Published by Pushkin Children’s Books, 2025.

The Changeling Child is the exciting and twist-filled sequel to Into the Faerie Hill.

Alfred and Saga have already saved the faerie realm once by putting a stop to the mayor’s plan to tunnel through Faerie Hill. Now it looks like they’re going to have to take on their old adversary once more as he announces a new construction project that’s even more ambitious than before and threatens to destroy not only much of their local landscape but also to do untold damage to the parallel faerie realm. However, it’s not just the two children who are incensed by the mayor’s plans, the faeries themselves are angry and intend to take matters into their own hands by fighting back against the humans. Because he is a demi-fae, Alfred is able to return to the faerie realm and attempt to restore peace between the two worlds while Saga remains behind and endeavours to put a stop to the mayor’s plans.

Saga is a powerful and passionate advocate for protecting the natural world and she works tirelessly to save the local environment and simultaneously prevent desolation from spreading throughout the faerie realm. She is brave, determined and resourceful – a real role model for children today who are similarly concerned about the destruction of our planet.

Alongside the theme of environmental activism, the book also explores themes of identity, belonging and family. As a demi-fae, Alfred is torn between the human family who have raised him and a desire to learn more about his lost faerie mother and his connection to the faerie world. His return to the faerie realm is a journey of self-discovery. Running parallel to this are Saga’s investigations into the changeling child – a local baby who went missing twelve years ago and was never seen or spoken of again.

This is an imaginative and magical story with exceptional world-building (and a rather lovely map in the opening pages). I loved the mischief and menace in the faerie realm; these are not delicate pink fairies in tutus and glitter, but rather the faeries of European folklore – closely linked to nature, and often with darker powers.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 10+

Thank you to Pushkin Children’s Books for sending me this book to review. I reviewed it as part of The Changeling Child blog tour. Check out all the other posts on the tour for more exclusive content.