Abi Elphinstone Books in Order

Where to Start with Abi Elphinstone?

Abi Elphinstone has established herself as one of the UK’s most imaginative voices in modern middle-grade fantasy. If you are new to her work, you have two excellent starting paths. For readers who love classic, slightly darker woodland magic and ancient prophecies, the best entry point is her debut trilogy, beginning with The Dreamsnatcher. If you prefer high-concept portal fantasy with whimsical creatures and environmental themes, start with the prequel novella Everdark or the first full-length novel in The Unmapped Chronicles.

The Unmapped Chronicles: Recommended Reading Order

This series features a network of magical, hidden kingdoms responsible for generating the weather, magic, and seasons of our world. Reading this series can occasionally confuse newcomers due to two factors: the release of a prequel novella and a major title divergence between the UK and US editions. The main trilogy is character-focused, with each book following different children who find their way into these secret lands.

We highly recommend starting with the prequel novella to set the stage, followed by the main novels in chronological order:

1. Everdark (2019) - A shorter prequel novella originally released for World Book Day. It introduces the magical portal world and the threat of the evil harpy Morg, making it the perfect thematic setup before diving into the main novels.
2. Rumblestar (2019) / Casper Tock and the Everdark Wings (2020) - The first full-length novel. The UK edition is named after the cloud-making kingdom of Rumblestar, while the US release is titled after its protagonist, Casper Tock. Casper escapes his mundane life through a grandfather clock and must save the skies.
3. Jungledrop (2020) / The Bickery Twins and the Phoenix Tear (2020) - The second novel. Set in the rain-making jungle kingdom of Jungledrop (UK title), it follows Fox and Fibber Bickery (US title) as they search for the magical Forever Fern to heal their land.
4. The Crackledawn Dragon (2021) / Zeb Bolt and the Ember Scroll (2021) - The final book in the core trilogy. Set in the sea-and-island kingdom of Crackledawn (UK title), it features Zeb Bolt (US title) embarking on a voyage to save the magic of the Unmapped Kingdoms from total destruction.

The Dreamsnatcher Trilogy: Publication & Chronological Order

This was Abi Elphinstone's debut series, a thrilling forest-dwelling fantasy that follows a young girl named Moll Pecksniff, her loyal wildcat Gryff, and their tribe. Because this is a continuous story with a singular overarching narrative arc, these books must be read in strict order of publication:

1. The Dreamsnatcher (2015) - Moll Pecksniff lives in a gypsy camp in the ancient Ancient Magic forest, hiding from a dark shadow that wants to steal her dreams and capture her destiny.
2. The Shadow Keeper (2016) - Moll and her friends flee to the rugged northern coast, searching for the second magical amulet key to keep the dark magic at bay.
3. The Night Spinner (2017) - The final battle arrives as Moll must face the Shadowmasks in a race against time to rebuild the magic of the forest and defeat the dark sorcery.

The Ember Spark Series: The Latest Adventure

The Ember Spark series is Elphinstone's newest series, focusing on a girl named Ember Spark who becomes an apprentice vet to magical beasts. These books should be read in order of release to follow the character development and overarching mysteries:

1. Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons (2024) - Introduces Ember Spark, her companion Arno, and their job protecting and caring for rare, magical beasts.
2. Ember Spark and the Frost Phoenix (2024) - Ember and Arno travel to snowy peaks to rescue a rare frost phoenix from clutches of danger.
3. Ember Spark and the Unicorn's Secret (2025) - The third adventure, following Ember as she uncovers a mystery surrounding hidden unicorns.

Standalone Middle-Grade Novels

For readers who want a complete, self-contained story without committing to a multi-book series, Elphinstone has written several acclaimed standalone adventures:

• Sky Song (2018) - Set in the icy kingdom of Erkenwald, this snowy fantasy follows an eagle huntress named Eska and a boy named Flint. They must use an icicle organ and ancient song-magic to defeat an evil Ice Queen. This remains one of her most popular works.
• Saving Neverland (2023) - A modern, snowy reimagining of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. It follows ten-year-old Martha Pennydrop and her brother Scruff as they travel to a freezing Neverland to save Peter and the Lost Kids from Captain Hook's dark magic.
• Goodnight Silver (Expected October 2026) - An upcoming fantasy novel where a girl rescues a snow leopard cub in the mountains of Mongolia, leading to a quest to protect the magical land of Whisperfell.

Picture Books and Seasonal Anthologies

Elphinstone has also created magical stories for younger readers and compiled seasonal collections:

• Winter Magic (2016) - A cozy winter-themed anthology curated and edited by Abi Elphinstone, featuring stories of frost fairs, snow queens, and magic from various children's authors.
• Wisp of Wisdom: Animal Tales from Cameroon (2016) - A collection of traditional folk tales from the Cameroon rainforests, co-written to support conservation.
• The Snow Dragon (2019) - A beautifully illustrated picture book about an orphan girl named Phoebe and a magical dragon made of snow.
• The Frost Goblin (2022) - A heartwarming picture book following a little goblin finding his place in a frosty, magical world.

What to Know Before You Start

One of the most charming elements of Abi Elphinstone’s writing is that her settings are deeply inspired by her real-life travels. She doesn't just imagine these cold climates and wild spaces; she has gone dog-sledding in the Arctic, lived with Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia, and explored remote wildernesses. This gives books like Sky Song and the upcoming Goodnight Silver a vivid sense of place. Furthermore, Elphinstone is open about her childhood struggles with dyslexia, often encouraging young readers that storytelling is about imagination and resilience rather than spelling or speed.