Heart of Stone

The breathtaking sequel to Welsh's magical debut, Mistress of the Storm.

After a wonderful summer of sailing, Verity Gallant just wants life to stay the same forever. But as she should know by now, not everything in life turns out as we would like. The land is shifting beneath the ancient harbour town of Wellow, causing mysterious caves to appear in cliff faces, terrifying rock falls, and dangerous landslides. And the earth isn't the only thing crumbling . . . Verity is thrilled that Jeb has returned, but their feelings for each other threaten her friendship with Henry and Martha.

Verity and her friends are embroiled in a tale of evil, intrigue, and lost love, as a powerful force works its way towards Wellow, hell-bent on putting an end to all happiness. The Heart of Stone is the key, and the race is on to find it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M. L. WELSH spent her formative years in the sailing town of Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. The tightly bound community, maritime history, and captivating landscapes of the southern island were all sources of inspiration for the fictional town of Wellow in which Mistress of the Storm and Heart of Stone are set. Melanie lives in Suffolk, near the seaside town of Southwold, with her husband Lucien and their two sons, Joe and Ben. To learn more about the author and her work, please visit VerityGallant.co.uk.

Praise for Mistress of the Storm:

"Verity is the unlikely heroine in a story that combines elements from Joan Aiken, Cornelia Funke and J. K. Rowling. The setting and cast of characters are so richly described readers will see the scenes, which cut from one to another, as if watching a movie . . . This is an exciting debut—with the promise of more to come—that will leave readers clinging to their seats, or masts, as the case may be."—Kirkus Reviews

"A really gripping magical debut with a strong girl heroine."—The Bookseller (U.K.)