Lari is an award-winning writer for young people of all ages. She loved traditional tales and folklore as a child, and now collects stories of any shape and size, from all sorts of sources, to inspire her novels. Fierce, Fearless and Free is her fifth anthology for Bloomsbury, returning to the theme of her first - the best-selling Girls, Goddesses and Giants. She lives in Edinburgh with her husband and two fierce, fearless and free daughters.

When Eilidh isn't drawing she's thinking about drawing and she loves nothing more than to immerse herself in the world of traditional stories. Her sketch books are packed with detailed drawings and plots and plans. An illustrator and designer, she loves the variety of working one day on one of her popular colouring books or city-scape prints, and the next on one of Lari's extraordinary heroines. Fierce, Fearless and Free is her first book for Bloomsbury.

A brilliant, inclusive collection of traditional tales from around the world featuring amazing women and girls.

Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince who - no, that's not right! Once upon a time, there were strong, fierce women who plotted, schemed, took action, showed kindness, used magic and trickery, and made their own destiny. From the long-haired Petrosinella who escaped the tower and broke the spell that the ogress had cast over her and Nana Miriam who beat a hippo using politeness and magic, to Kate Crackernuts who tried to save her stepsister from her mother's curse, these are stories of girls doing it for themselves!

With stories drawn from all over the world, including China, Scotland, Armenia, Italy and Nigeria, Lari Don presents heroine stories that don't leave girls sitting around waiting to be saved by the handsome prince.

What I particularly liked about this collection is that these stories are all genuine traditional tales with girls as the stars of their own stories.

There were so many brilliant stories to pick from that it's impossible for me to choose a favourite.

Each tale takes us on a captivating adventure that shows the heroines strengths and how they overcome the most troublesome situations.

I was particularly interested to see how the boys would react to having a book full of female protagonists (they loved it!). Every time I picked up the book the room would go silent, every time there was a plot twist the children gasped. If I had to stop reading part way through a story there were groans of disappointment and cries of 'Just a bit longer!'

My daughter is already reading Fierce, Fearless and Free and I cannot wait to buy a few copies for our school library. This is a delightful book full of inspiring stories that just need to be shared.

These tales are well written, timeless and filled with strong female role models.

... this book would be a brilliant addition to any bookshelf! The title illustrations are beautiful and detailed with strong female characters at the forefront.

I really enjoyed every story in this book... I flew through it in one sitting.

... I personally loved the selection. There was always a new adventure to experience...These girls were very fearless indeed.

This is a wonderful book bursting with fierce girls found in myths and legends from all over the world.