Alex Bell crafts narratives steeped in the macabre, exploring themes of blood, death, madness, and murder. Shifting away from a career in law that she found unfulfilling, she immerses herself in the creation of imaginative worlds. Her writing is characterized by a vibrant and potent sense of the fantastical, drawing readers into often dark, yet compelling, realms.
In this third installment of the Stella Starflake series, the protagonist encounters a thrilling array of fantastical creatures, including gargoyles, sea-gremlins, mermaids, and red devil squids. Stella must confront a formidable and dangerous challenge, adding excitement to her adventurous journey. The book also boasts an eye-catching foiled cover that enhances its appeal.
We're waiting for you to come and play. Dunvegan School for Girls has been closed for many years. Converted into a family home, the teachers and students are long gone. But they left something behind...Sophie arrives at the old schoolhouse to spend the summer with her cousins. Brooding Cameron with his scarred hand, strange Lilias with a fear of bones and Piper, who seems just a bit too good to be true. And then there's her other cousin. The girl with a room full of antique dolls. The girl that shouldn't be there. The girl that died.
In a distant watery corner of the Explorers Kingdom, a submarine engineer, Ursula, is determined to become an explorer. Unfortunately, she hides an extraordinary secret, which makes her the sworn enemy of the Ocean Squid Explorers' Club were they ever to find out... But when The Collector threatens the Club, Ursula throws caution to the wind and leads an expedition through treacherous waters, filled with gremlins, aboard the Blowfish submarine - and joined by her friends Max, Genie and Jai - and even her idol Stella! Thrilling, heart-pounding adventure with exquisite detail throughout. Alex Bell's world-building is second to none.
Directly below was a sight none of them had ever seen before - a kind of spiral, with glowing ruby-red lights that curved outwards like tentacles.In the middle was a dark circle, inky black. It had the look of a really, really deep well. Ursula and her friends are in a race against time. The Collector has taken Stella captive, and is hungrily snatching up all the beautiful places of the world in her snow globe prisons. She needs to be stopped, but first they must find her. To aid them in their quest, the explorers seek help from new allies, including a Pirate Queen, with a ghost ship that can defy time and space, and then take to the skies in a galaxy fairy rocket. But their journey is fraught with danger, as the future of the planet hangs in the balance. Escape into a sensational world filled with space moles, sea goblins and giant sharks, all covered with a sprinkling of moon dust!
The second title in this gorgeously imaginative middle grade fantasy adventure series combining the best of Peter Pan, Lemony Snicket, Northern Lights and Alice in Wonderland.
"Stella Starflake Pearl just wants to be part of the Polar Bear Explorers Club. But Stella's a girl, and everyone knows that girls aren't allowed to be explorers. Stella's ready to prove everyone wrong"--
Jude Lomax is playing in a jazz band at the funeral of murdered cajou queen Ivory Monette when she finds herself possessed by Ivory's vengeful spirit. The only way Jude can free herself is to take a journey deep into the dangerous underbelly of Hurricane Town...
An ancient fairytale, a contemporary heroine - and a cracking good read.
For readers of THE TOYMAKERS and THE WATCHMAKER OF FILIGREE STREET, a dark magical novel set in the world of Victorian pleasure gardens from an acclaimed writer. _____________________ Welcome to the Winter Gardens of Half Moon House. Please do not mishandle the exhibits. (The owners accept no liability for any events that occur, magical or otherwise...) The Winter Garden open at the stroke of midnight with no great fanfare - after all, this is a time when all virtuous folk should be in bed. But for the few curious souls that brave the opening of its gates what enchantments await. There is all manner of strange and spectacular flora and fauna collected on her travels by the scandalous Lady Beatrice Sitwell and exhibited for the delight of paying customers. By flickering lamplight, visitors can discover magic fish, spectacular ghost butterflies, and a tiger made of stars. And for the very brave - and a small extra cost - there is the forest of plum trees, ripening against the snow bearing magical fruit which can tell your fortune - if only you dare take a bite...
Something has gone very wrong at Hoggle's Happy Toys. But five years after shutting its doors, the toy factory is opening again ... Bestselling author Alex Bell serves up mystery and dark humour aplenty in this Roald Dahl-esque middle-grade tale of toys brought to life. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+