Old magic.
Deep, dark forest magic.
Magic with a kernel of truth that comes from the old stories — myths and legends that can be neither proved nor completely refuted.
This is Nevertell.
Eleven-year-old Lina lives in a prison camp in the cold Russian wilderness. Her mother was taken there as a child with her brother and Lina's grandfather. Lina was born there and has known no other life.
But when an opportunity arises to break free, Lina and her best friend Bogdan escape into the cold night.
They set out towards Moscow, hoping to find Lina’s grandmother, but what they find instead is a powerful magic that fills the wilderness and hunts them at every turn.
Ghosts, spirits and other-worlds that try to capture them. Hidden fortresses, hungry wolves and dark magic.
If Lina and Bogdan are going to make it to Moscow, they will need to be braver than they’ve ever had to be before. And as strange things begin to happen, all seemingly connected to Lina, they’ll have to keep their wits about them or risk being captured by the evil that inhabits the wilds.
Nevertell is a brilliant and addictive middle grade novel. It’s an action-packed and mysterious read that pulls you in from page one. It’s the kind of book that infiltrates your mind and leaves a strange and mystic feeling in your belly — a questioning feeling that makes you wonder if the myths and legends you’ve heard of might be real.
This is a story for kids who love mystery, adventure and fantasy. It’s for the kids who love listening to tales of Bigfoot, Baba Yaga, the Loch Ness monster and Stonehenge.
Katherine Orton is a master storyteller. This is her first novel, and I’m excited to see what she pens next.
Title: Nevertell
Author: Katherine Orton
Publisher: Walker Books, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 November 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781406385182
For ages: 10+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
