Esme’s Wish
by Elizabeth Foster
Genre: YA Fantasy
248 pages
A warm-hearted, whimsical fantasy tale, with lashings of mystery, magic, and mythology, and prose that 'flows like water.' Prepare to fall in love with Esperance!
"A fresh new fantasy, of an enchanting world." - Wendy Orr, author of Nim's Island and Dragonfly Song
When fifteen-year-old Esme Silver objects at her father's wedding, her protest is dismissed as the action of a stubborn, selfish teenager. Everyone else has accepted the loss of Esme's mother, Ariane - so why can't she?
But Esme is suspicious. She is sure that others are covering up the real reason for her mother's disappearance - that 'lost at sea' is code for something more terrible, something she has a right to know.
After Esme is accidentally swept into the enchanted world of Aeolia, the truth begins to unfold. With her newfound friends, Daniel and Lillian, Esme retraces her mother's steps in the glittering canal city of Esperance, untangling the threads of Ariane's double life. But the more Esme discovers about Ariane, the more she questions whether she really knew her at all.
This fresh, inventive tale is ideal for readers fifteen and under, including pre-teens keen to step up to YA. A wholly unique take on the genre, perfect for fans of Cornelia Funke or Rick Riordan.
‘If any of you can show just cause as to why these two should not be lawfully wed, speak now, or forever hold your peace.’
Fifteen-year-old Esme was seated in the front row, only a bouquet’s throw away from her father and his bride at the altar. The events of the last few months flashed before her, and the years before them. This was her last chance.
Her hand twisted high in the air. ‘I object.’
Somebody tittered behind her, but covered it quickly with a cough. Whispers and murmurs spread from pew to pew. The groom swung around toward his daughter, the colour draining from his face, before his bride steered him back to the altar. The vicar merely sighed, ignored Esme’s objection, and carried on with the ceremony.
Esme lowered her hand and shrank back in her seat, her cheeks burning as if she’d just been slapped. The rest of the service passed in a blur: the vicar inviting the bride and groom to exchange vows; his pronouncement of them as man and wife; the church organ, wheezing out a hymn as the newlyweds signed the wedding register.
All Esme heard was static.
‘I’m sorry, Mum,’ she whispered, as the organ breathed its final note.
***
Outside, confetti clouded the air, sticking to skin damp from the summer heat. Children, dizzy with joy at being released from the confines of the church, chased each other round and round in circles. Esme’s father, Aaron, and his bride, Penelope, lingered by the entrance of the church, greeting the slipstream of guests that issued from within.
Penelope, swathed in white, glittered and shone like the brightest star in a constellation. Aaron stood stiffly by her side, tugging awkwardly at the cuffs of his suit. He spotted Esme and started toward her, but a glacial stare from Penelope pulled him back to her side.
Esme threaded her way through the crowded courtyard, heading to the one place she knew she would be left alone. The guests’ animated conversations stopped abruptly as she passed by, but every frozen smile and stifled sentence spoke volumes.
We’ve all moved on, they seemed to say. Why can’t you?
The peal of bells followed Esme to the far end of the church grounds, where lichen-licked tombstones leaned in toward the earth. A row of cenotaphs stood beneath a sprawling oak tree, commemorating those whose bodies had never been found. The leaves shivered in the breeze, casting a mosaic of shifting light over the stones below. Esme paused by the last tablet, dated seven years ago.
In Memory of
ARIANE MAY SILVER
Beloved Wife of Aaron and Mother to Esme
1950—1981
Lost at Sea
Elizabeth Foster read avidly as a child, but only discovered the joys of writing some years ago, when reading to her own kids gave her the urge to create a story of her own. Once she started writing, she never looked back. She’s at her happiest when immersed in stories, plotting new conflicts and adventures for her characters. Elizabeth lives in Sydney, Australia, and Esme's Wish is her first novel.
For more information, please visit her website: www.elizabethfoster.com.au. Sign up to her mailing list (on the first page of the website) to hear news about her writing journey and upcoming books.
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3 comments:
Love fantasy! This looks great.
This is a great cover. Evocative.
Love The Cover
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