About the book

Farmers in an alpine valley are haunted by Fængler, a cunning old enchanter who ruins their lives by using an ancient wishing chain of powerful stones to spoil crops, and steal children, cows and goats.

Young Berwald and his sister, Clara, set out without their parents knowing, to climb into the next valley, seize the chain, free their neighbourhood of fear, and wish for whatever they want. But they soon find the wild world beyond their home is full of strange forces, some good, some dark and twisted, and almost every wish they make adds new complications and disagreements.

Who can rescue them from this fearful and dangerous adventure? Before Adam, their angry and worried father, can reach them, he must learn to follow leads that seem to be of no use and listen carefully to the tale that lies behind the villain’s bitterness.

About the author

Michael Tolkien has published six collections of poetry and his verse and reviews have appeared in many magazines including Acumen, Ambit, Envoi, Poetry Nottingham and Tears in the Fence. Michael's latest poetry collection entitled No Time for Roses was published by Poetry Salzburg.

His experience as a verse writer enables him to create a fast-moving story with many kinds of dialogue in a variety of styles. This is fantasy but set in a place with a complicated history and a challenging landscape. The relationship between people and their natural surroundings is unpredictably light-hearted, grim, or colourful. Everyone must learn that appearances deceive.

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