[Wise Child 02] Juniper

The only child of the king of Cornwall, Juniper lives the life of luxury and ease that befits a medieval princess. Still, something compels her to leave the palace to take up a difficult life of study with her godmother, Euny. The harsh but wise woman proceeds to teach the girl about herbs, healing, and the magic within nature. It is not until Juniper returns home a year and a day later that she begins to understand the purpose of her training. Meroot, her power-hungry aunt, is using black magic in an attempt to seize the throne. Meroot has not only placed a terrible curse on the countryside but also threatened the life of Juniper’s unborn brother—the future king of Cornwall. Armed only with her new, untested powers, Juniper must find a way to stop Meroot—before the kingdom itself is destroyed. The prequel to the spellbinding fantasy Wise Child , Juniper evokes a distant era when spiritual and earthly power were inextricably entwined.

Though Juniper enjoys the easy life of a medieval princess, she chooses to learn about herbs, healing, and the magic within nature from her strange and difficult godmother. As her training comes to an end, Juniper discovers that her power-hungry aunt is using black magic to seize the throne. Juniper must use her as-yet-untested powers to stop her—before the kingdom is destroyed!

While apprenticed to the witch woman Juniper, a young girl struggles to save her family from the evil machinations of her power-hungry aunt Meroot. Prequel to "Wise Child."

This prequel to "Wise Child" recounts the childhood and spiritual initiation of Juniper, who will in turn pass down the secret teachings of the "dorans" to Wise Child. Readers will again enjoy the details of herb-gathering, spell-casting and mystic rituals. An atmospheric story that will both satisfy confirmed fantasy fans and involve readers new to the genre."-- "Bulletin, Center for Children's Books. THE NIGHT I was born, according to my nurse, Erith, was a night of black frost and dense darkness in the bitter January.