The Witch in the Tower
By (Author) Jlia Sard
Illustrated by Jlia Sard
Walker Books Ltd
Walker Studio
3rd September 2025
United Kingdom
Children
Non Fiction
Hardback
64
Width 190mm, Height 245mm
The sequel to The Queen in the Cave, and the second title in The Three Sisters trilogy, this new picture book from the uniquely thrilling mind of Jlia Sard follows middle sister Carmela on a wild, wondrous adventure that leads to an incredible transformation.
Carmela's older sister, Franca, has stopped playing with her and she cannot help but feel sad and left out. No one can make her feel better, not even her little sister. So she decides to play a game: she will walk until she cant anymore and then ... she will walk a little more. Carmela suddenly arrives at a strange tower where she meets a witch who, it seems, has been waiting for Carmela all this time. She welcomes Carmela into a world far beyond the limits of her imagination, where Carmela visits libraries teeming with ancient books; rooms where worms and spiders weave intricate dresses; a wonderful dome of crystal prisms and, finally, Carmela takes flight - her worries shrinking, her mind expanding. Carmela discovers a magic and power within herself to see beyond the hurt and pain of growing up, to find her own place in the world.
Jlia Sard is a Spanish artist who has illustrated many books for children, including Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey, The Liszts by Kyo Maclear. She has illustrated The Wolf's Secret by Nicolas Digard and Myriam Dahman, which won Foyles Children's Book of the Year 2020. Her work has been published around the world in many languages. The Queen in the Cave was her debut to the Walker Books list and the first book she has both written and illustrated. It was longlisted for a Yoto Carnegie Award for Illustration 2023. She lives in Barcelona. You can find her on Instagram @juliasardaportabella.