“Reminiscent in feel to Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon , this lovely fantasy introduces a complicated, brave, and believable heroine. . . . An absolute delight.”— Kirkus Reviews , starred review Packed with shocking twists, frightening monsters, and dark magic, this is a page-turning fantasy adventure for middle-grade fans of Holly Black and Tamora Pierce. Twelve-year-old Octavia grew up believing the town of Vittoria was the only one left in the world. The sole survivors of a deadly magical war and plague, the people of Vittoria know there’s no one alive outside the town walls—except the terrible monsters that prowl the forest. But then the impossible happens: Octavia meets another girl beyond the walls, someone who isn’t Vittorian. Everything she’s ever believed is thrown into question, and there’s no going back. In her quest for the truth, Octavia discovers a world full of lies, monsters, and magic. She’ll have to use every scrap of her skill, wits, and courage to uncover what’s real about Vittoria and the rest of the world. “A rare look at a post-apocalyptic world for the middle-grade set. . . . Octavia, kind, brave, and insatiably curious, is a compelling protagonist to lead the way toward a new world.”— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick “Reminiscent in feel to Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon , this lovely fantasy introduces a complicated, brave, and believable heroine navigating grief, friendship, and the possible first stirrings of a (same-sex) crush while asking hard questions about power and community. . . . An absolute delight.”— Kirkus Reviews , starred review “Richly detailed magical lore, gripping action, and frightening fantastical creatures are grounded by well-rounded characters and the girls’ blossoming friendship.”— Publishers Weekly “A fantastical adventure through a world of magic and monsters. . . . A strong pick for fans of another hard-to-put-down fantasy about discovering truth, Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon .”— Booklist “A rare look at a post-apocalyptic world for the middle-grade set. . . . Octavia, kind, brave, and insatiably curious, is a compelling protagonist to lead the way toward a new world.”— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “Fascinating, atmospheric…a coming-of-age novel in a dystopian fantasy world filled with monsters, corruption, and magic.”— Brightly “A compelling read.”— Imagination Soup “I absolutely loved this book. Octavia is a heroine for the ages.”—Ronald L. Smith, award-winning author of Hoodoo and Black Panther: The Young Prince Kali Wallace is the author of books for children and adults, including City of Islands , Shallow Graves , and Salvation Day . She lives in Portland, Oregon. Every morning, as the first light of the sun shone over the mountains, bells rang from the seven watchtowers of Vittoria. Octavia kicked her thick blankets down, jumped out of bed, and threw open the shutters. The morning was cold, and her breath misted as she leaned on the windowsill. The scents of fresh bread and warm pastries rose from her family’s bakery below. The first bell to chime was atop the tallest tower, which overlooked Wyvern Gate on the northern side of town. It rang as soon as the sunlight touched the summits of the highest peaks surrounding the valley. Movement on the narrow street caught Octavia’s eye. Four stories down, a pair of town guards in black uniforms rushed down Fishing Cat Lane toward Juniper Street. She felt an uncomfortable twinge of worry in her chest. It wasn’t normal for the guards to be rushing about this early, before the gates were even open. Something must have happened during the night. She didn’t hear any shouts or sounds of alarm. She hoped it was nothing serious. The guards were gone from Fishing Cat Lane by the time the second bell began to ring. Five more followed in quick succession, and soon all seven bells were ringing together, all around the seven-pointed star of Vittoria’s high wall. Their song chased up and down the River Nyx and Long Road, echoed from the rocky mountainsides and the forested hills, and filled the terraced fields and orchards of the Lonely Vale. For the townspeople of Vittoria, the morning bells meant the day was about to begin. The bells meant it was time to wake, time to rise, time to work. During the daytime it was safe to venture beyond the wall, and it would be safe until darkness fell again. Vittoria was the last town in the world, home to the only survivors of a terrible war, surrounded by a vast and dangerous wilderness. The worst of the dangers were the monsters, and for those monsters the morning bells meant something else entirely. They were a warning, a signal to the creatures that lurked in the forest that daylight was coming. It was time for them to flee into the darkest thickets and caves, where they would cower until night came again. The creatures were called Fero