Scholastic US edition (out of print) buy from amazon	Chicken House 2000 edition (out of print)	Chicken House 2007 (out of print) buy from amazon

Also available in German

Longlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

12-year old Natalie can hardly believe her eyes when she sees a spell floating in a puddle near the recycling bins at her local supermarket. This is just the start of a breathtaking adventure that takes her into the enchanted world of Earthaven where unicorns roam and spells grow on gigantic trees. Guided by her dead mother's talking magehound, Natalie soon discovers that she too has mage blood, and is caught up in a sinister Halloween plot to destroy the magic of Earthaven forever. Can she and young spell caster Merlin outwit the viallainous Lord Hawk in time to save the tree that contains her mother's soul?

This book is a classic otherworld story based on the theory that many other universes exist parallel to our own. I have always wondered where all the stories of mythical creatures such as unicorns came from - did they, perhaps, slip through from another world? So I invented Earthaven, a place where such creatures can take refuge from humans and their technology. But unlike Narnia, where no time passes in our world while the characters are away on their adventures, I wanted there to be some interaction between the two. So Spellfall is also a real world thriller. When Natalie disappears, her family are desperate to get her back, and her reluctant stepbrother Tim, member of the Death Head gang, is dragged into helping find her.

Read an extract HERE.

What they said...

¬ "What a read!... Once again a British writer transports her readers to another world with vivid imagery and stellar command of  language. We were worried what a year without Harry Potter would mean to our young readers, but I believe Spellfall will fill that vacancy." Kathleen Caldwell, US Independent Booksellers "Children's 76".

¬ "Combines an absorbing plot with complex characters, while dealing with issues of growing up, loss, and taking responsibility.. a powerful fantasy from an exciting  new author." Children's Book Council.

¬ "Fantasy lovers of middle to high school age will devour this book..." Voice of Youth Advocates.

¬ "A vivid fantasy world made even more compelling by the intercutting of narrative strands... this has everything for all kinds of readers." Books for Keeps.

¬ "Involving and suspenseful." Sunday Times children's book of the week.

¬ "A welcome and well-written addition to the sorcery genre." The Observer.

¬ "A thrilling tale of kidnap, unlikely friendships, magic and sheer pluck... Roberts knows exactly how to rack up the tension and create parallel universes." The Guardian.

¬ "Strong characterisation adds to the power of this highly charged novel... a thrilling and fast paced fantasy adventure with shades of Tolkien and Pullman." The Bookseller.

¬ "A book to take its place amongst the fantasy classics..." Sally Zigmond, QWF magazine. 

¬ "A rattling good tale of triumph over evil filled with evocative description, well realized characters, and some particularly fine unicorns." Gary S Dalkin, Vector.

¬ "Creatively blends aspects of modern society with traditional elements of fantasy." Publisher's Weekly.

¬ "An excellent book. I thoroughly enjoyed it... I would highly recommend it to able readers who look for more substance than is found in the usual teenage novel." Ross Gazette.

¬ "Left me feeling passionate about fantasy books. I wanted to cry because I'd finished such a wonderful book." Abigail Rose, age 12.

¬ "I loved this book!" Charlotte, age 15.

ASK THE UNICORN: Is that you on the Spellfall cover? Yes, it's me!