The Secret of the Moonshard

The breathtakingly imaginative new fantasy novel from Branford Boase winner Struan Murray.Domino is an eleven-year-old girl with a strange affliction- if she goes anywhere near magic, it will kill her.All her life she's been trapped in a floating laboratory, safe from magic but not from the cruel children and the crueler Science Barons who live there. Domino believes the Barons are trying to invent a cure for her magic allergy, but when a mysterious wizard arrives and unleashes total chaos, she discovers that everything she's been told is a lie.Domino escapes to the wondrous city of Abzalaymon, its streets filled with marvels she's never seen, from automobiles to televisions to hulking thunder lizards. But the Science Barons are on her trail, and Domino must brave a hidden realm of magic if she is to defeat their sinister plot, and uncover a secret that might just save the world- the Secret of the Moonshard.

The Secret of the Moonshard has everything you could wish for in a fantasy book and more. Exceptional worldbuilding, characters that feel both fresh and familiar, genius twists impeccably executed and an endlessly imaginative story that will have readers turning pages late into the night. Sensational storytelling. AF Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
Struan Murray is a world-building genius. Immersive, imaginative and thrilling, this is a perfect fantasy adventure. Outstanding. Katya Balen, author of October, October
A kaleidoscopic, rollicking adventure full of wit and warmth and breathtaking imagination. I loved it! Ross Montgomery, author of Spellstone
The Secret of the Moonshard is absorbing and imaginative magical fantasy at its very best. Struan’s wonderful storytelling gave me the spellbinding feeling of Howl’s Moving Castle mixed with Nevermoor plus a dash of Jurassic Park. Beautiful, original world-building and enticing characters entwined with a thrilling plot. I absolutely loved it! Vashti Hardy, author of Brightstorm
A rollicking, full-hearted fantasy adventure full of marvellous invention and wild imagination. I love Domino 4eva! Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink and Stars
A terrific tale, filled with incredible illustrations First News
This epic adventure is a melting pot of magic and science, friendship and betrayal. BookTrust
Original. Inventive. Clever. I absolutely loved this book! Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
This compelling new 9+ fantasy from the Branford Boase-winning Murray features assured world-building, meaty ethical questions and a thrilling arena battle between “thunder lizards” Guardian

Struan Murray (Author)Struan Murray is Scottish and grew up in Edinburgh, the youngest of a large, rowdy family of redheads. His debut novel, Orphans of the Tide, won the prestigious Branford Boase Award, and was included in the Guardian's 'Best children's books of 2020'. When he's not writing, Struan is a lecturer at the University of Oxford.Vivienne To (Illustrator)Vivienne To is an illustrator and visual development artist. She has worked across feature films, television, commercials and children's publishing. She created concept art for animated movies such as The Lego Movie and Legend of the Guardians- The Owls of Ga'Hoole and was the art director on The Lego Batman Movie. She has illustrated several picture books including The Sloth Who Came To Stay, written by Margaret Wild, which was short-listed for the CBCA Award for New Illustrator.Vivienne was born in Melbourne, grew up in Sydney and lives in Wellington, New Zealand. When she isn't drawing, she can be found knitting on the couch, watching cute dogs at the local park or lost in the pages of a good book.

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