spell language and invent charms of their own
• Brew a Warming Draught and befriend emberkits, tiny puddledrakes and gentle giant mossbacks
• Make fair rules, mint magic coins, send messages by mountain beacon and build a bridge of light

A story the whole family can share

Children will love the spells, creatures and the hopelessly accident-prone apprentice Bram. Grown-ups will enjoy the warm, witty narrator, the rich world-building and the true "Plainfolk Way" stories hidden in every chapter. These cover real history and science, from a million-year-old campfire to the doctor who stopped an outbreak with a map. It is a fantasy that quietly shows how real civilizations were built: through courage, kindness, fairness and sharing what you know.

Inside you'll find:

• 16 chapters of adventure, humor and heart, perfect for bedtime reading aloud
• 16 hands-on Apprentice's Tasks to try at home together
• Charming black-and-white illustrations throughout
• A glossary of spells, the Apprentice's Oath, and a Certificate of Rebuilding to sign as a personal gift page

Includes Bonus game: The Kindler's Trials

When the last page is turned, the adventure continues. Readers can play The Kindler's Trials, an online game that works in any web browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Complete nine magical trials based on the chapters to relight the city of Highmere, speak the final word of light, and earn a personalized Kindler certificate. There is nothing to download and nothing to install. Instructions for accessing the game are inside the book.

A wonderful gift for:

• Birthdays, Christmas, Diwali, Eid and holiday stockings
• Kids who love wizards, dragons, potions and magical creatures
• Parents and grandparents looking for a read-aloud the whole family will enjoy
• Grown-up fans of cozy fantasy and clever world-building
• Classrooms, homeschool families and reading clubs

The greatest spell of all is a world built together. Open the handbook, and become a Kindler today.