Hailed as “a breakneck, jam-packed roller coaster of an adventure” by J. K. Rowling, this New York Times bestseller is the first installment in the explosive tween fantasy series by famed Hollywood director Chris Columbus (of Harry Potter fame) and bestselling author Ned Vizzini (It’s Kind of a Funny Story).
Siblings Brendan, Eleanor, and Cordelia Walker once had everything they could ever want. But everything changed when Dr. Walker lost his job. Now the family must relocate to an old Victorian house, formerly the home of occult novelist Denver Kristoff—a house that simultaneously feels creepy and too good to be true. By the time the Walkers realize that one of their neighbors has sinister plans for them, they’re banished to a primeval forest way off the grid.
Bloodthirsty medieval warriors patrol the woods around them, supernatural pirates roam the neighboring seas, and a power-hungry queen rules the land. To survive, the siblings will have to be braver than they ever thought possible—and to fight against their darkest impulses. The key may lie in their own connection to the secret Kristoff legacy. But as they unravel that legacy, they’ll discover that it’s not just their family that’s in danger . . . it’s the entire world.
- A Magical House of Secrets: When the Walker siblings move into the creepy former home of a fantasy novelist, they discover it's more than just a house—it's a gateway to another world.
- A Perilous Sibling Adventure: Brendan, Eleanor, and Cordelia must rely on each other to survive, facing down their fears and darkest impulses in a land where they are hunted at every turn.
- Worlds of Warriors and Pirates: From bloodthirsty medieval knights to supernatural pirates on the high seas, the Walkers are plunged into the dangerous worlds of Denver Kristoff's imagination.
- A Dangerous Secret Legacy: To find their way home, the siblings must unravel the mysterious Kristoff legacy, a quest that could save not only their family, but the entire world.
"The story is an engrossing page-turner with a parade of near-escapes, hilarious mishaps, and courageous face-offs with terrifying villains. The nonstop action will keep readers on the edge of their seats"
