The Uninvited is the new astonishing magical adventure from the award-winning author, with themes of colonialism, immigration and friendship
Andersen Press are thrilled to announce the acquisition of multi-award-winning author Ross MacKenzie’s latest magical adventure. The Uninvited is an astonishing story that explores themes of immigration, colonialism and freedom.
Publishing in August 2025, this will involve a major publicity and marketing campaign starting with a proof campaign this week, followed by nationwide author appearances and events upon publication.
When the Faerie folk flee their world and come to ours, running from the nightmare of war, nobody in the everyday knows what to do. So they are locked away.
Thirteen-year-old Samm Wolfback lives in Glass Forest, a sprawling Faerae refugee camp in England. Life in Glass Forest is hard, poisoned by disease and crime and poverty. But Samm has a unique gift that lines his pockets – he can find lost things.
When Samm is thrust into the centre of a plot to escape Glass Forest and return home, he must use his gifts to unearth two treasures lost in the everyday: a relic that will end the war back in Faerae; and the only person with the power to reopen the door between worlds – the Locksmith. The task will take Samm to dark places filled with danger, from a grimly enchanted circus of nightmares to a museum housing a murderous exhibit, and he will have to use all of his skills to stay alive.
Meanwhile, in the human world, a kidnapped boy with a dark secret begins to realise that he might hold the key to the Faerae folks’ fate. Before all is said and done, destiny’s web will entangle him with Samm and send them spinning towards a showdown with the great evil that lurks in the world beyond the door.
World rights for a two-book deal were secured by Charlie Sheppard, Publishing Director at Andersen Press, from Steph Thwaites at Curtis Brown.
Ross MacKenzie says of the book, ‘The idea of a flood of refugees fleeing a war-torn magical world and coming to ours grabbed me right from the start – not least because it raised questions in my mind about how we as a people might react. The Uninvited mixes all of the ingredients I love in a book: magic, horror, friendship, urban fantasy and humour. Samm Wolfback’s story is one of loss, unexpected friendships, adventure, and looking for a place to belong in a sometimes hostile world – themes that I hope might resonate with readers far and wide.’
Publishing Director Charlie Sheppard says, ‘Ross has done it again. Conjured up a fabulous adventure that astonishingly entertains whilst asking questions of its readers. I can’t wait to get this into people’s hands.’
The Uninvited by Ross Mackenzie will be released in paperback, August 2025, £7.99
ISBN 9781839133176| Ages 9+
