Castle Mila is home to Olia and her family, descended from onceroyal ancestors, now living their ordinary lives within the unusual castle walls. Olia dreams of exploring the castle with her baby sister and unlocking the hidden secrets within the dazzling tower domes. Filled with stories of spirits and enchantment from her Babusya, Olia seeks out the magic within her home, held within the great domes atop the castle. Humouring her grandmother, she listens to her tales of magic, and her superstitions, often leaving salt offering for the castle “domovoi” to ask for protection of their home. But on the eve of a great feast to celebrate the castle’s 500th birthday, a terrible storm engulfs her precious home and wreaks unimaginable damage, opening up the secret passageways into the domes that Olia has sought all her life. Babusya warns that unless the magic is unlocked, the storms will return and Castle Mila is sure to fall. What Olia finds in the domes propels her into a desperate world being torn apart, whose inhabitants have all but lost hope of ever escaping their imprisonment. Bravery, belief, and a giant’s sword are the only weapons which could save both her home and her new friends. Belief is the only thing more powerful than magic, but can Olia find it within herself before it’s too late?

Sophie has a unique talent for spinning the threads of beautiful stories which weave together folklore, family and friendship, and this is every bit as spell-binding as her previous work. I was utterly bewitched by the breathtaking descriptions of Castle Mila and the land beyond, and the rich, beguiling characters Olia meets along the way, each one sharing their wisdom and power, but each one seeking her help with their own plight. Olia’s journey through the book sees her grow from a fearful “magicless” child to an audacious heroine who learns from her mistakes, and the mistakes of others, but never loses sight of what is truly important. Sophie’s trademark mythological language adds heart and culture to the storytelling and draws the reader further in to her exceptionally detailed world.

During a time when the winds of change are sweeping through our own world, Sophie has beautifully captured the message that we must accept our mistakes, and those of our ancestors but never forget our history, even if it’s difficult, and think about what we can do to help make things right, to put our efforts into moving forwards and building a better future for everyone. I can’t think of a more pertinent or important message to pass on to the next generation.