"Peters writes with elegance, penning descriptions that breathe life into the narrative." - Publisher's Weekly Booklife

Thirteen-year-old Wren has never even heard of a griffin. She lives in a locked school attic that's watched over by three overbearing caretakers dressed all in black. One day, while hanging precariously from a rooftop, Wren overhears some frightening news: she is the daughter of the evil Griffin King and is destined to wear his crown of dark magic. When a golden acorn is delivered into her hands by an anonymous benefactor, it comes with a note that simply says "For Wren". That acorn is her magical key to a world she was never meant to visit—the place she was born. There, Wren's forgotten castle awaits her, sleeping under a deep spell in a dark and twisted forest. But she has no plans to wear an evil crown. She wants to make friends, the friends she's never had. She wants to eat delicious pastries and tell funny stories by the fireside. If only a dark power wasn't waiting with its own plans… An incredible adventure is about to begin!

Awarded the Reader's Favorite Seal

From the bestselling author of the I Escaped Series comes a spellbinding new fantasy—perfect for fans of Harry Potter, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, and The Chronicles of Narnia—for readers who like their stories full of wonder… and their crowns with teeth.