Hi! I’m Emily Bain Murphy, USATODAY bestselling author of fantasy and mystery books for adults, young adults, and middle grade readers.
My monthly newsletter THE GARDEN is about books, writing, recommendations, and finding beauty everywhere—and I hope it feels a bit like a breath of fresh air for your inbox.
If you’re interested in checking it out, I’d love to send you a free peek of the first chapter of my brand new book, LIGHTSEEKERS: A KINGDOM OF SHADOWS (WaterBrook/Penguin RandomHouse)! This book is perfect for fans of Narnia/the Wingfeather Saga, ages 8-99.
About LIGHTSEEKERS
A band of misfits seek to fight the darkness that's slowly overcoming their kingdom—the start of a grand adventure series in the tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia and the Wingfeather Saga.
Light in the Kingdom of Wildfel is dying. The shadows have been overtaking the light ever since The Great Betrayal. Now, the sun shines increasingly dimmer, it takes more firewood to brighten a room, and the world is growing more desperate and dangerous by the day.
Twelve-year-old orphan Finn survives in this world by being a thief, along with his best friend Adrion and younger sister Lydia. When the three meet a mysterious stranger who claims to know of a lake of light, they set off on an adventure across the kingdom. They discover that Wildfel is a place of great danger and great beauty, where the mist can steal your most precious memories, starlight gathers in waterfalls, spiders spin shimmering webs of glass as deadly as they are dazzling. If they can find this mythical lake of light, it could change the course of their lives, and the kingdom itself.
There are also secrets hiding in the darkness that could change Finn’s very understanding of everything he knows to be true, even about himself—but only if he's brave enough to step into the light.
Praise for LIGHTSEEKERS
“Reading A Kingdom of Shadows is like hearing a ‘secret song in the dark,’ a melody that pulls you into a world of magic and light. With world-building at its finest, Emily Bain Murphy constructs an incredible adventure that is more than a mere quest—with characters so richly drawn, readers will feel deeply invested from page one.”—John Hendrix, New York Times bestselling illustrator and author of The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien
"Tales of trust, hope, and ambition weave together against a backdrop of fantastical creatures and mystical hazards to deliver a thoughtful, appealing story." - Publishers Weekly
“Any reader who loves fantasy will enjoy this wonderful tale about a ragtag group of young explorers seeking light in a darkening world and discovering the meaning of true friendship along the way.” - Karina Yan Glaser, NYT Bestselling author of THE VANDERBEEKERS series and The Nine Moons of Han Yu
“This story is pure light! From Finn’s care for his sister and best friend to the fantastical creatures and settings, A Kingdom of Shadows buzzes with sparks of beauty and wonder that shine in stark contrast to a world where light itself is disappearing. Join this ragtag group of misfits on their impossible quest. You won’t regret it!” - Carolyn Leiloglou, award-winning author of the Restorationists trilogy
Sign up for THE GARDEN below and get the first chapter of LIGHTSEEKERS as a free sneak peek.
More of Emily’s books are also available now from Hachette and HarperCollins. Find out more at www.emilybainmurphy.com.
I’m so glad you’re here!
With love (and light!)—
