A sequel to the best-selling Wildwood, this sees its heroine Prue McKeel miserable back at home after her adventures in the magical Wildwood. Prue is always drawn back to Wildwood but the place is not what it once was…Dark forces have taken over the country and help is badly needed. Prue and her friend Curtis return but will they able to save their friends and bring unity to the country?
Ever since Prue McKeel returned home from the Impassable Wilderness, life has been pretty dull. Her mind is constantly returning to the verdant groves and sky-tall trees of Wildwood, where her friend Curtis still remains as a bandit-in-training. But all is not well in that world. A hard winter has come and discord reigns in the wake of the so-called Bicycle Coup. Dark assassins with mysterious motives conspire to settle the scores of an unknown client. A titan of industry employs inmates from his orphanage to work in his machine shop. Under a growing threat, Prue is drawn back into Wildwood, where she and Curtis will face their greatest challenge yet: to save themselves and the lives of their friends, and to bring unity to a divided country. But in order to do that, they must go under Wildwood.Praise for Wildwood Chronicles:'A richly satisfying weave of reality and fantasy.' New York Times Book Review'Meloy's debut is the kind of delicate, elaborate fantasy that is so well versed in classic Narnian tropes that it is destined to be enthusiastically embraced.' ALA Booklist (starred review)'Meloy has an immediately recognizable verbal style and crates a fully realized fantasy world. Ellis's illustrations perfectly capture the original world and contribute to the feel of an instant timeless classic.' SLJ (starred review)'Meloy's storytelling skills, honed on this epic ballads for the Decemberiests, translate well to prose. Ellis's precise, detailed style evokes a folksy charm that is just right for the overgrown natural world of Wildwood and its inhabitants.' The Atlantic
This book is like the wild, strange forest it describes. It is full of suspense and danger and frightening things the world has never seen, and once I stepped inside I never wanted to leave -- Lemony Snicket, Author Of A Series Of Unfortunate Events
A beautiful object and a beautiful read. One half fairy tale, one half coming-of-age story, one half unrepentantly gorgeous work of art, this book is overflowing with gifts -- Jonathan Safran Foer
A haunting and beautiful adventure, as well as a rare instance of an almost supernaturally seamless collaboration between writer and illustrator. A brilliant book, about the magic that fringes reality, about the intensity of childhood, about friendship, and the wonders of the wilderness. You are holding a very precious thing -- Matt Haig, Author Of Shadow Forest
This vivid picaresque fantasy ... with stylish line drawings and colour plates ... is an unpretentiously written tale with a strong start, an engaging denouement and a green theme -- Nicolette Jones, Sunday TimesCulture Magazine
Author
About Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy once wrote Ray Bradbury a letter, informing him that he 'considered himself an author too'. He was ten. Since then, Colin has gone on to be the singer and songwriter for the band The Decemberists, where he channels all of his weird ideas into weird songs. This is his first time channelling those ideas into a novel.
As a child, his wife Carson Ellis loved exploring the woods, drawing and nursing wounded animals back to health. As an adult, little has changed - except she is now the acclaimed illustrator of several books for children, including Lemony Snicket's The Composer is Dead, Dillweed's Revenge by Florence Parry Heide, and The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.
Colin and Carson live with their son, Hank, in Portland, Oregon, USA, quite near the Impassable Wilderness. They talk about Wildwood, their inspirations and creative process in this video:
