About the Book

ORLA AND THE WILD HUNT is the second mesmerizing standalone novel from the critically acclaimed middle-grade author of Venetian adventure The Mask of Aribella – winner of the 2020 North Somerset Teachers’ Book Awardand the 2021 Weald Book Award.

‘[An] enthralling adventure’’
THE GUARDIAN on The Mask of Aribella

 

Orla and her brother go to stay with their gran in Ireland. Grieving the death of their mum, the children revel in the comfort of their grandmother’s house and her magical storytelling.

But soon after they arrive, Gran vanishes. Helped by a local boy – and a peculiar creature found in the garden shed – they set out to find her. Shadowed by a shape-shifting darkness known as the Wild Hunt, the children – especially Orla – must put their sadness behind them if they’re to rescue their beloved gran.

Inspired by Irish mythology and folklore, drawing on Anna Hoghton’s family connection, and exploring grief from a child’s perspective, ORLA AND THE WILD HUNT is brimming with peril, warmth and hope.

About the Author

ANNA HOGHTON is an award-winning poet, filmmaker and co-founder of makeaplace.net. She has an MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University and was one of fifteen leading UK poets commissioned for Bristol Festival of Ideas 2016. Follow her on Twitter @annahoghton and find out more at annahoghton.com

What I Thought

What a wonderful middle grade adventure. Orla and her brother Apollo are loveable protagonists thrust into a world of fae and pooka, giants and sprites. 

Having lost their mother, their sadness is what makes them vulnerable to the Wild Hunt, but the Wild Hunt aren’t the only problem they have to deal with. 

Needing to get their Gran back – mainly for her tiffin – let’s be honest, they discover the myths and legends she’s been spouting all these years are true. 

They need some guides to help them navigate this new world – enter Conor and a snarky pooka. But with the fickle fae on the scene who is even to be trusted?

Author Anna Hoghton emerges you in this magical forest and the description of the fairy rings has made me want to seek out a short story I wrote when I was a lot younger.

All the characters are vividly painted and I love how flawed they are – sad, selfish, secretive. Their humanity shines through and contrasts them to the fae.

Thanks to Laura and Chicken House for the gifted copy for the purposes of an honest review.