Mia and the Lightcasters

The biggest middle grade fantasy debut of 2022.

Beware of the shadows, the Reaper King is coming . . .



Mia always dreamed of being an umbra tamer until she met the wild creature on the Nightmare Plains. Since that day, she prefers to stay safe within the walls of Nubis. Safe, that is, until a surprise attack. With her parents captured, Mia's only hope is to travel to the City of Light to find help. But with only her little brother, two friends and one solitary tamed umbra, the journey feels impossible. Mia not only has to overcome her fears, she also has to learn to harness her umbra taming abilities if they are to complete the quest in time.



For fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, The Legend of Podkin One-Ear and Nevermoor, this is the first in the sensational Umbra Tales series, illustrated by Ana Latese.

'A fresh, wild, gripping adventure.' Kieran Larwood, author of The Legend of Podkin One-Ear

'A thrilling, highly imaginative and action-packed fantasy with family at its heart.' Louie Stowell, author of Otherland and Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good

'Thrilling . . . a wonderful adventure.' L. D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency



Janelle is an author and fully-fledged gamer. Having started writing and querying at only sixteen years-old, she joined 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 favourites being Inuyasha, Dragon



Ball Z and Death Note), or attending numerous comic cons and gaming events. Her FAB Prize winning story was acquired by Faber in a major auction.