Book 1

Brightstorm

by Vashti Hardy

Published 28 June 2019
Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm are devastated to learn that their famous explorer father has died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris, the southernmost point in the world. To make matters worse, the Lontown Geographical Society finds Ernest Brightstorm guilty of sabotaging the expedition of his competitor, Eudora Vane, a respected and powerful member of the Society. But then a mysterious clue leads the twins to question the story they’ve been told. Joining the ragtag crew of the Aurora, a homemade sky-ship captained by the intrepid Harriet Culpepper, Arthur and Maudie race to South Polaris to salvage their family’s reputation. As the sky-ship sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them if they are to uncover the truth about what happened on their father’s doomed expedition, and to prove themselves worthy explorers. Brightstorm is a propulsive, vividly imagined fantasy adventure set among vibrant landscapes and peopled with dynamic and unforgettable characters.

Book 2

Darkwhispers

by Vashti Hardy

Published 6 March 2020

The ragtag crew of Captain Harriet Culpepper is off on another adventure! Ermitage Wrigglesworth, the notable explorer and author, has been reported missing in Stella Oceanus to the east. Twins Arthur and Maudie are eager to answer the call of adventure to find him, but their old nemesis and newly discovered aunt, Eudora Vane, is also on the hunt. As Lontown’s most famous explorer families set sail aboard their sky-ships, it soon becomes clear that Eudora’s not just after the missing explorer. There’s a secret she’s chasing, something Wrigglesworth had discovered before he vanished, something that definitely shouldn’t be in Eudora Vane’s hands. The Aurora’s crew will have to journey to uncover Wrigglesworth’s secret first, and will discover new lands and new friends along the way. . . .

Return to Vashti Hardy’s “marvelously imagined” world (Publishers Weekly) in this sweeping and propulsive follow up to Brightstorm, hailed by the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books as “a novel of grandeur and action.”



Book 3

Firesong

by Vashti Hardy

Published 1 May 2022
 


The exciting conclusion to the Brightstorm twins' trilogy
within The Brightstorm Chronicles!
Arthur, Maudie, and the rest of the Aurora crew are going
on a mission to the Volcanic North, where years
before their parents discovered the moth that is their family
symbol.


But their scheming, ambitious aunt, Eudora Vane, is still dedicated
to destroying the Brightstorm family name,
and the further north the Aurora travels, the more long-buried
secrets are revealed...





The long-awaited conclusion to the Brightstorm twins' trilogy


Brightstorm was selected as the first Booksellers Association
Children's Book of the Season, won the West Sussex Children's
Story Book Award, was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag
Awards and the Waterstones' Children's Book Prize, and longlisted
for the Blue Peter Book Award

Perfect for fans of books by Peter Bunzl, Abi Elphinstone, and
Alex Bell




 PRAISE FOR BRIGHTSTORM:



"A pacy tale of lies and greed versus loyalty" Observer



"Hardy has drunk from the same cup as Philip Reeve and Philip
Pullman. This is a skilful, gripping and hugely enjoyable account
of the bonds that keep families together." Literary
Review


"Full of surprises and keeps you desperate to find the truth"
National Geographic Kids


"An unputdownable Victorian adventure with vivid characters
that travels at lightning speed" BookTrust's Great
Books Guide


"A highly entertaining old-school adventure" The
Bookseller

Serpent of the Sands

by Vashti Hardy

Published 11 May 2023
 


A leap of faith in a race against time.

When Princess Ganzorig's uncle falls gravely ill, she sneaks out
of the Citadel to find a powerful cure, said to be guarded by
the Serpent of the Sands. But is it only a story? Is she chasing
false hope? But the further Gan travels, the more secrets are revealed
- and the more she questions everything she believes...






The fourth adventure in the Brightstorm Chronicles series, but
this book can be read on its own!

The story is told from the perspective of Princess Gan, a fan-favourite
character from Firesong

Perfect for fans of The Cogheart Adventures, Sky Song,
Dragon Mountain, and The Land of Roar



 


Praise for Serpent of the Sands:



"A brilliant adventure story for upper KS2 and younger KS3
readers. Hardy builds a unique world that feels authentic and engaging
and this book, and the series that it comes from, will feed
the imaginations of young readers." Just Imagine



 


Praise for Brightstorm (book 1)



"Brightstorm is a wonderfully paced, absorbing read that delivers
a special feeling of adventure reserved for stories that
you just cannot put down." Fantasty Book Review



"This is an unputdownable Victoriana adventure with characters
that are vivid and most refreshing in their portrayal of gender
roles. " BookTrust