“High-fantasy storytelling in the style of His Dark Materials or Lord of the Rings,” this Polish legend retelling is “truly thrilling” (Booklist).

A fierce young queen, neither human nor lynx, who fights to protect a forest humans have long abandoned.

An exhausted young soldier, last of his name, who searches for the brother who disappeared beneath those trees without a trace.

A Golden Dragon, fearsome and vengeful, whose wingbeats haunt their nightmares and their steps.

When these three paths cross at the fringes of a war between monsters and men, the shapeshifter queen and the reluctant hero strike a deal that may finally turn the tide against the rising hordes of darkness. Ren will help Lukasz find his brother . . . if Lukasz promises to slay the Dragon.

But promises are all too easily broken.

This Eastern European fantasy debut, inspired by the Polish fairy tale “The Glass Mountain,” will take you on a twisting journey full of creeping tension, simmering romance, and haunting folklore.

“Rich and meticulously developed. An immersive world rooted in Polish culture.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Ross delivers a fierce, fully fleshed heroine and a richly textured fantasy with a kind heart.” —Publishers Weekly

“Immediately hooks the reader with its dark and twisted scenery. In a genre full of retellings, this book sets itself apart.” —School Library Journal

“Teeming with mystical creatures and lurking dangers. . . . A page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews