Bravely

Merida of DunBroch loves her family and her peaceful kingdom, but the sameness of each day wears on her. Her father is King Fergus, her mother is Queen Elinor, and she has three mischievous younger brothers. She wants adventure, purpose and a challenge, and perhaps someday love.

Her restlessness takes a dangerous shape on Christmas Eve, when Feradach arrives in DunBroch. He is an uncanny supernatural being whose task is to root out rot and stagnation, and he means to destroy the realm and everyone in it. Only the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, offers a way out: Merida has one year to persuade her family to change, or the consequences are eternal.

The year runs through four seasons. With both gods watching, Merida leads three voyages to kingdoms near and far, hoping to stir her family into revolution. The book follows her through these expeditions.

A harder matter surfaces as she goes. While she works to save everyone she loves, she may have overlooked the member of the Clan who has grown most stagnant of all: herself.

The book is a fantasy adventure built around a deadline, with a young princess at its centre and mythic powers setting the terms. It blends the stakes of a threatened kingdom with a personal reckoning for its heroine.