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New books time!

September has snuck up on us quickly, and with it comes four new Chicken House books! We're super excited to share these excellent new reads with you all ...

Aarti & the Blue Gods by Jasbinder Bilan

Aarti has lived on the island with Aunt for as long as she can remember.

Like the weather, Aunt rules her world with rare warmth. Aarti’s only comforts are a book of Indian myths full of blue gods, a fox’s friendship, and a toy rabbit she finds in a locked room. Then, she learns Aunt has been feeding her lies. Fate intervenes when a half-drowned boy washes up on the beach. With his help, Aarti hopes to remember who she really is … and perhaps find a way home.A mesmerising third novel from Costa-winning and Waterstones- shortlisted Jasbinder Bilan, who is fast establishing herself as one of the most exciting writers of middle-grade fiction.

Read chapter 1 of Aarti & the Blue Gods

The Ash House by Angharad Walker

A new boy arrives at the Ash House.

He can’t remember his name – or why he’s been sent there. Given the name Sol, and troubled by a mystery pain that no medicine can cure, he joins the gang of children living in the shadows of the secretive house, doing what they can to survive. Soon, however, there’s more for the children of the Ash House to face – unless Sol’s new-found friendships can defeat the darkness that descends with the arrival of the Doctor …

A timeless, multi-layered debut from Angharad Walker, featuring stunning artwork by Olia Muza. Think Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children meets Lord of the Flies. 

Read chapter 1 of The Ash House

His Royal Hopeless by Chloe Perrin

Robbie is heir to the evilest dynasty in the world: the Sinistevils.

He can’t wait to pledge his heart to the menacing power of the family Sceptre and embark on his bloodthirsty future. The thing is, Robbie is … well … nice. And when he discovers his heart has been swapped for clockwork, he’s incapable of believing Mother had dark intentions. Instead, he embarks on a quest to retrieve his heart, claim his wicked destiny, and secure Mother’s pride at last. But Mother has other ideas …

Funny and original, His Royal Hopeless is the debut novel of a young and exciting new voice in middle-grade fiction, Chloe Perrin. Tender, wise and often hilarious; think Despicable Me meets Descendants with a fairytale twist.

Read chapter 1 of His Royal Hopeless

The Midnight Hunt by Benjamin Read & Laura Trinder

Emily is locked out of the Midnight Hour, and things have grown dangerously dark in Victorian London.

Her friends and family are on the run from the terrifying Midnight Hunt, while the foul Make Britain Dark Again party schemes to break the spell that keeps both  worlds safe. It’s going to take more than just Emily’s big mouth to fix this one. But how’s a girl meant to save the

day (and night) when she’s all out of snacks and her possibly-magic pocket hedgehog is hibernating?

The Midnight Hunt is the ingeniously plotted finale to the much-loved Midnight Hour trilogy from author duo Benjamin Read and Laura Trinder (also known as Trindles & Read); think Coraline meets A Wrinkle in Time.

Read chapter 1 of The Midnight Hunt