Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt

(Paperback)

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In this captivating middle-grade fantasy-adventure,a young girl must save her brother from a secret order of monster hunters.

Ottilie Colter and her brother, Gully, have always fended for themselves. So when Gully goes missingone night,Ottilie sets out to find him and soon makes a horrible discovery.Gully has been forciblyrecruited bythe Narroway Hunt, a secretive male-only organisation that huntssavage, blight-spreading monsters called dredretches.

Disguising herself as a boy,Ottilie infiltrates the Hunt but quickly realises that taking her brother home won't be easy. Trapped in the heart of the dredretch-infested Narroway, it's impossibly dangerous for them to leave. Butas she trainsto become a Huntsman alongside her brother, hoping for a chance to escape,how long can she keep her true identity a secret

From Rhiannon Williams, the first ever middle-grade winner of the Ampersand Prize, comes book one in this bewitching trilogy about friendship, bravery and having the courage to do whats right. Perfect for fans ofWithering-by-Seaby Judith Rossell andA Most Magical GirlbyKaren Foxlee.

• A 2019 CBCA Notable Book of the Year for Younger Readers
• Longlisted for the 2020 ABDA Awards: Best Designed Children's/Young Adult Series

Reviews

• 'In this Australian trilogy opener, a girl infiltrates an all-male monster hunting organization to save her abducted brother. Cautious Ottilie has always followed her brother, Gully, whothough almost two years her junioris the more confident and daring of the two. They live with their neglectful mother in abject poverty on the fringes of civilization in the Swamp Hollows. When Gully fails to come home one night, Ottilie learns of boys going missing and sets off to save her brother. To follow him, she must disguise herself as a boy and sneak into the midst of another group of abductees. After Ottilie, masquerading as Ott, arrives at the Narrowaya place none of them have ever heard ofshes reunited with Gully and told that the boys have been specially selected to serve in the Narroway Hunt to protect their kingdoms border from dangerous, monstrous dredretches. Only Gully and a female sculkie friend (while boys are huntsmen, girls can only be servants) know of Ottilies secret as she plots an escape while also falling deeper into Narroway culture, seeing horrors and coming to embrace the missions importance. Exquisite worldbuilding keeps a strong sense of discovery and balances the appeal of the huntsmans life with the deeply unfair society and hints of conspiracies afoot. Amid thrilling action, plot threads set up the next installment.A must-read for fans of the genre.' Kirkus (Starred review)

• 'Imaginative, fearsome and exciting. I loved it.' Judith Rossell, author of the bestsellingStella Montgomery Intrigue series
• 'Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Huntis the first middle-grade novel to win Hardie Grant Egmonts Ampersand Prize, and it seems destined to be one of those award-winners that also captures the hearts of its audience. It takes the familiar path of the apprenticeship plot often found in fantasy-adventure, but it also explores deeper questions about fairness, gender and friendship, making for a highly enjoyable read. The world-building is original and pared back enough so that it never distracts from the story. This is a great book to put into the hands of Rangers Apprenticeor Song of the Lionessfans aged nine to 12.'Holly Harper,Bookseller + Publisher
• 'If you know a fantasy-adventure fan, they NEED to check outOttilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt. This middle grade novel is action-packed! From start to finish, it's a fast-paced, addictive ride. It grips you from the first chapter, spreading tendrils of mystery into your brain, holding you captive until you reach the very last page. Filled with gruesome monsters, fantastical beasts and life or death challenges, its uniqueness is thrilling. Kids are going to love the mysteries and intrigue, and they will be HUGE fans of the action and adventure that never ever stops. The characters, too, are strong, real and relatable. They are characters with sass, inner strength, courage and strong ideals. They are characters every reader is going to want to be.Rhiannon Williams is a master of words, and this amazing new series is one to grab onto now so you can be part of what is sure to be a middle-grade sensation.' Shaye Wardrop, Kids' Book Review
• 'We loved Ottilie as its such an engaging and beautifully written book that has tremendous appeal for children while alsoseamlessly!encouraging them to think deeply about important subjects. Personally, I so appreciated meeting a young heroine who starts off realistically and imperfectly humana bit uncertain and overwhelmed and not having all the answers already. Journeying with Ottilie to the Narroway and cheering her and the others on through rousing adventures and real transformation was a most gratifying experience. Thank you for this book.' Rise: A Feminist Book Project

Author Bio

Rhiannon Williams is an Australian author who grew up in Taradale, Victoria. She studied English and history at the University of Sydney, and completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts Honours at Flinders University. Rhiannon has a background in theatre and hopes to tell stories until the end of her days. Her debut novel,Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt, was the first middle-grade novel to winthe Ampersand Prize. It is part of a trilogy that hassince been published internationally. Her latest middle-grade novel is Dusty in the Outwilds.