King Crispin and Queen Cedar have just had a baby daughter--Princess Catkin--and everyone on Mistmantle Island gathers for the joyful celebration of the Naming Ceremony. But the day after, the princess suddenly disappears. Urchin and all the brave captains are dispatched to bring back the princess, but come back empty-handed. All clues point to Linty, an older squirrel who had gone mad with grief when two of her children had been culled during evil Husk's reign. The islanders fall further into crisis as a mysterious illness takes hold and begins to spread. There are whispers that perhaps Husk is still alive and seeking his vengeance. In this newest entry in the epic Mistmantle Chronicles, the islanders will have to overcome their greatest fears to save Catkin and bring stability back to their beloved island.

After his last adventures, Urchin of the Riding Stars has taken his place as a trusted member of the Circle in King Crispin's court. Life on the island is back to normal, with little Princess Catkin growing up and testing everyone's patience in the process.But daily life is disrupted when Lord Arcneck and other inhabitants of Swan Isle come to Mistmantle asking for help. Their home has been taken over by bloodthirsty ravens that are attacking them and ravaging everything in sight.The brave animals of Mistmantle rush to the aid of their friends, but in doing so, incur the wrath of the invaders upon themselves. The vengeful ravens are powerful and won't stop until they hunt down and destroy every creature on the island. Only by using all of their courage and cunning will Urchin and his friends stand a chance to preserve life as they know it on their beloved home.About the AuthorM. I. McAllister has written several previous novels, published by Oxford University Press in the United Kingdom, includingThe Secret Miceand most recentlyThe Octave of Angels. She is married to a minister and has three nearly grown-up children. She lives with her family in Yorkshire, England.

On a night of riding stars, a tiny squirrel is found abandoned and close to death on a distant beach. Adopted and raised by a kindly squirrel, Urchin has no idea of his powerful destiny or of the way he will influence the island of Mistmantle. The rule of the good King Brushen and Queen Spindle is threatened by an evil plot from within the court. When their young son is found murdered, the isle is thrown into turmoil. Behind the scenes, the wicked Lord Husk and Lady Aspen are determined to take control. But to underestimate the power of the islanders and the ancient prophecies is a big mistake….Triumphant heroes and brilliantly wicked villains do battle in this heart-stopping adventure in the great tradition of Watership Down and The Wind in the Willows.Amazon.com ReviewA young squirrel determines his true destiny in this Redwall read-alike by British author M.I. McAllister. A foundling discovered on the rocky shore of Mistmantle Island, Urchin has been raised by the peaceful order of rodents and otters that live and work on the magical isle. Now almost grown, the young squirrel wants nothing more than to serve as page to one of the dashing Captains that make up King Brushen's personal guard. He gets his chance when Captain Crispin appoints Urchin his "right-paw squirrel." But on Urchin's very first morning in the Tower, the King's only son is found murdered and Crispin is accused of the crime! Urchin can only look on helplessly while his mentor is banished from court. Meanwhile, power hungry Captain Husk and Lady Aspen continue to fill the devastated royal couple's ears with treachery, and their cups with sleeping draughts. Urchin is desperate to prove Crispin's innocence, but who will believe an orphan of questionable origins? Born under a sky of shooting stars, Urchin is destined to do great deeds, perhaps even save all of Mistmantle. But first, he must believe... Entertaining but predictable, this simply told medieval fable brings nothing new to the growing body of children's animal fantasies. However, it will serve as a steppingstone for those young readers not quite ready for the detailed descriptions and hearty brogues of Brian Jacques's ever popular and endlessly replicating Redwall series.--Jennifer HubertFrom School Library JournalGrade 4-7–Urchin the squirrel believes he is destined for greatness. Dropped from the sky by a gull onto the island of Mistmantle, he is rescued by Crispin, captain to hedgehog King Brushen. He becomes Crispin's page and is quickly embroiled in the murder of the King's young son. When Crispin is framed for the crime and banished, Urchin remains on Mistmantle, working for another captain, Padra the otter. Eyewitness to a power struggle for the throne, he helps fight against cruel new laws and reveals the true murderer. This story will appeal to fans of Brian Jacques's Redwall series (Philomel) as well as to readers who enjoy court intrigue and battle scenes with tons of tails and fur. While the action contains too many coincidences to be believed (someone is always perfectly placed to overhear just the thing needed for the next chapter), the characters are memorable and likable, and the writing is smooth and evenly paced. Urchin rises above other animal stories with flashes of humor as well as weighty issues like murder and cruelty to the weak. Although the plot devices and characterization are fairly stereotypical, the book is worth purchasing, especially given the popularity of this genre. Young readers will be pleased to see this new series hit the shelves.–Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The animals of Mistmantle have enjoyed a long period of peace and prosperity since the violent Raven War. Their tranquility is disrupted when tidal waves threaten  to destroy the island. Mossberry, a squirrel with delusions of grandeur, sees the impending disaster as an opportunity to rise to power...and his reckless decisions will put many citizens in harm's way. Urchin of the Riding Stars must stop Mossberry and usher everyone to safety before it is too late. Along the way, the ultimate sacrifice must be made for the survival of all. Deeply moving and packed with adventure, this is a fitting conclusion to the beloved Mistmantle Chronicles.About the AuthorM. I. McAllister has written several previous novels, published by Oxford University Press in the United Kingdom, includingThe Secret Miceand most recentlyThe Octave of Angels. She is married to a minister and has three nearly grown-up children. She lives with her family in Yorkshire, England.

As the inhabitants of the island of Mistmantle prepare for the coronation of Crispin the squirrel, robes are stitched, cakes are baked, wine is brought up from cellars, and the Heartstone—the unique gold-and-silver-flecked stone that only the rightful ruler of the island can hold—is readied.But the newly established peace in Mistmantle is soon under threat. A storm-ravaged ship from a distant land appears in the mist surrounding the island; a dramatic revelation about the revered Heartstone comes to light; and the extrasensory powers of a young islander reveal the evil close at hand.Urchin finds himself journeying to a hostile island, where the maniacal King Silverbirch and his sorcerer, Smokewreath, await him. There, Urchin will have to face challenges greater than those her has ever known, and in so doing, he will learn a secret about his past that will change his life forever.From School Library JournalGrade 4-7–In this sequel to Urchin of the Riding Stars (Hyperion, 2005), Mistmantle's animal inhabitants are preparing for the coronation of Crispin the squirrel. All does not go smoothly, and Urchin, a Companion to the King, is kidnapped and taken to the island of Whitewings, where he is imprisoned by a silver-obsessed dictator. As is always the case in books of this genre, good is victorious in the end. Readers leave the animals to their happy lives, though presumably there will be some new disaster presented in another installment. While predictable, this is an engaging read with appealing characters and lots of action. Rayyan's whimsical illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are quite effective. Unfortunately, the artist repeatedly represents a character that was meant to be a hedgehog as a mole. This is a minor criticism, but it is an inconsistency that fans of this genre are likely to notice. The similarities to Brian Jacques' Redwall series (Philomel) are obvious. It is interesting to note that McAllister avoids the implication that some animals are just born bad by having the evil characters come from the same species as the good ones. The author also uses a slightly smaller cast of characters and steers away from the use of any potentially confusing dialect, which makes this series approachable for readers who may not be quite ready for the Redwall books.–Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.About the AuthorM. I. McAllister has written several previous novels, published by Oxford University Press in the United Kingdom, including The Secret Miceand most recently The Octave of Angels. She is married to a minister and has three nearly grown-up children. She lives with her family in Yorkshire, England.