Shortlisted for the 2026 Marlowe and Christie Novel Prize Everyone knows it is Knights that defeat Dragons. But how do you defeat a Dragon that hatches in your own heart? When her mother falls gravely ill, Ziroh leaves her sheltered life on isolated Eallan Island to seek aid. But a chain of catastrophic events draws her into a quest far more dangerous than she ever imagined. With only a pair of childish imps, a tavern-brawling fairy, and a disillusioned student enchanter at her side, Ziroh must journey through lands of ancient magic and hidden enemies, seeking a mysterious Knight. But the greatest danger is no longer the world around her. It is one she carries within. If Ziroh cannot find the Knight in time... There will be nothing of Ziroh left to save. A dark fantasy rooted in British folklore