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The Heart and the Hawthorn

A high-stakes cosy fantasy brimming with romance and magic
Brief Description
What if life was always rainbows and unicorns? Frida always wanted to be a zookeeper at the London Extraordinary Zoo, caring for endangered magical creatures. And while the LEZ's unicorns and ghost lynxes are incredible, she can't wait to meet the zoo's newest resident: a baby... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3799
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Releases 23rd November 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "The Heart and the Hawthorn" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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A cosy, queer contemporary fantasy about a magical zookeeper who must go on a quest to break a spell . . . and discovers that magic is more complicated than she thought

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
What if life was always rainbows and unicorns?

Frida always wanted to be a zookeeper at the London Extraordinary Zoo, caring for endangered magical creatures. And while the LEZ's unicorns and ghost lynxes are incredible, she can't wait to meet the zoo's newest resident: a baby dragon. His enclosure is perfect, his food is prepped, and everyone is ready for anything.

Well, maybe not anything. They're definitely not ready for the magical storm that arrives with the dragon; a storm that releases a powerful (and extremely gorgeous) tree fairy, who casts a sleeping spell over the zoo and everyone in it. Everyone except for Frida.

Saving the LEZ seems like an impossible task, but Frida knows that nothing is impossible. Her quest takes her on a wild adventure, into the past, where she realises there are more important things worth saving than the zoo...

Perfect for fans of The Spellshop, The Heart and the Hawthorn is a queer love story about following your heart - and what's possible when you realise that every single creature deserves a voice.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399750226

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 August 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Hodderscape

Illustration: Possible b&w map, b&w line drawings

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Laura is a writer and an artist who lived for many years in the Bolivian Amazon, working with rescued wild animals. They write and make art about queer love, other worlds, and kinship with other species. Laura's first book was a bestselling memoir called THE PUMA YEARS, set on the frontlines of environmental destruction, where amongst fires, deforestation and the strength of a tiny Bolivian community, Laura met a puma called Wayra, and they changed each other's lives. You can still find Laura in the jungle, or if not, by the sea on a small island in the Inner Hebrides.

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