The Burning Swift (Shadow Skye, Book Three)
Binding: Paperback
Imprint: Walker Books
The epic conclusion to the critically acclaimed Shadow Skye series, a rich fantasy adventure trilogy set in a mythical Scotland.
As old enemies unite, only the most powerful will survive...
News has reached Skye of a vast army approaching from the south, intent on the annihilation of every Scotian.
As Jamie risks his life on an ancient and forbidden blood magic, Sigrid returns to the wilds of Ingland in the hope of an alliance. Meanwhile, Agatha is forced on a journey to the very heart of the enemy.
With the army marching ever closer, Jamie, Agatha and Sigrid will need all their courage, cunning and sacrifice to survive the final battle and save the future of Scotia...
Praise for the Shadow Skye trilogy:
"Thrilling, strange and brutally involving." Guardian
"A story fantasy-loving young readers may not even know they've been waiting for." New York Times
"A gripping story and a dark one." Wall Street Journal
"An exciting new fantasy series set in an ancient mythical Scotland laced with dark magic." The Times
"An absolute cracker. Electrifying." Belfast Telegraph
"A proper barnstormer." SFX
"A wild, thrilling and sometimes dark fantasy adventure." The Week Junior
"The chill barren setting of Scotia provides rich terrain for an unsettling wildness." Irish Times
"Packs a real punch with its high-level suspense." BookTrust
"Rich in atmosphere while dripping with grisly violence ... A fresh and exciting debut." Kirkus
"A gripping, brutal adventure that completely swept me away." Emma Carroll, author of The Somerset Tsunami
"Agatha is that rare thing in fiction: a truly original hero, one for all of us. What a great book!" Ian Irvine, author of The Three Worlds Cycle
"A thrilling adventure in a beautifully imagined world. I defy you not to want to follow Agatha to the end of the known world." Frank Cottrell-Boyce, author of Millions
"A brave new voice in fantasy fiction." Sally Green, author of Half Bad
"I could hardly turn the pages fast enough." Holly Jackson, author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
"Darkly beautiful, original and brimming with hope and compassion." Kesia Lupo, author of We Are Blood and Thunder
"A sublimely plotted, windswept adventure." Cerrie Burnell, author of The Girl with the Shark's Teeth
"A triumph." Katy a Balen, author of The Space We're In
"One of the freshest, most exciting fantasies I've ever read." Sarah Ann Juckes, author of Outside
"The fandom I've been waiting for. Forget Gryffindor, Dauntless, and House Stark... I want to be a Hawk." Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocketful of Stars
Creators
Joseph Elliott is a writer and actor, well-known for his work in children’s television including CBeebies series "Swashbuckle" and CBBC sketch show "Big Fat Like". His commitment to serving children with special education needs was instilled at a young age: his mother is a teacher trained in special needs education, and his parents provided respite foster care for children with additional needs. He has worked at a recreational centre for children with learning disabilities and as a teaching assistant at Westminster Special Schools. The heroine of his debut series, the Shadow Skye trilogy, was inspired by the many incredible children he has worked with, especially those with Down’s syndrome. Joseph lives in London. Say hello to Joseph at @joseph_elliott.
Reviews
A trilogy closer that gives all the characters chances to grow and shine.
Kirkus Reviews
The Burning Swift is a beautiful book. Although dark and grisly and at times brutal, the whole trilogy is full of great hope and portrays, through its unforgettable characters, the qualities of human goodness, loyalty and bravery that people can demonstrate even in the most dire situations.
Read Plus
Elliott’s character creations have truly come to life and grown across the books, reaching a maturity in this final act that they might never have imagined at the beginning of the first. He treats each with care and compassion, giving them real humanity and empathy, allowing his readers to see the world through each character’s eyes. Even though the story is steeped in fantasy, with swords and sorcery, monsters and magic, we can each see a bit of ourselves in the way our protagonists face and ultimately overcome their challenges.
Reading Time
