… is a period fantasy adventure
story for a Young Adult readership. It's set in a Regency-style world where a lively young seamstress escapes from
a grim workhouse in the beautiful but deadly city of True Haven.
Meet Claramina Dart, a young
seamstress. She thinks of herself as a tailor's apprentice, however.
Independent, smart, questioning ... she adapts quickly to circumstances and uses her wits to survive.
Independent, smart, questioning ... she adapts quickly to circumstances and uses her wits to survive.
She lives in Mudwells. Overcrowded, foul-smelling, corrupt. But it's home.
‘Mina' has to take care of a young assistant, Barley Spindle. But then he is unfairly arrested and she steps in to save him.
‘Mina' has to take care of a young assistant, Barley Spindle. But then he is unfairly arrested and she steps in to save him.
Mistake.
They are both thrown into a
workhouse far away in the city of True Haven. But Barley is ill and she
realises they must both escape, for the city is not what it seems.
Elegant on the outside, True Haven is
run by cruel Childmongers while the youngsters do the hard labour. Worse, there
are rumours that it is infested by mysterious giant creatures that prey on the
children.
After a close shave, they are
rescued by Otto Karussel, a clockmaker, and discover the scale of their plight.
Despite their efforts to escape,
they are swept up in even more dastardly plots and counter-plots between
Mudwells and a rival city state as the ruthless Custodians of Mudwells use True
Haven and Otto’s devices in a deadly struggle for power.
Nothing is quite what it seems,
especially True Haven itself.
Intrigued?
Read on.