Alethea Kontis is a storm chaser, world traveler, and New York Times bestselling author. She has received the Scribe Award, the Garden State Teen Book Award, and is a two-time winner of the Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award. She was twice nominated for both the Andre Norton Nebula and Dragon Award. Alethea narrates stories for multiple award-winning online magazines, contributes book reviews to NPR, and does freelance work for Writing the Other. Born in Vermont, Alethea currently resides on the Space Coast of Florida where she watches K-dramas with her teddy bear, Charlie. Together they are ARMY, VVS, and Black Roses.

Trixter by Alethea Kontis

Trix Woodcutter is the long-prophesied Boy Who Talks to Animals. He's also a foundling prankster scamp who places his family under a sleeping spell so that he can run away from home. Compelled by a vision of his dead birthmother, Trix departs on the eve of a Great Catastrophe, only to find himself caught in the maelstrom. Armed with little more than his wits and the wisdom inherent in all fey-blooded youth, Trix confronts a legendary Animal King, faces off against a ghostly feline, rescues a damsel in distress, and discovers more about himself than he ever wished to know.

And this adventure is only the beginning...

 

REVIEWS

  • "From curses, to golden apples, to giant animals there is never a dull moment and this book has something for everyone who loves magic and fairy tales."

    – Nicole, The Reading Rebel

  • "Such a rich and fantastical world, with amazingly entertaining and in depth characters. A must read for all ages!"

    – Page Turner

  • "This story holds key plot points to the rest of the series, and I can see that the Woodcutter series is building into something much larger than I'd originally anticipated. This book is definitely not one to be missed."

    – Matina's Bookshelf
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

Beyond the field stretched a horizon of unbroken sea, the crashing waves winking the reflection of the rising sun over and over and over again in a soothing lullaby. Beside him lay a very long, very purple dragon with three heads.

"Dragon!" Trix screamed.

"Where?" one head asked to the sky.

"FLEE!" cried the second head with its eyes squeezed shut.

The third head said nothing. It looked asleep. Trix realized that it might be the one they had referred to as dead. How sad.

"Aren't you a dragon?" Trix asked the heads.

"Heavens no, child." The middle head laughed in relief.

"We are a lingworm," said the first head.

"I am Trix," said Trix. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Forgive me for not bowing before a being of such legendary grandeur, but my body seems to be on the outs with me at the moment."

"So polite," said the middle head. "Isn't that nice?"

"It would be nicer if he could get to the point," said the first head. Both were covered in curved indigo spikes, some of which remained taut as the heads conversed, and some of which flowed in the air above them like the plumes of an impressive bird.

"Forgive me," said Trix. "Is there some way I can help you?"

"Yes," said the first head.

"Thank you, dearie," said the middle head.

"Do you have a knife?" asked the first head.