Juliet Marillier The Amber Owl

A brand new, luscious eco-fantasy from the acclaimed author of Daughter of the Forest . Stasya is a quiet young woman, who lives in an isolated farming village on the edge of the ancient Heartwood Forest. She spends her days helping the locals with their animals, and enjoying time with her closest friend, Lukas – accepted despite her mysterious talents. Her peace is shattered when a group of soldiers descends, under orders from Lady Elisabeta, the Ruler of the Northlands, instructed to hack a path through the forest and find the fabled treasure said to lie deep within. When Stasya raises her voice in protest, she is removed from her beloved home and transported to the Ruler’s court, a miserable place of stone and rules. Lady Elisabeta demands that Stasya uses her abilities to find a safe route through the forest for her soldiers, threatening Lukas’ life in the process. Stasya is forced to flee, given aid from an unlikely quarter. She leads a small group of allies to the heart of the wood, seeking the treasure – and finding that the secret held by the forest could change all their lives.