As much as Cherrie wants to save Grams, her need to protect her older brother from the fairies and the rest of the real world wins out. Who knows what lurks in a world populated by winged menaces? But when the fairy talks Cherrie’s brother into going to the fairy realm, Cherrie mounts a rescue attempt to save him. To her surprise, it’s not her brother who needs rescuing—it’s the fairies. Someone is stealing their lights and imprisoning them, and it’s up to Cherrie and her brother to free them. But saving the fairies, keeping her brother safe, and returning home requires the help of the Phoenix. And the price for his aid doesn’t come cheap. If Cherrie wants to succeed, she must be willing to part with her greatest possession: her heart.
Danyelle Leafty: Collector of dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers
Danyelle has devoured fairy tales ever since she learned read, and has been enjoying a steady diet of them ever since.
During her time as Storyteller-in-Chief, she has learned that dragons do make everything taste a little bit better, that nothing is ever so dire that a quick transmogrification can’t make things worse, that at the heart of every story is a kernel of truth, and that all the best stories begin with “Once upon a time . . .” (one way or another).
When she isn’t trying to entice more Story out of her characters, she can be found curled up with a book, learning new languages, plucking away at her harp, knitting, drawing, or trying to convince her Younglings that vegetables are neither villainous nor unnecessary and that bedtime is non-negotiable.
The Small Ones remain unconvinced.