A TOP 10 CHILDREN’S FICTION BESTSELLER
Enter an extraordinary magical adventure about family,
fate and finding the courage to be truly yourself – perfect for fans of Nevermoor,
Lemony Snicket and The Swifts.
‘An adventure overflowing with magic’ Beth Lincoln,
author of The Swifts
‘A fantastic adventure’ The Times, Children’s
Book of the Week
‘A wild feat of extraordinary imagination, fizzing with
mystery, magic and humour’ Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn
On her tenth birthday, Meticulous ‘Metty’ Jones receives her
fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She
hopes that her tattoo will reveal an exciting destiny: travel, discovery or
adventure. What appears is a skull in the palm of a violet glove – Metty’s fate
is to be a murderer.
When Metty’s father disappears in mysterious circumstances,
Aunt Magnificent takes her to the glittering city of New London, filled with
magic, wonder and enchantment. But when Metty hears rumours of a shadowy
organisation known as the Black Moths, she begins to suspect they are connected
to her own dark fate …
About the Author
Philippa Leathley
Philippa Leathley grew up in East Yorkshire, spending
summers near London with her eccentric grandparents and writing feverishly as
soon as she could hold a pen. When not writing, she enjoys learning new
languages, studying anything from historical fashion to shipwrecks, and is
passionate about protecting the environment. She currently lives just outside
Hull with her family and three weird and wonderful rescue cats, Bram, Lyra and
Theo the Brave.