Mia and her umbra go on the offensive to restore light to her moonlit kingdom in this “thrilling” ( Kirkus Reviews ) third and final book in the Umbra Tales middle grade series that’s Keeper of the Lost Cities meets The Golden Compass . Having grown up in the moonlit city of Nubis, Mia McKenna has always found comfort in the darkness. And yet the dark days following her father’s death at the hands of the Reaper King aren’t something she’s prepared to handle. Daniel McKenna was Mia’s rock. He was the whole city’s rock as the leader of the umbra tamers—the highly trained fighters who protect Nubis from atop creatures made of shadows and starlight. Without him, Mia, the tamers, and all of Nubis are lost. There’s little time to grieve when the tamers are facing two enemies: the Reaper King, who has achieved corporeal form, and Queen Katiya, who powers her city with a terrible secret. Mia must channel her emotions into resolve to get revenge on those who have hurt her family, but if she isn’t careful, the darkness swirling inside her might change her—and her powers—forever. Janelle McCurdy is an author and fully-fledged gamer. Having started writing and querying at only sixteen years old, she joined Jo Unwin Literary Agency (JULA) in her early twenties. After graduating from Royal Holloway University with a criminology and sociology degree, Janelle moved back home to London and began writing middle grade fantasy. In her free time, you can find her holed up in her room, gaming and watching anime (some of her favorites being Inuyasha , Dragon Ball Z , and Death Note ), or attending numerous comic cons and gaming events. Chapter One CHAPTER ONE Today is the worst day of my life. Cold air bites the back of my neck as we walk to the place where people come to mourn the dead. A field where the normal purple glow of the grass turns icy white in the presence of someone who’s passed away. The Field of Mourning, where even nature knows what’s happening and cries with the people who’ve come to say goodbye. Just a few days ago, Dad was telling me how proud he was of me. How he would always be there for me. We were fighting to save Lucas and Samuel in Astaroth from the Elite, who had escaped the hold, and now… The hollowness in my chest grows bigger every time I think about it. I hear Dad’s screams of pain as that monster stole his life away. He sacrificed himself to save everyone and close the portal, while I couldn’t do anything to stop it. When I let that gutterslug king take me instead of Lucas, I couldn’t do anything. If it wasn’t for Dad, I’d be long gone too. I was so weak ! I wish the whole ground would swallow me up. It’s what I deserve. Every single person in the city is here, dressed in white, each carrying a blue crystal star. They fill the field and the roads, all to bid their goodbyes. I chew the inside of my cheek and fight against the shakiness of my fists. My stomach lurches and the back of my throat burns. I wasn’t strong enough to save him. A strong wind blows, and everyone suddenly turns around. Their sad eyes look behind me, but I stay completely still, clutching at my white dress. I bite my lip. No… This shouldn’t be happening. I don’t want to see it! I hear footsteps slowly approaching. In the corner of my eye, I see the long, white crystal box being carried by the tamers, passing through the white rose-vine arches that lead to the front of the mourners. Please. Don’t. Sweat prickles my forehead, and I look down and focus on the small speck of dirt on one of my shoes. I don’t wanna see it. Tiny soul butterflies slowly flap around the field on colorful wings like little flying hearts, but their presence only makes me wanna throw up. They only ever appear when someone has died, a symbol of death. I hear the soft thuds of people pounding fists against their chests in respect as the box passes, but what’s the point when he can’t see any of it? What’s the point of any of this? My fingernails dig hard into my palms. The pain keeps my feet planted to the ground. No matter how much I want to, I can’t run away. There’s no changing the past. A soft snout rubs against my cheek, but I can’t bring myself to look at the shadowy black umbra beside me, even though I appreciate the gesture. Jada’s braids catch the corner of my eye. She tries to make eye contact, but I stare blankly ahead. Next to me, Lucas’s wails sound distant, a faint echo in the freezing wind. Mum picks him up and holds him close with one arm. To my surprise, she pushes the fingers of her free hand against mine, breaking through my clenched fist. I barely register her touch, because all I feel is numb. I should have done more. I WASN’T STRONG ENOUGH! Then I fully take it in. The long silver box that glistens in the moonlight. Only… It’s not a box. It’s a coffin… with my daddy in it, and I won’t ever be able to see him again. Sobs echo around me, but I can’t cry, or shout, or anything. There’s emptiness where