The Destiny of Minou Moonshine

(Hardback)

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Description

A story of rebels and queens fighting for freedom, and one girl's quest to find out who she really is. A mesmerising middle-grade Indian adventure. Rain maker, Storm-brewer, Song weaver, Flood-bringer, Crowner of Queens... In Moonlally, worship of the powerful Dark Goddess is forbidden. The monsoons have failed and life for the Blacktowners is hard. Fierce orphan girl Minou Moonshine lives with her grandmother on a makeshift barge in the shadow of the General's palace. When her beloved Dima is mysteriously murdered, Minou joins the secretive Green Orchids, rebels plotting to overthrow the despotic General and restore the rightful Queen of Moonlally. In the lush jungles, mountain villages and treetop temples of Indica, Minou begins a winding journey with her two friends and a mechanical elephant. Can Minou bring back the floods and the power of the Dark Goddess, as well as finding the queen and her place in the future of Moonlally A debut rich in myth and legend, friendship, family and faith, and an original adventure that sparkles with storytelling magic.

Reviews

'Masterful, a wonderfully original fantasy adventure that feels like a timeless classic. A brilliant new voice in the world of childrens fiction.' -- Anthony McGowan, winner of the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal for LARK
Gita Ralleigh builds a vivid world bursting with jeopardy in this beautifully lyrical debut. So many unexpected twists to love, including the mechanicals. Minou is a great hero kind-hearted, brave, and full of fire. -- Jasbinder Bilan, Costa prize-winning author of AASHA AND THE SPIRIT BIRD
'An awesome alt-India middle grade book, with adventure and emotional twists, tied together with friendships and the family we find, and an incredible heroine in Minou, who fights for freedom and Queendom!' -- Roopa Farooki, author of A DOUBLE DETECTIVES MEDICAL MYSTERY: THE CURE FOR A CRIME
'A rich and thrilling adventure.' -- Sophie Anderson, author of THE THIEF WHO SANG STORMS
'Magical, multi-sensory storytelling...that will enchant readers, rest in memories and spark imaginations.' -- Sita Brahmachari, Yoto-Carnegie shortlisted author of WHEN SHADOWS FALL
High adventure and a lavish, sensory world of mystery, magic and mechanical marvels. With an indomitable hero in Minou Moonshine, this is an inspiring, delightful read - young readers are in for a ripping ride. -- Finbar Hawkins, author of WITCH
'With forbidden goddesses, a lost queen and a mechanical elephant, this is a gently unfolding, rich narrative full of fantasy and wonder, which champions the power of girls and women to manage their own destinies.' * The Bookseller, One to Watch *

Author Bio

Gita Ralleigh is a poet, writer and NHS doctor, born to Indian immigrant parents in London. Gita teaches creative writing to science and medical undergraduates at Imperial College London and has an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck (2015) and an MSc in Medical Humanities (2020). Gita is a published poet and her work has appeared in Wasafiri, Bellevue Literary Review, Magma Poetry, among others. Moonshine River is her first novel for children. Twitter: @storyvilled