A witty and entertaining magical novel telling the story of a ten-year-old girl and her quest to visit all ten aunts in order to discover the fate of her parents - were they really killed by pirates at sea? Encountering dragons, witches and water-sprites among others, Bronte is taken on an adventure she could only have imagined...

'Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket' – a Book of the Year in the i News
'A whirligig of adventure' – The Telegraph
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Bronte Mettlestone is ten years old when her parents are killed by pirates.

This does not bother her much: her parents ran away to have adventures when she was a baby. She has been raised by her Aunt Isabelle, with assistance from the Butler, and has spent a pleasant childhood of afternoon teas and riding lessons. Now, however, her parents have left detailed instructions for Bronte in their will. (Instructions that, annoyingly, have been reinforced with faery cross-stitch, which means that if she doesn't complete them, terrible things could happen) She must travel the kingdoms alone, delivering gifts to ten other aunts: a farmer aunt who owns an orange orchard, a veterinarian aunt who specializes in dragon care, a pair of aunts who captain a cruise ship, and a former rock star aunt who is now the reigning monarch of a small kingdom.

But as she travels from aunt to aunt, Bronte suspects there might be more to this journey than the simple delivery of treasure; though little does she suspect that she will have to play such a big part in the extraordinary events that follow.

Fans will also love book II in the series:
9781913101107 The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars

"A whirligig of a fantasy" - Telegraph

"As entertaining as it is enchanting" - Armadillo Magazine

"With its storytelling aplomb, humor, imagination, and many twists and turns, this novel places Moriarty ... firmly in Diana Wynne Jones territory. Readers will want to begin rereading this spellbinder just as soon as they finish it, to find all the clues and connections and coincidences Moriarty drops and weaves and reconciles throughout." - The Horn Book (starred review)

"A whimsical and imaginative fantasy quest that will enthral until the end. A spellbinding gift." - South Wales Evening Post

"Funny, quirky, and clever, this outrageously entertaining story will have youngsters already counting down to the next instalment" - Lancashire Evening Post

"Jaclyn Moriarty has weaved the familiar and the fantasy together very well for children to create this compelling story." - Booksmarks and Stages

"Everyone should read this" - My Book Corner

"I thoroughly recommend this book" - Lily and the Fae