A captivating fantasy for middle grade readers – power, corruption and friendship collide in this enthralling adventure!

Aribella lives in Venice, the daughter of an impoverished lace-maker. But she has a deadly secret: when angered, sparks shoot from her fingertips. Unable to keep her power hidden, she flees – but when dark spectres rise from the lagoon, the fire in her hands saves her life.

A stranger witnesses the attack – and through him, Aribella leaves her old life behind and discovers the world of the Cannovacci, magical warriors sworn to defeat the strange spectres menacing the city…

‘a captivating fantasy … This enthralling adventure will make readers yearn for their own masks and powers.’ – The Guardian

‘Hoghton’s exciting premise is enriched by the Venetian setting, where the deceptive cobbled streets, maze of rivers and idiosyncratic islands make it easy to slip between a realist register and fantasy.’ – The Irish Times